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.
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.
- BSB These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.
- 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 1:1Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
- Ezek 10:15And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
- 1 Kgs 7:36For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.
- Ezek 1:22–28And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
- Ezek 1:5Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
- Ezek 3:23Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
- 1 Kgs 6:29–35And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
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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.