What is the meaning of Ezekiel 9:3? Then the glory of the God of Israel “Then the glory of the God of Israel…” (Ezekiel 9:3) • This glory is the same radiant presence that descended on Sinai (Exodus 24:16-17) and filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35). • Ezekiel had already seen this divine brilliance in his inaugural vision by the Kebar River (Ezekiel 1:26-28). • The glory is not an impersonal light but a visible manifestation of God Himself—holy, weighty, and life-defining (Isaiah 6:1-4; Revelation 4:2-3). rose from above the cherubim, where it had been “…rose from above the cherubim, where it had been…” • The cherubim here refer to the angelic figures over the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place (Exodus 25:18-22; 1 Samuel 4:4). • For centuries God’s glory rested there, a sign of covenant favor (1 Kings 8:10-11). • This “rising” signals grief: the divine presence is lifting because of Judah’s persistent idolatry (Ezekiel 8:6, 17-18). • It foreshadows a fuller departure in Ezekiel 10:18-19 and 11:23, showing that judgment follows when God is persistently rejected. and moved to the threshold of the temple “…and moved to the threshold of the temple.” • The threshold marks the boundary between the Most Holy Place and the outer courts. • By moving there, the Lord pauses—still inside but on the verge of leaving—giving opportunity for repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 18:7-8). • The scene recalls the Passover night when the Lord stood at Egypt’s doorways to judge (Exodus 12:23); here He stands at His own house, ready to judge His people (1 Peter 4:17). And He called to the man clothed in linen “And He called to the man clothed in linen…” • Linen is priestly attire (Leviticus 16:4). This figure functions as a holy envoy, emphasizing purity and justice. • Similar messengers appear in Daniel 10:5-6 and Revelation 15:6, linking priestly service with celestial authority. • God Himself commissions the action—judgment is never random but divinely directed (Isaiah 45:7; Amos 3:6). who had the writing kit at his side “…who had the writing kit at his side.” • The kit points to a scribe’s role: marking the righteous for preservation (Ezekiel 9:4; Revelation 7:3-4). • Judgment and mercy run together: while sin is punished, the faithful remnant is sealed (Malachi 3:16-18; 2 Timothy 2:19). • The detail underscores God’s precision; every individual is known and accounted for (Psalm 33:13-15; Luke 12:7). summary Ezekiel 9:3 pictures the holy presence of God reluctantly rising from its long-held place above the cherubim, pausing at the temple threshold as a final warning, and commissioning a heavenly envoy to distinguish the faithful from the faithless. The scene blends sorrow and sovereignty: God’s glory departs because of persistent sin, yet He personally oversees both judgment and protection. The passage challenges us to honor His presence, trust His justice, and cling to His preserving grace. |
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