The tenth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel stands as one of the most dramatic and visually stunning passages in all of biblical prophecy. It depicts a critical moment in the prophet’s vision: the departure of God’s glory from the Jerusalem Temple. This event is not merely a historical account but a profound theological statement about God’s holiness, judgment, and mobility. Understanding Ezekiel 10 requires a close examination of its key elements—the cherubim, the wheels, the coals of fire, and the throne itself. This analysis provides a comprehensive explanation of the chapter’s symbolism and its enduring significance.
The Context and Setting of Ezekiel’s Vision
Ezekiel, a priest and prophet, received his visions while in exile in Babylon. The year was approximately 592 BC. The people of Judah were in captivity, yet many clung to the false hope that Jerusalem was inviolable because it housed the Temple of God. Ezekiel’s visions served to shatter this illusion. Chapter 10 occurs within a larger sequence of visions (beginning in chapter 8) where Ezekiel is transported in spirit to Jerusalem. He witnesses the rampant idolatry and abominations being committed within the Temple courts. Chapter 10 is the culmination of this vision, revealing the consequences of the people’s sin: the withdrawal of God’s manifest presence.
A Detailed Breakdown of Ezekiel Chapter 10
The chapter unfolds with precise, almost technical detail, marking the solemn progression of God’s glory away from a defiled holy place.
The Call for Coals of Fire
The chapter opens with Ezekiel seeing the same sapphire throne and “likeness of a man” from his earlier vision (Ezekiel 1:26). The divine figure commands a man clothed in linen, who is standing among the cherubim, to take burning coals from between the whirling wheels and scatter them over the city of Jerusalem.
Significance of the Coals: The coals of fire represent a dual purpose: purification and judgment.
- Judgment: The scattering of coals over Jerusalem is a clear act of divine judgment, symbolizing the coming destruction by the Babylonian army. Fire consumes and purges.
- Purification: In Isaiah 6:6-7, a live coal from the altar purifies the prophet’s lips. Here, the context is primarily one of punitive judgment upon a city that has rejected its covenant with God.
The Complex Nature of the Cherubim
Ezekiel’s description of the cherubim is intricate and awe-inspiring. They are not the simple, chubby infants of Renaissance art but mighty, complex living creatures attendant to God’s glory.
Their Appearance: Each cherub had four faces and four wings. Their faces were that of a cherub (likely a bull or ox), a man, a lion, and an eagle. This matches the description in Ezekiel 1, though there is a shift in terminology that has intrigued scholars. In Ezekiel 1, they are called “living creatures”; in chapter 10, they are explicitly identified as cherubim. This connects them directly to the guardian figures on the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing their role as protectors of God’s holiness.
Their Movement and Function: The cherubim moved in perfect unison with the spirit of God. Their wings produced a tremendous sound, like “the voice of the Almighty,” and they were covered with eyes, symbolizing divine omniscience and watchfulness. They served as the living chariot for God’s throne.
The Mysterious Wheels Within Wheels
Beside each cherub was a dazzling wheel, described as “a wheel within a wheel.” Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.
Significance of the Wheels:
- Mobility and Omnipresence: The wheels signify that God’s throne is not stationary. He is not confined to the Temple in Jerusalem. He can and will move, even to Babylon, to be with His exiled people. The complex design suggests the ability to move in any direction instantly without turning, representing God’s omnipresence and sovereign control over all directions of the earth.
- Divine Knowledge: The eyes upon the rims symbolize God’s perfect knowledge and constant watchfulness over all creation. Nothing is hidden from His sight.
The Departure of God’s Glory
The most tragic and pivotal moment in the chapter is the gradual departure of the glory of God. The glory, identified as the “Shekinah” presence, lifts from above the cherubim and moves to the threshold of the Temple. The entire structure is filled with the cloud of divine presence, and the court is lit up with God’s radiance. Finally, the glory of the Lord departs from the threshold and ascends, with the cherubim and the wheels, to stand at the east gate of the Lord’s house before leaving the city entirely.
This was a catastrophic theological event for ancient Israel. It signified that God was abandoning His dwelling place because it had been profaned. His presence was no longer a protective shield but a witness for the prosecution.
The Theological Meaning of Ezekiel 10
The vision in Ezekiel 10 carries several profound theological messages that resonate throughout the rest of Scripture.
God’s Holiness and Judgment
The primary theme is the absolute holiness of God. He cannot and will not coexist with persistent, unrepentant sin. The defilement of the Temple by idolatry necessitated His departure. The vision is a sobering reminder that God’s judgment begins at His own house.
God’s Freedom and Sovereignty
A key message for the exiles was that God is not bound to a single geographical location. The God of Israel was also the God of Babylon. The mobile throne-chariot demonstrated that His sovereignty extends over all nations. This was a message of both judgment (He was leaving Jerusalem) and hope (He was coming to Babylon with them).
A Foreshadowing of Restoration
While Ezekiel 10 depicts a departure, it also plants the seeds for future hope. The same God who leaves can also return. Later in Ezekiel (chapter 43), the prophet witnesses the glory of the Lord returning to a new, future Temple, restoring what was lost. The coals of judgment, while destructive, also pave the way for a future purification.
Ezekiel 10 in the Broader Biblical Narrative
The imagery of Ezekiel 10 echoes throughout the Bible. The four faces of the cherubim (man, lion, ox, eagle) are later seen in the four Gospels, presenting the four-fold nature of Christ. The throne vision also shares similarities with John’s vision in Revelation 4, where living creatures around God’s throne bear the same four faces. This connection establishes a continuity between God’s sovereign rule in the Old Testament and His eternal reign in the New.
The departure of God’s glory finds its ultimate reversal in the New Testament with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, of whom John writes, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling [literally, ‘tabernacled’] among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son” (John 1:14). In Christ, the glory of God returned to dwell among His people, offering not judgment for sin, but salvation.