Ezekiel 9:3
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)
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It’s easy to read this and think the glory of God is just leaving, but it's actually repositioning itself. It moves from its resting place on the cherubim to the threshold of the house, a significant shift that signals God is about to act from within the Temple itself, not just observing from afar, as He commissions judgment and protection.
The prophet Ezekiel witnesses the divine glory, which usually rested on the cherubim, moving from its place within the temple to the threshold. From this position, the glory calls out to a specific individual, a man dressed in linen with a scribe's inkhorn at his side, signaling that judgment is about to begin and a mark will be placed on those who mourn for the city's sins. This departure of God's presence from the inner sanctuary precedes a devastating judgment upon Jerusalem, sparing only those identified by this mark.
Ever felt like God's presence was closer, and then… it seemed to shift? Ezekiel witnesses a dramatic movement of God's glory, signaling a profound change.
In Ezekiel 9:3, the "glory of the God of Israel" isn't just light; it's the visible manifestation of God's presence, typically residing "between the cherubim" over the Ark of the Covenant (Ezekiel 1:26, 10:2).
A Shift in Location
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In a scene of impending destruction, one figure is given a crucial task: to mark specific individuals. What does this mark signify?
The "man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist" (Ezekiel 9:3) is not just an observer; he's an agent of God's discerning judgment. His inkhorn signifies his role as a scribe, tasked with marking God's people.
Marking for Preservation
This is a powerful picture: even in the midst of God's righteous, sweeping judgment, there is a deliberate act of preservation for those who are His.
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.
This vision in Ezekiel doesn't just describe judgment; it shows God's glory itself withdrawing from the corrupted Temple, a powerful sign that the divine presence was leaving before the physical destruction, indicating the completeness of the impending judgment.
c. 627 BC
Ezekiel begins prophetic ministry
Ezekiel, a priest, is exiled to Babylon and begins prophesying to the Jewish exiles. His visions often depict the impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem.
597 BC
First deportation of Jerusalem
King Jehoiachin and thousands of Jerusalem's elite are deported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. This event marks a significant step towards the city's destruction.
c. 593 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's vision of God's glory departing
Ezekiel sees a vision of the glory of God departing from the Jerusalem Temple, moving from the cherubim to the threshold. This signifies God's judgment and impending abandonment of His house due to its corruption.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and deports most of the remaining population to Babylon. This catastrophic event fulfills many of the prophecies of judgment.
This passage shows the glory of the Lord returning from the threshold to depart from the temple, directly following the events in chapter 9 and reinforcing the idea of God's presence departing before judgment.
Psalm 80:1This psalm speaks of God dwelling between the cherubim, which is the specific place the glory of God is described as leaving in Ezekiel 9:3, highlighting the significance of this departure from Israel's sacred space.
Exodus 12:7This passage describes marking the doorposts with blood, which parallels the divine instruction in Ezekiel 9 to 'mark' those who are to be spared, showing a consistent theme of divine protection through a distinguishing sign.
2 Samuel 6:2This verse mentions the Ark of the Covenant being in Kirjath-jearim and the ark 'where the name of the LORD of hosts… dwells between the cherubim,' connecting the cherubim mentioned in Ezekiel to the physical representation of God's dwelling place and glory.
Matthew 24:15Jesus references the 'abomination of desolation,' which echoes the 'abominations' in Jerusalem that the marked individuals in Ezekiel 9 are grieving over, linking the prophet's vision to Jesus' prophecy of destruction and judgment on Jerusalem.
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…
It’s easy to read this and think the glory of God is just leaving, but it's actually repositioning itself. It moves from its resting place on the cherubim to the threshold of the house, a significant shift that signals God is about to act from within the Temple itself, not just observing from afar, as He commissions judgment and protection.
The prophet Ezekiel witnesses the divine glory, which usually rested on the cherubim, moving from its place within the temple to the threshold. From this position, the glory calls out to a specific individual, a man dressed in linen with a scribe's inkhorn at his side, signaling that judgment is about to begin and a mark will be placed on those who mourn for the city's sins. This departure of God's presence from the inner sanctuary precedes a devastating judgment upon Jerusalem, sparing only those identified by this mark.
The prophet Ezekiel witnesses the divine glory, which usually rested on the cherubim, moving from its place within the temple to the threshold. From this position, the glory calls out to a specific individual, a man dressed in linen with a scribe's inkhorn at his side, signaling that judgment is about to begin and a mark will be placed on those who mourn for the city's sins. This departure of God's presence from the inner sanctuary precedes a devastating judgment upon Jerusalem, sparing only those identified by this mark.
"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." — It’s easy to read this and think the glory of God is just leaving, but it's actually repositioning itself. It moves from its resting place on the cherubim to the threshold of the house, a significa…
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