Ezekiel 10 7

Ezekiel 10:7 kjv

And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.

Ezekiel 10:7 nkjv

And the cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen, who took it and went out.

Ezekiel 10:7 niv

Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out.

Ezekiel 10:7 esv

And a cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out.

Ezekiel 10:7 nlt

Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand and took some live coals from the fire burning among them. He put the coals into the hands of the man in linen clothing, and the man took them and went out.

Ezekiel 10 verses

Ezekiel 10 7 Meaning

Ezekiel 10:7 details a pivotal moment in the prophetic vision: a cherub actively reaching into the divine fire situated between the cherubim, taking some of it, and placing it into the hands of the man clothed in linen. This act signifies the direct transfer of divine judgment from God's presence, mediated by the cherubim, to the designated agent (the man in linen) for its immediate execution upon the unholy city of Jerusalem. The fire, drawn directly from the divine essence, represents the unyielding holiness and consuming wrath of God against sin and apostasy, confirming the irreversibility of the impending judgment.

Ezekiel 10 7 Context

Ezekiel chapter 10 is part of a series of visions (chapters 8-11) describing God's departure from the temple in Jerusalem due to the rampant idolatry and moral decay of the people. This verse is nestled within the vivid imagery of the cherubim, the divine glory (Kabod), and the celestial chariot throne, which is actively moving away from the defiled sanctuary. Chapter 9 had introduced the six executioners and the one man clothed in linen who was to mark those who lamented the city's sins for preservation. Here, in chapter 10, the focus shifts to the divine instrument of destruction for the unrepentant—holy fire taken directly from God's glorious presence, passed by a cherub to the man in linen to scatter it over the city, signaling its imminent and decisive ruin. The historical context is the looming destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (586 BC), which Ezekiel's prophecies interpreted as divine judgment rather than mere political defeat.

Ezekiel 10 7 Word analysis

• And the cherub: וַיִּשְׁלַח הַכְּרוּב (vayyishlach hakkeruv - lit. "and stretched forth the cherub").
  • וַיִּשְׁלַח (vayyishlach): "He stretched out" or "sent forth." A powerful, deliberate verb, indicating an intentional, divinely-sanctioned action, not an accident.
  • הַכְּרוּב (hakkeruv): "The cherub." Though plural cherubim are mentioned nearby, the singular highlights a specific cherub, or perhaps one acting as the representative of the cherubic collective, taking the lead in this specific task. Cherubim (כְּרוּבִים - keruvim) are powerful angelic beings, guardians of God's holiness (Gen 3:24), associated with God's throne (Eze 1; Psa 18:10) and temple imagery.
• stretched forth his hand: יָדוֹ (yado - "his hand").
  • יָדוֹ (yado): Emphasizes direct physical action from this spiritual being, representing God's active involvement in judgment. "Hand" often symbolizes power, authority, and execution in Hebrew idiom.
• from between the cherubim, from the fire: מִבֵּין הַכְּרוּבִים מִן הָאֵשׁ (mibben hakkeruvim min ha'esh - "from between the cherubim from the fire").
  • מִבֵּין הַכְּרוּבִים (mibben hakkeruvim): "From between the cherubim." This precisely locates the source of the fire within the immediate presence of the divine, suggesting its sanctity and connection to God's throne-chariot.
  • מִן הָאֵשׁ (min ha'esh): "From the fire." This is not just any fire, but the fire associated with God's manifest presence, as seen in Exodus 3:2, 19:18, and Isaiah 6:6. It's intrinsically linked to divine holiness and judgment.
• that was between the cherubim: אֲשֶׁר בֵּין הַכְּרוּבִים (asher ben hakkeruvim - "that which was between the cherubim"). Redundancy for emphasis. Reconfirms the sacred and unique source of this judgment-fire.
• and took thereof: וַיִּקַּח וַיִּתֵּן (vayyiqach vayyitten - "and took and gave").
  • וַיִּקַּח (vayyiqach): "And took." A simple, direct act, showing compliance with the divine command given in Eze 10:2.
• and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: אֶל יְדֵי הַלָּבוּשׁ הַבַּדִּים (el yedey hallavush habaddim - "into the hands of the clothed with the linens").
  • אֶל יְדֵי (el yedey): "Into the hands of." Another direct physical transfer.
  • הַלָּבוּשׁ הַבַּדִּים (hallavush habaddim): "He that was clothed with linen." This refers to the man first introduced in Ezekiel 9:2. His linen garments signify purity and readiness for service in God's presence (cf. Lev 16:4; Eze 44:17-18; Dan 10:5; Rev 15:6). He is the instrument chosen to carry out the judgment, a sacred duty.
• who took it, and went out: וַיִּקַּח וַיֵּצֵא (vayyiqach vayyetze - "and took and went out").
  • וַיִּקַּח (vayyiqach): "And took." Confirming reception of the fire, showing his obedience.
  • וַיֵּצֵא (vayyetze): "And went out." This signifies his departure from the divine presence to begin the execution of the judgment upon the city, moving towards its implementation.

Ezekiel 10 7 Bonus section

The "man clothed in linen" appears in several prophetic contexts (Eze 9, 10; Dan 10, 12; Rev 15), consistently portrayed as an agent of divine revelation or judgment, indicating his purity, authority, and close proximity to God's heavenly council. In Ezekiel, he functions as both a "preserver" (marking those who groan in chapter 9) and an "executing agent" (scattering fire in chapter 10). This duality underscores the comprehensiveness of God's divine justice, which both spares the righteous and punishes the wicked through designated channels. The specific imagery of fire between the cherubim not only recalls the Shekinah glory and divine judgment but also links to the Day of Atonement rituals (Lev 16), where the high priest would take coals from the altar (where the glory often resided) into the Most Holy Place, thus reminding the original audience of the profound holiness required to approach God's presence and the fatal consequences of failing to meet it. This direct transference of "sacred" fire from God's presence implies that the very means of purification (fire often refines) becomes the means of destruction for those beyond redemption, solidifying the theme of ultimate divine justice.

Ezekiel 10 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 10:7 serves as a crucial point of transition in the unfolding divine judgment against Jerusalem. It visually portrays the operational aspect of the judgment foreshadowed in chapter 9. The fire, drawn from between the cherubim, symbolizes God's pure, holy, and consuming wrath against the persistent sinfulness of His people. This is not arbitrary destruction but a calculated act emanating directly from the very presence of God's glory (Kabod), signifying the severe and inescapable consequence of profaning His name and sanctuary. The cherub, a being associated with guarding God's holiness and His throne, acts as an intermediary, delivering the instrument of judgment with solemn purpose. The man clothed in linen, identified in chapter 9 as the scribe marking the righteous, now takes on the role of executing wrath against the unrighteous. His reception of the fire and subsequent departure marks the impending unleashing of destruction, emphasizing that the judgment is both divinely ordained and methodically delivered. The imagery confirms the covenant curse and the principle that divine holiness cannot tolerate unholiness indefinitely, necessitating a cleansing fire.