Ezekiel 10:1-9

Context

God’s Glory Leaves the Temple

10:1 As I watched, I saw¹ on the platform² above the top of the cherubim something like a sapphire, resembling the shape of a throne, appearing above them. 10:2 The Lord³ said to the man dressed in linen, “Go between the wheelwork⁴ underneath the cherubim.⁵ Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” He went as I watched.

10:3 (The cherubim were standing on the south side⁶ of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.) 10:4 Then the glory of the Lord arose from the cherub and moved to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud while the court was filled with the brightness of the Lord’s glory. 10:5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard from the outer court, like the sound of the sovereign God⁷ when he speaks.

10:6 When the Lord⁸ commanded the man dressed in linen, “Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among the cherubim,” the man⁹ went in and stood by one of the wheels.¹⁰ 10:7 Then one of the cherubim¹¹ stretched out his hand¹² toward the fire which was among the cherubim. He took some and put it into the hands of the man dressed in linen, who took it and left. 10:8 (The cherubim appeared to have the form¹³ of human hands under their wings.)

10:9 As I watched, I noticed¹⁴ four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub;¹⁵ the wheels gleamed like jasper.¹⁶

[10:1] ¹tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.

[10:1] ²tn Or “like a dome.” See 1:22-26.

[10:2] ³tn Heb “and he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[10:2] ⁴tn The Hebrew term often refers to chariot wheels (Isa 28:28; Ezek 23:24; 26:10).

[10:2] ⁵tc The LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, and Targum mss read plural “cherubim” while the MT is singular here, “cherub.” The plural ending was probably omitted in copying the MT due to the similar beginning of the next word.

[10:3] ⁶tn Heb “right side.”

[10:5] ⁷tn The name (“El Shaddai”) has often been translated “God Almighty,” primarily because Jerome translated it omnipotens (“all powerful”) in the Latin Vulgate. There has been much debate over the meaning of the name. For discussion see W. F. Albright, “The Names Shaddai and Abram,” JBL 54 (1935): 173-210; R. Gordis, “The Biblical Root sdy-sd,” JTS 41 (1940): 34-43; and especially T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 69-72.

[10:6] ⁸tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[10:6] ⁹tn Heb “he”; the referent (the man dressed in linen) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[10:6] ¹⁰tn Heb “the wheel.”

[10:7] ¹¹tn Heb “the cherub.”

[10:7] ¹²tn The Hebrew text adds, “from among the cherubim.”

[10:8] ¹³tn The Hebrew term is normally used as an architectural term in describing the plan or pattern of the tabernacle or temple or a representation of it (see Exod 25:8; 1 Chr 28:11).

[10:9] ¹⁴tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.

[10:9] ¹⁵tn The MT repeats this phrase, a clear case of dittography.

[10:9] ¹⁶tn Heb “Tarshish stone.” The meaning is uncertain. The term has also been translated “topaz” (NEB), “beryl” (KJV, NASB, NRSV), and “chrysolite” (RSV, NIV).