Read & explore together
God’s Glory Leaves Jerusalem
This short passage closes a vision given to Ezekiel. It shows God’s glory moving from the city, Ezekiel being carried by the Spirit in the vision, and the message being reported to the captives.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, Ezekiel describes what he sees in a vision. Cherubim and wheels are present in the vision, God’s glory moves from the middle of the city to the mountain east of it, and then the Spirit brings Ezekiel to the captives in Chaldea. After the vision ends, Ezekiel tells them what Yahweh showed him.
Ezekiel 11:22–25Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Ezekiel’s message came from a vision shown by God, and Ezekiel faithfully reported it to the captives.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The cherubim and the glory above themThe passage begins with movement: the cherubim lift their wings, the wheels are beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel is above them.
Explanation
The passage begins with movement: the cherubim lift their wings, the wheels are beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel is above them. These details show that Ezekiel is carefully reporting what he saw in the vision, naming its parts rather than giving a general summary.
02God’s glory leaves the middle of the cityEzekiel then says Yahweh’s glory went up from the middle of the city and stood on the mountain east of the city.
Explanation
Ezekiel then says Yahweh’s glory went up from the middle of the city and stood on the mountain east of the city. The text does not explain every meaning here, but it clearly marks a change in location. God’s glory is no longer described as being in the city’s middle.
03The Spirit carries Ezekiel in the visionNext, the Spirit lifts Ezekiel up and brings him in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the captives.
Explanation
Next, the Spirit lifts Ezekiel up and brings him in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the captives. This matters because Ezekiel says it is a vision. He carefully distinguishes this experience from ordinary travel by saying how the Spirit brought him.
04The vision ends and the message is spokenAfter that, Ezekiel says the vision went up from him. Then he spoke to the captives all the things Yahweh had shown him.
Explanation
After that, Ezekiel says the vision went up from him. Then he spoke to the captives all the things Yahweh had shown him. The final verse highlights Ezekiel’s role: he does not present his own ideas, but reports what Yahweh showed him in the vision.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details in verse 22 show that Ezekiel is describing a vision scene with care?
Look for the specific parts he names: the cherubim, their wings, the wheels, and the glory of the God of Israel above them.
02Where does Yahweh’s glory move from, and where does it stand?
Answer using the two places named in the verse: the middle of the city and the mountain on the east side of the city.
03What does Ezekiel do after the vision ends?
Notice the order in the text: the Spirit brings him to the captives, the vision ends, and then Ezekiel speaks to them all that Yahweh had shown him.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 11:22–25
22Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels were beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
23Yahweh’s glory went up from the middle of the city, and stood on the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
24The Spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the captives. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
25Then I spoke to the captives all the things that Yahweh had shown me.