Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The glory of God isn't just leaving its usual place between the cherubim; it's moving specifically to the threshold of the Temple, highlighting that the command for judgment is now coming directly from the very place of worship the people trusted in. This shift signifies not only that God is about to act but that His presence is withdrawing from the inner sanctuary, preparing for the coming destruction and His eventual departure.
Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel has just witnessed the departure of God's glory from the temple, a shocking sign that judgment is imminent. Now, this divine glory shifts from its resting place on the cherubim to the threshold of the house, signifying God's movement toward action. He then calls out to a specific figure, a man in linen with a scribe's inkhorn, preparing to issue commands for a city-wide judgment.
Have you ever felt like God's presence shifted in your life or community? Ezekiel witnesses a dramatic visual: the very glory of God is on the move. This isn't just a scenic change; it's a profound indicator.
In Ezekiel's vision, the "glory of the God of Israel" is not static. It had been resting on the cherubim, the symbolic representation of God's presence, often associated with the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy of Holies.
A Shift in Location, A Shift in Purpose
Notice that the glory "had gone up from the cherub... to the threshold of the house." This movement signifies a transition. It's moving from its place of dwelling to the very entrance of the Temple.
Ask a follow-up
Amidst the impending destruction, a specific individual is called forth. He's not a warrior or a king, but a scribe. What does his role reveal about God's judgment?
The "man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist" is central to the unfolding judgment. His attire and equipment point to his crucial role in bringing divine order to the chaos.
Clothed for Service, Equipped for Marking
Understand the original words
kabod · Hebrew Noun
The self-revealing presence and majesty of God. It signifies His tangible manifestation, weight, and holiness dwelling among or departing from His people.
kerub · Hebrew Noun
Heavenly beings associated with the throne of God. They serve as guardians of God's holiness and vehicles for His manifestation or movement.
Ezekiel's vision occurs during the Babylonian exile, a time when Jerusalem and the Temple have already been destroyed. The departure of God's glory from the Temple, even in vision, underscores the completeness of the judgment and the devastation that has already occurred.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and thousands of Judean nobles, craftsmen, and soldiers to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the end for the Kingdom of Judah.
c. 588-587 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem. After a prolonged and brutal siege, the Babylonians breach the walls, sack the city, and destroy Solomon's Temple.
c. 587-586 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, the remaining population, except for the poorest, are deported to Babylon, leaving the land largely desolate.
c. 571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of Judgment
The prophet Ezekiel, living in exile in Babylon, receives a vision of God's glory departing from the ruined Temple in Jerusalem, signifying impending judgment and the utter devastation of the city.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire and paving the way for the eventual return of the Jewish exiles to Judah.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus's Decree
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, marking the beginning of the return from exile.
This passage describes the vision of the divine 'glory' on a throne above the cherubim, directly preceding Ezekiel's call, providing context for the 'glory' departing from its resting place in chapter 9.
Psalm 80:1This psalm speaks of God dwelling between the cherubim, highlighting the significance of the divine glory's departure from this sacred dwelling as a precursor to judgment.
Exodus 12:7This passage describes the blood mark on the doorposts during Passover, paralleling the marking of foreheads in Ezekiel 9 as a sign of protection amidst destruction.
1 Samuel 4:21-22The departure of God's glory from Israel during the Ark's capture signifies a similar withdrawal of God's presence preceding national disaster and loss.
Jeremiah 17:13This verse calls Jerusalem 'the hope of Israel' and declares that those who forsake the Lord will be put to shame, echoing the theme of God's departure from a sinful people.
clarkeEzekiel 9:3: "And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;"
And he called to the man - The person here who called was that who sat on the chariot of the Divine glory. See Ezekiel 1:26 .
pulpitEzekiel 9:3: "And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;"
Verse 3. - Was gone up; better, went up. The prophet saw the process as well as the result. The "glory of the Lord" which he bad seen (Ezekiel 8:4) by the northern gate rose from its cherub throne (we note the use of the singular to express the unity of the fourfold form), as if to…
The glory of God isn't just leaving its usual place between the cherubim; it's moving specifically to the threshold of the Temple, highlighting that the command for judgment is now coming directly from the very place of worship the people trusted in. This shift signifies not only that God is about to act but that His presence is withdrawing from the inner sanctuary, preparing for the coming destruction and His eventual departure.
Ezekiel has just witnessed the departure of God's glory from the temple, a shocking sign that judgment is imminent. Now, this divine glory shifts from its resting place on the cherubim to the threshold of the house, signifying God's movement toward action. He then calls out to a specific figure, a man in linen with a scribe's inkhorn, preparing to issue commands for a city-wide judgment.
Ezekiel has just witnessed the departure of God's glory from the temple, a shocking sign that judgment is imminent. Now, this divine glory shifts from its resting place on the cherubim to the threshold of the house, signifying God's movement toward action. He then calls out to a specific figure, a man in linen with a scribe's inkhorn, preparing to issue commands for a city-wide judgment.
"Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist." — The glory of God isn't just leaving its usual place between the cherubim; it's moving specifically to the threshold of the Temple, highlighting that the command for judgment is now coming directly fr…
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Last reviewed October 2026