And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The sound of the cherubim's wings is compared to the voice of God speaking, not just as thunder, but specifically as the Almighty God (El Shaddai). This name highlights God's power over creation, suggesting that even the sounds of divine judgment emanating from His presence carry the immense, awe-inspiring authority of the Creator himself.
And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is watching the divine glory begin to depart from the Temple, signaling its ultimate destruction. This verse describes the movement of the living creatures, the cherubim, beneath the glory, their wings making a sound like thunder, indicating God's power and impending judgment are about to move out of the holy place. The sound is so powerful it can be heard throughout the outer court, emphasizing the immense scale of this divine departure that precedes the actual judgment being carried out.
When Ezekiel heard the sound of the cherubim's wings, it wasn't just a noise; it signaled something massive was about to happen.
The sound described in Ezekiel 10:5 isn't just about movement; it's a harbinger of divine action. The cherubim, symbolic of God's majestic presence, are depicted as restless. Their wings, which had been lowered when they stood still (Ezekiel 1:24), are now in motion. This sound, echoing as far as the outer court, emphasizes the immense scale of the divine machinery preparing to depart. It’s a sonic cue that a profound shift is occurring, a visible and audible indication of God's glory moving away from His temple. This signals not just a change in location, but a momentous event related to judgment and the future of His people.
The sound of the wings is compared to the voice of God Almighty. What does this powerful comparison tell us about God and His message?
The comparison of the cherubim’s wing-sound to "the voice of God Almighty when he speaks" is incredibly potent. Commentators often link this to the sound of thunder, a powerful, awe-inspiring natural phenomenon that biblical writers frequently attribute to God's voice (Psalm 29). This isn't just any sound; it's the voice of "El Shaddai"—the All-Sufficient, Almighty God. This title emphasizes His sovereign power and control over all creation. When this sound is heard, it conveys a message of immense authority and power, a divine declaration that shakes everything. It’s a reminder that God’s actions, even those that seem like judgment, are executed with absolute power and are designed to bring about His ultimate purposes.
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Understand the original words
Shaddai · Hebrew Proper Noun
The Hebrew title for the Almighty God, emphasizing His role as the omnipotent One who is all-sufficient and possesses ultimate power.
Ezekiel's vision of God's glory departing the Temple, described in vivid, terrifying detail, happened precisely as Jerusalem and the sanctuary were being utterly destroyed. The sound of the cherubim's wings, like the voice of God Almighty, signifies not just the awesome movement of divine beings, but the departure of God's presence from the place of His chosen dwelling, a direct consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Captivity
The northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrian Empire, marking the beginning of large-scale, forced deportations and scattering of the Israelite population.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, prince of Babylon, conquered Judah and deported a group of Israelites, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marked the start of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of deportations occurred under Nebuchadnezzar, this time including King Jehoiachin and many other prominent citizens, further diminishing Jerusalem's leadership and population.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the heart of Israelite worship and identity. This catastrophic event led to the final, largest deportation of Judeans to Babylon.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel's Vision of the Cherubim
While in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel received a profound vision of God's glory departing from the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem. This vision, described in chapters 8-11, explains the theological reasons for the Temple's destruction.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
The Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great. This event paved the way for the return of the exiles to Judah.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return of Exiles
Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian exile and the beginning of the post-exilic period.
This verse echoes the sound of the cherubim's wings, describing it as a powerful sound like the roar of the Almighty when they moved, mirroring the awe-inspiring auditory experience in Ezekiel 10:5.
Psalm 29:3This psalm directly links the voice of the Lord to thunder, a powerful and majestic sound that parallels the description of the cherubim's wings sounding like the voice of God Almighty speaking.
Revelation 4:6This passage describes living creatures before God's throne, with one looking like an ox, similar to the cherubim in Ezekiel's vision, and the text mentions a glassy sea like crystal, suggesting a heavenly, powerful, and ordered presence.
Genesis 17:1The phrase 'God Almighty' (El Shaddai) is used here, emphasizing God's power and sovereignty, which is the same divine attribute that the sound of the cherubim's wings is compared to in Ezekiel 10:5.
cambridgeEzekiel 10:5: "And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh."
5 . sound of the cherubims’ wings ] It is to be supposed that some movement of the living creatures’ wings accompanied the rising of the divine glory from above them, as it is said that when they stood their wings dropped ( Ezekiel 1:24 ). The language of Ezekiel 10:18 (cf. Ezekiel 9:3 ) excludes the supposition that the cherubim as well as the glory moved…
clarkeEzekiel 10:5: "And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh."
As the voice of the Almighty God - That is, as thunder; for this was called the voice of God.
The sound of the cherubim's wings is compared to the voice of God speaking, not just as thunder, but specifically as the Almighty God (El Shaddai). This name highlights God's power over creation, suggesting that even the sounds of divine judgment emanating from His presence carry the immense, awe-inspiring authority of the Creator himself.
Ezekiel is watching the divine glory begin to depart from the Temple, signaling its ultimate destruction. This verse describes the movement of the living creatures, the cherubim, beneath the glory, their wings making a sound like thunder, indicating God's power and impending judgment are about to move out of the holy place. The sound is so powerful it can be heard throughout the outer court, emphasizing the immense scale of this divine departure that precedes the actual judgment being carried out.
Ezekiel is watching the divine glory begin to depart from the Temple, signaling its ultimate destruction. This verse describes the movement of the living creatures, the cherubim, beneath the glory, their wings making a sound like thunder, indicating God's power and impending judgment are about to move out of the holy place. The sound is so powerful it can be heard throughout the outer court, emphasizing the immense scale of this divine departure that precedes the actual judgment being carried out.
"And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks." — The sound of the cherubim's wings is compared to the voice of God speaking, not just as thunder, but specifically as the Almighty God (El Shaddai). This name highlights God's power over creation, sug…
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Last reviewed October 2026