King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 9:3 Mean?

Ezekiel 9:3 in the King James Version says “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 ...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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;”

Ezekiel 9:3 · KJV

Context

1

He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

2

And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. which lieth: Heb. which is turned a slaughter: Heb. a weapon of his breaking in pieces by his: Heb. upon his loins

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;

4

And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. set a mark: Heb. mark a mark

5

And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: mine hearing: Heb. mine ears

Read Ezekiel 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. This verse marks a crucial moment—God's glory begins departing from the temple. The glory (kavod, כָּבוֹד) previously rested on the cherubim above the ark in the holy of holies. Its movement to the threshold signals impending departure. God doesn't destroy His house while His presence remains; He withdraws first, then judgment falls. This demonstrates that the temple's sanctity derived from divine presence, not architectural status. When God departs, the building becomes mere stone awaiting destruction.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Solomon's temple dedication witnessed God's glory filling the house (1 Kings 8:10-11). For centuries, this presence validated temple worship. But persistent idolatry (Ezekiel 8) polluted the sanctuary, forcing God's departure. The staged withdrawal (from cherubim to threshold in 9:3, to temple entrance in 10:4, to east gate in 10:19, and finally leaving entirely in 11:23) demonstrated God's reluctance yet inevitability. When glory departed, Jerusalem became indefensible—the city's true protection was divine presence, not walls or armies.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God's gradual, reluctant departure teach about His patience and grief over judgment?
  2. How does divine presence determine a building's sacredness rather than architecture or tradition?
  3. In what ways might God's presence depart from churches or individuals who persist in sin?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וּכְב֣וֹד׀1 of 21

“And the glory”

H3519

properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness

אֱלֹהֵ֣י2 of 21

“of the God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל3 of 21

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

נַעֲלָה֙4 of 21

“was gone up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

מֵעַ֤ל5 of 21
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַכְּרוּב֙6 of 21

“from the cherub”

H3742

a cherub or imaginary figure

אֲשֶׁ֣ר7 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

הָיָ֣ה8 of 21
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

עָלָ֔יו9 of 21
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אֶ֖ל10 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מִפְתַּ֣ן11 of 21

“whereupon he was to the threshold”

H4670

a stretcher, i.e., a sill

הַבָּ֑יִת12 of 21

“of the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

וַיִּקְרָ֗א13 of 21

“And he called”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל14 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָאִישׁ֙15 of 21

“to the man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

הַלָּבֻ֣שׁ16 of 21

“clothed”

H3847

properly, wrap around, i.e., (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively

הַבַּדִּ֔ים17 of 21

“with linen”

H906

flaxen thread or yarn; hence, a linen garment

אֲשֶׁ֛ר18 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

קֶ֥סֶת19 of 21

“inkhorn”

H7083

properly, a cup, i.e., an ink-stand

הַסֹּפֵ֖ר20 of 21

“which had the writer's”

H5608

properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra

בְּמָתְנָֽיו׃21 of 21

“by his side”

H4975

properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 9:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 9:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 10:4Ezekiel 11:22-23Ezekiel 43:2-4Ezekiel 3:23Ezekiel 8:4

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