What is the meaning of Ezekiel 10:20? These were the living creatures Ezekiel connects the vision he is having in chapter 10 with the first breathtaking encounter in chapter 1. The phrase “living creatures” recalls the four beings with four faces, four wings, and wheels within wheels (Ezekiel 1:5–14). By repeating the description, the prophet confirms that what he saw earlier was no dream or illusion. Similar heavenly beings appear around God’s throne in Revelation 4:6–8, linking the Old and New Testament testimony that such creatures really do surround the Lord. The constancy between the visions underlines the trustworthiness of Scripture and reminds us that God’s revelations never contradict themselves. I had seen beneath the God of Israel The creatures are “beneath” the Lord, picturing them as the bearers of His throne-chariot (Ezekiel 10:1). This fits the wider biblical portrait of God “enthroned between the cherubim” (Psalm 99:1; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Kings 19:15). The scene proclaims His absolute sovereignty: no power in heaven or on earth is above Him. It also shows that angelic beings exist to serve and exalt their Creator, not to draw attention to themselves (Hebrews 1:7). For believers today, the placement of the cherubim under God’s throne urges us to adopt a servant posture beneath His lordship. By the River Kebar Mentioning the Kebar Canal brings the narrative back to the place of exile where Ezekiel first encountered the glory of God (Ezekiel 1:1). The Lord met His prophet far from Jerusalem, proving that His presence is not confined to a geographic temple (Jeremiah 23:23–24; Psalm 139:7–10). To the exiles, this was hope-filled news: the same God who once dwelt in the Holy of Holies had come to Babylon. For us, it foreshadows the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who makes the believer’s body a temple wherever he or she may be (1 Corinthians 6:19). And I knew Recognition dawns: Ezekiel is no longer startled or puzzled as he was in chapter 1. Repeated exposure to God’s glory brings growing understanding (John 16:13). The phrase highlights how God patiently educates His servants, moving them from wonder to comprehension. In the same way, reading Scripture again and again deepens discernment; what once seemed mysterious becomes clear (Psalm 119:18, 130). The prophet’s certainty strengthens our own: what he “knew” we can trust. That they were cherubim Ezekiel explicitly identifies the living creatures as cherubim, grounding their nature in the established biblical record. Cherubim first appear guarding Eden (Genesis 3:24), reappear over the atonement cover of the ark (Exodus 25:18–22), and stand in the heavenly throne room (Revelation 5:11–14). They are real, personal, holy beings who attend the Almighty, emphasizing both His majesty and His separateness from sin. Their presence in the vision underscores that God’s judgments in chapters 9–10 are righteous and carried out with heavenly authority. Summary Ezekiel 10:20 affirms that the awe-inspiring beings supporting God’s mobile throne are the same “living creatures” first seen in exile and that they are, indeed, cherubim. The verse anchors Ezekiel’s visions in consistent, literal reality; highlights God’s sovereign, mobile presence among His people even in foreign lands; and assures us that heavenly beings exist to exalt the Lord who reigns above them. |
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