Ezekiel 10 6

Ezekiel 10:6 kjv

And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.

Ezekiel 10:6 nkjv

Then it happened, when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, "Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim," that he went in and stood beside the wheels.

Ezekiel 10:6 niv

When the LORD commanded the man in linen, "Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim," the man went in and stood beside a wheel.

Ezekiel 10:6 esv

And when he commanded the man clothed in linen, "Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim," he went in and stood beside a wheel.

Ezekiel 10:6 nlt

The LORD said to the man in linen clothing, "Go between the cherubim and take some burning coals from between the wheels." So the man went in and stood beside one of the wheels.

Ezekiel 10 verses

Ezekiel 10 6 Meaning

Ezekiel 10:6 describes the divine command issued to the man clothed in linen, an agent of divine judgment, to gather fire from the heart of God's mobile throne-chariot. This fire, sourced from between the wheels and the cherubim, is a sacred instrument of judgment. The man's immediate obedience signifies the certain and divinely ordained nature of the impending destruction upon Jerusalem. This action precedes the final departure of the Lord's glory from the Temple, symbolizing the holy God's active disassociation from a defiled place and people.

Ezekiel 10 6 Context

Verse Context: Ezekiel 10:6 is a direct follow-up to the preceding judgment enacted in chapter 9, where the man clothed in linen marked the faithful, and six angelic executioners slaughtered the unfaithful within Jerusalem. The fire gathered in chapter 10 seems to be the means or a part of the final act of divine judgment and purification upon the city and temple. It explicitly connects the sacred, divine source of the fire (from God's throne) to the imminent destruction.

Chapter Context: Chapter 10 continues Ezekiel's vision of the Temple and the cherubim first introduced in chapter 1 and elaborated upon in chapter 8-9. It focuses on the second stage of the departure of God's glory from the Temple, with the cherubim moving, God's glory ascending, and then pausing. The command to take fire is a pivotal action in this divine procession of judgment. The chapter underscores that God is not bound to a physical location, even His own Temple, when it is defiled.

Historical/Cultural Context: This vision takes place against the backdrop of Jerusalem's impending destruction by Babylon. The people believed in an immutable covenant that protected the city and Temple. This vision profoundly challenged that belief, illustrating God's readiness to abandon a corrupt sanctuary and punish His covenant people for their pervasive idolatry, spiritual defilement, and social injustice, despite the presence of His glory. It also subtly countered the notion that fire originating from God was solely for ritual use or the miraculous (like altar fire), demonstrating its powerful capacity for judgment against sin.

Ezekiel 10 6 Word analysis

• And when he had commanded (וַיְצַו – vay'tzav): This points to the sovereign authority of God, the glorious figure (likely referring to the manifestation of the Lord Himself or the figure seated on the throne in Ezek 1:26), directly issuing the order. It highlights divine initiative in the judgment process. The verb "צוה" (tsavah - to command) implies a direct, unequivocal, and irresistible decree.
• the man clothed in linen (הָאִישׁ לְבֻשׁ הַבַּדִּים – ha'ish levush ha'baddim): This figure, introduced in Ezek 9, signifies an agent of divine judgment. The "linen garments" (בַּדִּים – baddim) are associated with ritual purity and often priestly functions (Lev 16:4) or celestial beings (Dan 10:5-6). His attire underscores the sacred, holy nature of the mission, even one of destruction, emphasizing that this judgment originates from a holy God and is executed by a holy messenger, ensuring impartiality and divine prerogative.
• saying, Take fire (קַח־אֵשׁ – qach-esh): "Take" is a direct imperative. "Fire" (אֵשׁ – esh) here symbolizes God's holy wrath and purifying judgment. It is not ordinary fire but sacred fire, representing divine displeasure and an agent of destruction. It functions similarly to the consuming fire associated with God's presence, now turned towards His own defiled people.
• from between the wheels (מִבֵּין לַגַּלְגַּלִּים – mibben la'galgallim): The "wheels" (גַּלְגַּלִּים – galgallim) are part of the divine throne-chariot of the cherubim (Ezek 1). They represent mobility, omnipresence, and the dynamism of God's presence. Taking fire from this intimate component of God's throne emphasizes that the judgment is sourced from the very core of God's glorious presence and power.
• from between the cherubims (מִבֵּין לַכְּרוּבִים – mibben la'k'ruvim): The "cherubim" (כְּרוּבִים – k'ruvim) are celestial guardians of God's holiness and glory, intimately associated with His throne. The fire originating "from between" them, and specifically "between the wheels," signifies its absolute divine origin. It is sacred fire, consecrated to God, indicating a judgment that is entirely holy, just, and authorized by the highest celestial powers, further demonstrating God's complete ownership and control over this act of destruction.
• then he went in, and stood beside the wheels: This demonstrates immediate, unquestioning obedience to the divine command. The man's proximity to "the wheels" places him near the very epicenter of God's manifest glory, illustrating that he is acting under direct and complete divine authority. His "standing beside" the wheels indicates a readiness to receive and execute the solemn, weighty task entrusted to him.

Ezekiel 10 6 Bonus section

• The deliberate selection of fire from the "cherubim" highlights a key aspect of God's character. While the cherubim typically symbolize His glory and protective presence (like guarding the tree of life in Gen 3:24), here they are also the source of destructive judgment. This emphasizes that divine judgment is not external to God's holy nature but flows directly from it.
• The progression of judgment in Ezekiel's vision moves from individual marking (chapter 9) to a more generalized collection of sacred fire for widespread destruction (chapter 10). This implies a layered and escalating judgment that addresses both the internal corruption and the external devastation of a city deserving of divine wrath.
• The absence of resistance or question from the man in linen, in stark contrast to human reluctance found elsewhere in the Bible (e.g., Moses or Jonah), underscores the overwhelming authority and unchallengeable nature of this divine command. This messenger is a pure instrument of God's will.

Ezekiel 10 6 Commentary

Ezekiel 10:6 is a potent depiction of God's solemn and inescapable judgment, illustrating that even fire emanating from the most holy and intimate aspect of His divine presence can be deployed for destruction against a faithless people. The command from the glorious figure to the man clothed in linen—God's chosen agent—to retrieve this holy fire from the midst of the cherubim's mobile throne underscores several profound truths. It signifies that God’s holiness (symbolized by the cherubim and His presence) demands justice and that the sacred can indeed be an instrument of severe judgment. The fire is not randomly sourced but comes directly from the seat of God's power and glory, emphasizing the divine legitimacy and unavoidable nature of Jerusalem's impending downfall. The man's prompt obedience to this terrifying mandate further highlights that God's will for judgment, though grim, will be carried out with unwavering precision, sealing the fate of the city and her defiant inhabitants. It’s a vivid theological statement on God's unwavering character: He is holy and righteous, punishing sin while preserving a faithful remnant, moving from a defiled temple even as His judgments unfold from within it.