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Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.
Ezekiel 10:18 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Yahweh’s glory went out from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.
  • KJV Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
  • BSB Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim.
  • NASB Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.
  • NLT Then the glory of the Lord moved out from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The Lord's glory departs from the threshold and stands over the cherubim. It is the decisive next stage of God abandoning the temple.

Overview

The glory now leaves the threshold entirely to mount the throne-chariot, preparing to depart Jerusalem. This is the heart of the tragedy, God Himself withdrawing from His house because of its sin. The departure fulfills the warning of 8:6 that the abominations would drive Him far off. The hope that this glory will one day return frames the gospel, for in Christ God comes again to dwell with His people.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • Ps 18:10He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
  • Matt 23:37–39“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
  • Ps 78:60–61So that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
  • Gen 3:24So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
  • Jer 6:8Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited.”
  • Hos 9:12Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them, so that not a man shall be left. Indeed, woe also to them when I depart from them!
  • Ezek 7:20–22As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things therein. Therefore I have made it to them as an unclean thing.
  • 2 Kgs 2:11As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
  • Ps 68:17–18The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
  • Jer 7:12–14“But go now to my place which was in Shiloh, where I caused my name to dwell at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.
  • Ezek 10:3–4Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezekiel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezekiel 10:18YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzekielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.

How Ezekiel 10:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.