Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Ezekiel
Chapter 10: The Glory Departed From the Threshold
This is one of the saddest chapters in the Bible. The glory of God, which had filled Solomon's temple in a cloud, now begins to leave it. The cherubim and the wheels of chapter 1 reappear, and the man clothed in linen takes coals of fire from among them to scatter over the doomed city. Step by step, the glory moves: from the cherub, to the threshold, and then to the east gate, poised to depart. God will not remain in a house His people have filled with idols. Yet even in this tragic withdrawal there is mercy, the God who leaves by the east gate will one day return the same way, and He does not abandon His people utterly, for He Himself will be their sanctuary in exile.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Ezekiel chapter 10. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. This chapter records the beginning of the departure of God's glory from the temple, the most sobering consequence of persistent sin. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Fire Over the City
The man in linen takes burning coals from among the cherubim to scatter over Jerusalem.
The Wheels Return
The living creatures and wheels of chapter 1 reappear, full of eyes, moving as one.
Glory Leaves the Threshold
The glory moves from the cherub to the threshold to the east gate, beginning to leave.
God Will Not Stay
God will not dwell in a house His people have defiled with idols.
Fill Thine Hand With Coals of Fire (Ezekiel 10:1-8)
The man clothed in linen is sent to take burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city, while the glory of the LORD rises from the cherub to the threshold and the house is filled with the cloud and brightness.
The House Was Filled With the Cloud
"Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory. And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. 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. 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. And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings."
Hebrew Study
"cherubims," keruvim (כְּרוּבִים). The mighty angelic beings associated with God's throne and presence, first stationed to guard Eden (Genesis 3:24) and later fashioned in gold over the mercy seat of the ark (Exodus 25:18-22). Their appearance here means the very throne-chariot of God is present, and it is mobile, God's glory is not chained to one place.
"coals of fire," gachalei-esh (גַּחֲלֵי־אֵשׁ). Fire from before the throne, scattered over the city in judgment. Fire from God's presence can purify or destroy; here it is judgment on Jerusalem. The same live coal, taken from the altar, purged Isaiah's lips (Isaiah 6:6-7), fire from God either cleanses the repentant or consumes the rebellious.
Explanation
Ezekiel sees again the throne "as it were a sapphire stone" above the cherubim, the same glory-chariot of chapter 1. The man clothed in linen, who in chapter 9 had marked the faithful, is now sent on a further errand: "fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city." The fire of judgment comes from the very presence of God, executed by the one who first sealed the righteous. Mercy is shown before judgment, and judgment proceeds from God's own throne.
As this unfolds, the movement of the glory begins: "the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house." The whole temple is filled with the cloud and "the brightness of the LORD'S glory," and the sound of the wings is "as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh." This is the same glory that filled Solomon's temple at its dedication (1 Kings 8:10-11), but now, tragically, it is not settling in, it is preparing to leave. The most terrible judgment of all is not fire from heaven but the departure of God's presence.
Gospel Focus
The glory beginning to leave the temple is the darkest note in Ezekiel, for the worst thing that can happen to any people is for God to withdraw His presence. Yet it points forward to the gospel by contrast. The glory that departed a defiled temple of stone returned in a far greater way in Jesus Christ, "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory)" (John 1:14), God's glory tabernacling in human flesh. And under the new covenant, God's glory comes to dwell not in a building but in His redeemed people: "know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). The lesson is solemn and precious: God will not share His temple with idols, so we must keep the temple of our lives pure, that His presence may never have cause to depart, "grieve not the holy Spirit of God" (Ephesians 4:30).
The Glory Stood Over the Cherubims (Ezekiel 10:9-22)
Ezekiel describes the wheels within wheels, full of eyes, and the four faces of the cherubim, the same living creatures he saw by the Chebar, then the glory of the LORD departs from the threshold and mounts up over them at the east gate.
The Glory Departed From Off the Threshold
"And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them. Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward."
Hebrew Study
"full of eyes," meleim einayim (מְלֵאִים עֵינַיִם). The wheels and the cherubim are covered with eyes, a symbol of God's all-seeing knowledge; nothing escapes Him. The same imagery surrounds the throne in Revelation 4:6-8. God's glory-chariot sees all, fitting, since He has just exposed the hidden idolatry of chapter 8. He judges nothing blindly.
"the spirit of the living creature was in them," ruach ha-chayah (רוּחַ הַחַיָּה). The wheels move in perfect unity with the cherubim because one Spirit animates them all. God's throne moves by His Spirit, wherever He wills, instantly and without turning. It is a picture of the sovereign freedom and mobility of God: He is not confined, and He goes where His Spirit directs.
Explanation
Ezekiel recognizes the vision: these are "the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar," now identified plainly as "the cherubims." He describes the wheels "as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel," able to move any direction "full of eyes round about," and the four faces, cherub, man, lion, and eagle. All move in perfect unison, "for the spirit of the living creature was in them." The whole scene emphasizes that God's presence is mobile, all-seeing, and sovereignly free.
Then the heartbreaking sentence: "Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims." The glory that had lingered at the threshold now mounts up and moves to "the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house." The presence of God is leaving, step by reluctant step, as if grieving to go. He does not depart in an instant but slowly, pausing along the way, a picture of a God slow to abandon even a rebellious people, yet who will not remain where He is dishonored. The east gate is significant: it is the direction from which the glory will one day return (Ezekiel 43:1-4).
Gospel Focus
The slow, reluctant departure of the glory reveals the heart of God: He does not leave in haste or without grief. Even in judgment, His mercy lingers. And the direction of His departure, the east gate, is a seed of hope, for the glory will return by that same gate in Ezekiel 43. God's leaving is never His last word for His people. The eyes covering the wheels remind us that the God who withdrew His visible presence never stopped seeing His people; His all-seeing care followed them into exile. Most of all, the departed glory was answered forever in Jesus Christ, in whom "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9), the glory of God come to dwell among us and, by His Spirit, within us, never to depart from those who are His. The temple of stone could lose the glory; the believer sealed by the Spirit is kept "unto the day of redemption."
Chapter 10 in Review
Ezekiel 10 records the beginning of the most sobering event in the book: the departure of God's glory from the temple. The cherubim and wheels of chapter 1 reappear, and the man in linen takes "coals of fire from between the cherubims" to scatter over the city, judgment proceeding from God's own throne. Then the glory moves, step by step: from the cherub, to the threshold, and finally to "the door of the east gate." The wheels "full of eyes," moving as one "for the spirit of the living creature was in them," show God's presence to be all-seeing, mobile, and sovereignly free. God will not remain in a house His people have filled with idols.
For the Apostolic reader, this chapter carries both warning and hope. The warning: the worst judgment is the withdrawal of God's presence, and He will not stay where He is dishonored, so we must keep the temple of our lives pure and never "grieve the holy Spirit." The hope: God departs slowly and reluctantly, by the east gate through which He will one day return; His all-seeing care follows His people even into exile; and the glory that left a temple of stone came back in far greater fullness in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, and now dwells by His Spirit in all who are His. The glory can leave a building; it will never forsake those sealed in Christ.
- The worst judgment is the departure of God's presence; He will not stay where He is dishonored (10:18; 1 Samuel 4:21).
- Judgment proceeds from God's own throne, executed by the one who first sealed the faithful (10:2, 7).
- God's glory is all-seeing ("full of eyes") and sovereignly free, moved by His Spirit (10:12, 17; Revelation 4:6).
- God departs slowly and reluctantly, grieved to leave even a rebellious people (10:4, 18-19).
- He leaves by the east gate, the very way by which His glory will one day return (10:19; Ezekiel 43:1-4).
- The glory that left a temple of stone returned in Christ and dwells by the Spirit in His people (10:18; John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 3:16).
Questions for Reflection
- Is there anything in the temple of your life that could grieve God's Spirit and cause His presence to feel far off?
- How does it comfort you that even when God withdrew, He left slowly, by the gate of return, and kept watching over His people?
- What does it mean that the glory which left a building now dwells, by the Spirit, in those who belong to Christ?
- Are you cultivating the presence of God, or presuming on it while tolerating idols?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). The Hebrew terms are standard and can be checked in any Hebrew lexicon. The "cherubims" (verse 1) guard God's presence (Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:18-22). The "coals of fire" from the throne (verse 2) recall Isaiah 6:6-7. The glory filling the house (verse 4) echoes Solomon's temple (1 Kings 8:10-11); its departure fulfills the warning that God's presence is not guaranteed (compare 1 Samuel 4:21, "Ichabod, the glory is departed"). Wheels and creatures "full of eyes" (verse 12) reappear around the throne in Revelation 4:6-8. The glory departing by the east gate (verse 19) anticipates its return by the same gate (Ezekiel 43:1-4). The glory come in Christ is John 1:14 and Colossians 2:9; the Spirit dwelling in believers is 1 Corinthians 3:16 and Ephesians 4:30. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The coals of fire from the throne; the glory rising to the threshold; the house filled: Ezekiel 10:1-8; Isaiah 6:6-7; 1 Kings 8:10-11.
- The cherubim and wheels; the glory departing to the east gate: Ezekiel 10:9-22; Revelation 4:6-8; Ezekiel 43:1-4; John 1:14.