These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.
Parallel translations
- WEB This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV This is the living creature I saw under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew they were cherubim.
- NASB These are the living beings that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; so I knew that they were cherubim.
- NLT These were the same living beings I had seen beneath the God of Israel when I was by the Kebar River. I knew they were 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 recognizes these creatures as the cherubim he saw at the Chebar. It confirms their identity and the vision's coherence.
Overview
The prophet now explicitly understands what he beheld, that the living creatures are cherubim bearing God's throne. This recognition deepens the reader's confidence in the vision's truth. The cherubim, guardians of God's holy presence since Eden, here attend His departure. Their role reminds us that access to God's presence, barred by sin, is reopened only through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ezek 1:1In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.
- Ezek 10:15Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the River Kebar.
- 1 Kgs 7:36He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and panels, wherever each had space, with wreaths all around.
- Ezek 1:22–28Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an awesome expanse, gleaming like crystal.
- Ezek 1:5and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form,
- Ezek 3:23So I got up and went out to the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD was present there, like the glory I had seen by the River Kebar, and I fell facedown.
- 1 Kgs 6:29–35Then he carved the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.
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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 10:20 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.