Ezekiel 9 3

Ezekiel 9:3 kjv

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;

Ezekiel 9:3 nkjv

Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer's inkhorn at his side;

Ezekiel 9:3 niv

Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side

Ezekiel 9:3 esv

Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.

Ezekiel 9:3 nlt

Then the glory of the God of Israel rose up from between the cherubim, where it had rested, and moved to the entrance of the Temple. And the LORD called to the man dressed in linen who was carrying the writer's case.

Ezekiel 9 verses

Ezekiel 9 3 Meaning

The Lord, whose glory fills the house of Israel, stands by the door of the temple, specifically at the threshold of the inner sanctuary. This position signifies His divine presence and authority within His dwelling place, even as judgment is about to be executed. His radiant appearance is a testament to His holiness and the profound significance of the event unfolding.

Ezekiel 9 3 Context

This verse occurs in Ezekiel chapter 9, following a vision in chapter 8 where Ezekiel sees the abominations practiced in the Jerusalem Temple. God's glory, previously seen by Ezekiel in chapter 1 and residing in the temple, now visibly departs. This movement from the cherub to the threshold signifies the abandonment of the Temple by God due to the people's sin and idolatry. The subsequent verses describe the divine judgment about to be enacted upon Jerusalem. The lifting of God's glory from the cherubim and moving to the threshold indicates the cessation of His dwelling within the sanctuary, prefiguring its destruction.

Ezekiel 9 3 Word Analysis

• וַתַּעַל (vattaʻal): And it went up. (Qal perfect, third person feminine singular from the root עָלָה - ʻalah, meaning "to go up," "ascend.") This denotes a literal ascent.
• קְרַב (qəraḇ): the glory. (Hebrew: כְּבֹוד - kəḇōð). Refers to the visible manifestation of God's presence, His radiance, His honor.
• אֱלֹהֵי (ʼĕlōhêi): of God. (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים - ʼĕlōhîm). Used here as the singular "God."
• יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yiśrāʼēl): Israel. The people of God.
• מִן־ (min-): from.
• הַכְּרוּב (hakkərūḇ): the cherub. (Hebrew: הַכְּרוּב - hakkərūḇ). Refers to the angelic beings that flanked the Ark of the Covenant and represented God's throne and presence. In Ezekiel's visions, these cherubim are depicted as part of a complex celestial chariot.
• אֶל־ (ʼel-): to.
• מִפְתַּ֖ח (miftaḥ): threshold. (Hebrew: מִפְתָּח - miftaḥ). The lintel or sill of a doorway; the point of entry.
• הַבָּֽיִת (habbā́yiṯ): the house. The Temple in Jerusalem.
• וַֽיִּתְּנַ֖ח (vayınnaṭaḥ): and He rested, or and He placed Himself. (Qal perfect, third person masculine singular from the root נוּחַ - nûaḥ, meaning "to rest," "to settle.")

Word Group Analysis:

• "The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house." This phrase powerfully illustrates God's withdrawal. His presence, symbolized by glory, was once centered upon the cherubim, representing His dwelling among His people. Its movement to the threshold signifies His departure, a separation from the very place meant to honor Him, but which had been defiled.

Ezekiel 9 3 Bonus Section

The imagery of God's glory departing from the Temple serves as a precedent for later understandings of God's presence. In the New Testament, Jesus is identified as the true Temple (John 2:21) and the dwelling place of God’s glory (John 1:14). The tearing of the Temple veil at Jesus' crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) symbolizes a similar, yet triumphant, shift in divine access – not a departure of God, but an opening of access to His presence through Christ, removing the need for a physical sanctuary as the sole locus of His dwelling. The cherubim are also strongly associated with God's throne and guardianship, as seen in Genesis 3:24 guarding Eden. Ezekiel's vision of their movement highlights the gravity of God's response to sin within His appointed dwelling.

Ezekiel 9 3 Commentary

Ezekiel 9:3 marks a pivotal moment. God’s glorious presence, intricately linked with the cherubim in His heavenly and earthly sanctuaries, begins to withdraw. This departure is not sudden or complete but a progressive movement towards the threshold, a position on the brink of exit. It is a clear signal that judgment is imminent. The radiance of God, which should have filled the Temple with holy light, is now diminishing, shifting to the very entrance. This imagery underscores that the abandonment of the Temple is a direct consequence of the pervasive sin within its walls, prompting a holy God to remove Himself before initiating destruction. It demonstrates that divine fellowship is conditional upon covenant faithfulness.