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And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire.
Ezekiel 10:1 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
  • KJV 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.
  • NKJV And I looked, and there in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim, there appeared something like a sapphire stone, having the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
  • NASB Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne, appeared above them.
  • NLT In my vision I saw what appeared to be a throne of blue lapis lazuli above the crystal surface over the heads of 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

Ezekiel sees again the sapphire throne above the cherubim. It renews the throne vision as the setting for the glory's departure.

Overview

The reappearance of the sapphire-like throne above the cherubim links this scene to the inaugural vision of chapter 1, signaling God's sovereign presence. From this throne God directs the unfolding judgment. The majesty of the enthroned Lord frames everything that follows. This sovereign glory, soon to depart the temple, would one day dwell bodily in Christ and reign forever.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 24

  • Exod 24:10and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
  • Rev 4:2–3At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.
  • Ezek 1:22–26Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.
  • Rev 1:13and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.
  • Ps 18:10He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
  • 1 Pet 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
  • Josh 5:13–15Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”
  • Gen 18:2And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
  • Gen 32:30So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
  • Ezek 10:20These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.
  • Hab 2:1I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts. I will watch to see what He will say to me, and how I should answer when corrected.
  • Josh 6:2And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor.
  • Gen 18:17And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
  • Jer 13:18–22Say to the king and to the queen mother: “Take a lowly seat, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.”
  • Ezek 11:22Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
  • Ps 68:17–18The chariots of God are tens of thousands—thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
  • Jer 13:8Then the word of the LORD came to me:
  • Isa 21:8–9Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post.
  • Gen 18:22And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.
  • John 1:18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
  • Gen 32:24So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
  • Gen 18:31And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”
  • Eph 1:20which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
  • Jer 13:6Many days later the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to Perath, and get the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

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 10:1YouTube · 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 10:1 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.