What is the meaning of Ezekiel 10:22? Their faces looked like • Ezekiel speaks of the cherubim he is seeing in the temple vision. The word “faces” points back to the detailed description in Ezekiel 1:10, where each creature bore four distinct faces—human, lion, ox, and eagle—each displaying an aspect of God’s character (see also Revelation 4:7, where similar living creatures surround God’s throne). • By noting the similarity, Ezekiel affirms that the beings he sees now are the same heavenly beings he met earlier, underscoring the consistency of God’s revelation (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). • God’s holiness has not changed between the riverbank vision and the temple vision. The same glorious beings who upheld His throne by the River Kebar now accompany His glory departing from the profaned temple (Ezekiel 10:18). the faces I had seen • This is Ezekiel’s personal testimony. He is an eyewitness, echoing the pattern of Scripture where prophets and apostles testify to what they have “seen and heard” (1 John 1:1–3; 2 Peter 1:16). • Repetition establishes credibility (Genesis 41:32). By saying he saw the same faces, Ezekiel confirms the divine origin of both visions. • The matching faces link God’s glory both to Israel’s exile and to Jerusalem’s impending judgment. The God who met His prophet among the exiles is the same God judging the city—they cannot escape His presence (Psalm 139:7–10). by the River Kebar • The River Kebar was located in Babylonia, far from Jerusalem (Ezekiel 1:3). Mentioning it reminds the reader that God’s glory is not confined to geographic Israel (Jeremiah 23:23-24). • The exile had seemed like separation from God, yet the initial Kebar vision proved He was already with His people in captivity. Now, as His glory prepares to leave the temple, the reference to Kebar highlights that His presence goes with the faithful remnant rather than remaining with an unrepentant nation (Ezekiel 11:16-17). • God is sovereign over all lands, accomplishing His purposes in both judgment and restoration (Isaiah 45:5-7). Each creature went straight ahead • The phrase echoes Ezekiel 1:12: “Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they moved.” • Going “straight ahead” illustrates perfect obedience to the Spirit’s direction. The cherubim do not hesitate or wander; their movement is unhindered and purposeful (Psalm 103:20-21). • This direct motion signifies the unstoppable advance of God’s plan. Judgment on Jerusalem will proceed exactly as decreed, just as future restoration will come in His appointed time (Isaiah 55:10-11). • For believers, the unwavering course of the cherubim encourages us to follow God’s leading without deviation (Proverbs 3:5-6; Luke 9:62). summary Ezekiel 10:22 anchors the temple vision to the earlier Kebar encounter, proving that the same holy God who accompanied the exiles now oversees judgment in Jerusalem. The identical faces affirm the continuity of His glory, while the straight-ahead motion of the cherubim demonstrates their flawless obedience and the certainty of God’s unfolding plan. In every setting—exile or homeland—He remains present, sovereign, and true to His word. |
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