English Standard Version
Ezekiel 10:20
20These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim.
Ezekiel 10:20 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim.
- New King James Version (NKJV)This is the living creature I saw under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew they were cherubim.
- New Living Translation (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,
Context of Ezekiel 10:20
18Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim. 21Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands. 22And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.
Read all of Ezekiel 10Ezekiel 10:20 word by word
הִ֣יא הַחַיָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֛יתִי תַּ֥חַת אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּֽנְהַר־כְּבָ֑ר וָאֵדַ֕ע כִּ֥י כְרוּבִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- the living creatureחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
- that I sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- under the Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- by the riverנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
- of Chebarכְּבָרkebâr · ChebarH3529
- and I knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- the cherubimsכְּרוּבkerûb · cherubH3742
Cross-references for Ezekiel 10:20
- Ezekiel 10:15And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal.
- Ezekiel 1:22Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.
- Ezekiel 3:23So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face.
- Ezekiel 1:1In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
- 1 Kings 6:29Around all the walls of the house he carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms.
- 1 Kings 7:36And on the surfaces of its stays and on its panels, he carved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths all around.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 10:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20And I knew that they were the cherubims - This formation of the plural is quite improper. In general, Hebrew nouns of the masculine gender end in ים im, in the plural; the s, therefore, should never be added to such. Cherub is singular; cherubim is plural. The s should be uniformly expunged. I have already referred to the end of this chapter for farther information relative to this glorious chariot of Jehovah; but I must say that I have met with nothing…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20In this departure of the glory of the Lord from the temple, the seer recognizes for the first time the full meaning of the vision which he had seen on the banks of Chebar Ezekiel 1. What he had seen there (did indeed imply that Yahweh had forsaken His house; but now this is made clear. The Glory has left the holy of holies, has appeared in the court, has been enthroned on the Living Four, and with them has departed from the temple. It is now clear that…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-22Verses 8-22 Ezekiel sees the working of Divine providence in the government of the lower world, and the affairs of it. When God is leaving a people in displeasure, angels above, and all events below, further his departure. The Spirit of life, the Spirit of God, directs all creatures, in heaven and on earth, so as to make them serve the Divine purpose. God removes by degrees from a provoking people; and, when ready to depart, would return to them, if they…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-22From this point on, the city was doomed. God had shown his powerful and fearsome glory in the opening chapter of Ezekiel. Now that same God had left the city. Without his presence, Jerusalem no longer had protection or hope. Judgment would surely come.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. I knew ... cherubim--By the second sight of the cherubim, he learned to identify them with the angelic forms situated above the ark of the covenant in the temple, which as a priest, he "knew" about from the high priest.Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries