And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The first face is called "the face of the cherub," which is a shift from the previous vision where it was the "face of an ox." This change highlights that Ezekiel is now seeing the true, divine nature of these beings, recognizing them not just by their individual animal likenesses, but by their essential, heavenly identity. It’s as if he’s moving from a detailed description to an ultimate recognition of their glorious, appointed role.
And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is being shown a vision of God's glory departing from the temple, specifically focusing on the cherubim that are carrying God's throne. This vision expands on an earlier one, refining the description of the living creatures and emphasizing their connection to God's judgment upon Jerusalem. The prophet's perspective shifts, and he now sees the creatures with a greater emphasis on their cherubic form, detailing the specific faces they present as they move with divine purpose.
Ezekiel saw cherubim with four faces, but the specific faces seem to shift. What does this tell us about these heavenly beings and how we understand them?
In the first vision (Ezekiel 1:10), the four faces were explicitly listed as an ox, a lion, a human, and an eagle. But here in chapter 10, the prophet uses the term 'cherub' for the first face, and then names the human, lion, and eagle. This change is significant!
The order of the faces described here is different from the first vision. Why the change, and what does it reveal about the direction of God's movement and Ezekiel's perspective?
The way Ezekiel describes the faces in chapter 10 differs from chapter 1, and this change points to a critical detail: the direction of God's movement and the prophet's viewpoint.
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Understand the original words
kerub · Hebrew Noun
In biblical theology, this refers to a high-ranking order of angelic beings who serve as guardians of God’s holiness and throne, often associated with divine manifestation and presence.
Ezekiel's detailed vision of the cherubim in chapter 10 occurs during the Babylonian exile, shortly after the second deportation. This vision serves to explain the departure of God's glory from the Temple, which he had previously witnessed. The shift in describing one of the faces from an 'ox' (chapter 1) to a 'cherub' (chapter 10) emphasizes that these divine beings are now seen in their full, terrifying glory as guardians of God's presence.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria, leading to the exile of its population. This event marks a significant loss of national sovereignty and religious identity for many Israelites.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting Israelites, including Daniel and his companions, to Babylon. This event signifies the growing power of Babylon and the impending doom of Jerusalem.
597 BC— this verse
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans to Babylon, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. This deportation further weakens the kingdom and intensifies the sense of crisis.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, a devastating blow to the Jewish people and their faith. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon.
c. 590 BC
Ezekiel's First Vision
While in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel receives his first prophetic vision, describing the departure of God's glory from the Jerusalem Temple. This vision highlights the impurity that has led to judgment.
c. 590 BC
Ezekiel's Vision of Cherubim
Ezekiel beholds a complex vision of living creatures, wheels, and the glory of God. These powerful images symbolize God's omnipresence and sovereign control, even amidst destruction.
This passage is the foundational description of the four living creatures, which directly informs the faces seen in Ezekiel 10:14, highlighting the shift in perspective or emphasis from an ox-face to a cherub-face.
Daniel 7:4Daniel also describes a vision of powerful, symbolic beasts with different faces, echoing the complexity and divine nature represented by the multi-faced cherubim in Ezekiel.
Revelation 4:7This New Testament passage presents four living creatures, each with faces of a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle, directly paralleling the symbolic imagery found in Ezekiel's visions.
Exodus 25:18-20The description of the cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant shows the ancient significance of these angelic beings in representing God's presence and glory, connecting to the function of the cherubim in Ezekiel's vision.
pooleEzekiel 10:14: "And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle."
Every one, of the living creatures, Ezekiel 1:6 , the cherubims in this chapter. The first face, which each had. The face of a cherub: in Babylon, at the river Chebar, he saw somewhat a different face; in the temple he seeth a cherub, one of the faces, which leads us to look on angels employed in…
clarkeEzekiel 10:14: "And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle."
The first - was the face of a cherub - In Ezekiel 1:10 , this is called the "face of an ox;" here, the "face of a cherub:" hence, a cherub was in the likeness of an ox, at least, as to its head. כרוב kerub never occurs as a verb; and its meaning cannot be precisely ascertained. Parkhurst thinks…
The first face is called "the face of the cherub," which is a shift from the previous vision where it was the "face of an ox." This change highlights that Ezekiel is now seeing the true, divine nature of these beings, recognizing them not just by their individual animal likenesses, but by their essential, heavenly identity. It’s as if he’s moving from a detailed description to an ultimate recognition of their glorious, appointed role.
Ezekiel is being shown a vision of God's glory departing from the temple, specifically focusing on the cherubim that are carrying God's throne. This vision expands on an earlier one, refining the description of the living creatures and emphasizing their connection to God's judgment upon Jerusalem. The prophet's perspective shifts, and he now sees the creatures with a greater emphasis on their cherubic form, detailing the specific faces they present as they move with divine purpose.
Ezekiel is being shown a vision of God's glory departing from the temple, specifically focusing on the cherubim that are carrying God's throne. This vision expands on an earlier one, refining the description of the living creatures and emphasizing their connection to God's judgment upon Jerusalem. The prophet's perspective shifts, and he now sees the creatures with a greater emphasis on their cherubic form, detailing the specific faces they present as they move with divine purpose.
"And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle." — The first face is called "the face of the cherub," which is a shift from the previous vision where it was the "face of an ox." This change highlights that Ezekiel is now seeing the true, divine natur…
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Last reviewed October 2026