Topical Bible: Cherubs

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Topical Encyclopedia

Cherubs, often referred to as cherubim in the plural form, are a class of angelic beings mentioned frequently in the Bible. They are depicted as powerful and majestic creatures that serve specific roles in the divine order, particularly in relation to the presence and glory of God.

Biblical Descriptions and Roles

The first mention of cherubs in the Bible is found in Genesis 3:24, where God places cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden, along with a flaming sword, to guard the way to the tree of life. This early reference establishes their role as guardians of sacred spaces.

In the construction of the Tabernacle, cherubs are intricately woven into the design of the inner sanctuary. Exodus 25:18-20 describes the instructions given to Moses for the Ark of the Covenant: "And make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end and the second cherub at the other end. Make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. The cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat." Here, cherubs are depicted as part of the divine throne, symbolizing the presence of God among His people.

In the visions of the prophet Ezekiel, cherubs are described in more detail. Ezekiel 1:5-11 provides a vivid portrayal: "Within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form, but each had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead. Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wing of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body." This description emphasizes their multifaceted nature and their role as bearers of God's glory.

Symbolism and Theological Significance

Cherubs are often associated with the holiness and majesty of God. Their presence in the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the Tabernacle and later the Temple, underscores their role as protectors of divine sanctity. The imagery of cherubs in Ezekiel's vision and their association with the divine chariot further highlight their function as attendants to God's throne, emphasizing His sovereignty and omnipresence.

In Christian theology, cherubs are sometimes seen as symbols of divine wisdom and knowledge. Their multiple faces and wings suggest an ability to perceive and move in all directions, representing the all-seeing and all-knowing nature of God.

Artistic Depictions

Throughout history, cherubs have been a popular subject in religious art and iconography. In Western art, they are often depicted as chubby, winged infants, a portrayal that diverges from the biblical descriptions but captures the idea of innocence and purity. This artistic interpretation has influenced the common perception of cherubs in popular culture.

Conclusion

Cherubs, as described in the Bible, are complex and awe-inspiring beings that serve as guardians of sacred spaces and attendants to the divine presence. Their portrayal in Scripture highlights the majesty and holiness of God, offering a glimpse into the heavenly realm and the order of angelic beings that serve the Creator.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Plural of Cherub.

Greek

5502. Cheroubin -- Cherubim, heavenly beings who serve God
... cherubims. Plural of Hebrew origin (kruwb); "cherubim" (ie Cherubs or kerubim) --
cherubims. see HEBREW kruwb. (cheroubin) -- 1 Occurrence. 5501, 5502. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5502.htm - 6k

Library

The King --Continued.
... of the wind. The cherubs bear, as in a chariot, the throned God, and the
swift pinions of the storm bear the cherubs. But He that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/x the kingcontinued.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead
... No; assuredly not. From this we learn that an angel watches over every tomb. It
is no fiction, when on the marble we carve the cherubs with their wings. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the resurrection of the dead.htm

The Death of the Christian
... He had wings of cherubs, and a body glorious as Gabriel. ... Methinks I die,
and the angels approach. I am on the wings of cherubs. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the death of the christian.htm

Heart's-Ease
... All the world is an utterance of the Almighty. [Illustration: Cherubs, flowers].
It seems so far off, that Cross of Jesus, and it really is so near! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brooks/hearts-ease/hearts-ease.htm

Jesus at Capernaum.
... We must remember, that in the Jewish ideas, which were averse to art and mythology,
the simple form of man had a superiority over that of Cherubs, and of the ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter viii jesus at capernaum.htm

The Origin of Evil
... the inhabitants of heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was first of the covering
cherubs, holy and undefiled. "Thus saith the Lord ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 29 the origin of.htm

The Origin of Evil.
... the inhabitants of heaven. Before his fall, Lucifer was first of the covering
cherubs, holy and undefiled. "Thus saith the Lord ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /29 the origin of evil.htm

Sovereignty and Salvation
... and no-existent; yet there was God, and he was "over all blessed for ever;" though
no seraphs hymned his praises, though no strong-winged cherubs flashed like ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/sovereignty and salvation.htm

Ode iii.
... Rejoice, O Bethlehem, the city. Whence Judah's monarchs had their birth; Where He
that sitteth on the Cherubs,. The King of Israel, came on earth: ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neale/hymns of the eastern church/ode iii 3.htm

Psalm 99:1. First Part. Christ's Kingdom and Majesty.
... humble there. 2 Jesus the Saviour reigns, Let earth adore its Lord; Bright
cherubs his attendants stand, Swift to fulfil his word. 3 ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 99 1 0 first part christs.htm

Thesaurus

Cherubs (52 Occurrences)
...Cherubs (52 Occurrences). ... Exodus 25:18 and thou hast made two cherubs of gold, beaten
work dost thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat; (YLT). ...
/c/cherubs.htm - 22k

Spreading (74 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:20 And the cherubs have been spreading out wings on high, covering the
mercy-seat over with their wings, and their faces 'are' one towards another ...
/s/spreading.htm - 28k

Inhabiting (23 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 4:4 And the people sendeth to Shiloh, and they take up thence the ark of
the covenant of Jehovah of Hosts, inhabiting the cherubs, and there 'are' two ...
/i/inhabiting.htm - 13k

Openings (27 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 6:29 and all the walls of the house round about he hath carved with openings
of carvings, cherubs, and palm trees, and openings of flowers, within and ...
/o/openings.htm - 14k

Oil-tree (5 Occurrences)
... Oil-tree (5 Occurrences). 1 Kings 6:23 And he maketh within the oracle two cherubs,
of the oil-tree, ten cubits 'is' their height; (YLT). ...
/o/oil-tree.htm - 8k

Designer (12 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:1 And thou dost make the tabernacle: ten curtains of twined linen, and
blue, and purple, and scarlet; 'with' cherubs, work of a designer, thou dost ...
/d/designer.htm - 10k

Overlayeth (19 Occurrences)
... oracle, and overlayeth it with gold. (YLT). 1 Kings 6:28 and he overlayeth
the cherubs with gold, (YLT). 1 Kings 10:18 And the king ...
/o/overlayeth.htm - 11k

Cherub (21 Occurrences)
... as blue, to denote knowledge, as distinguished from the seraphim (see Seraph), and
in later art the children's heads with wings are generally called cherubs. ...
/c/cherub.htm - 18k

Maketh (399 Occurrences)
... (ASV JPS). Exodus 26:31 And thou hast made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet,
and twined linen, work of a designer; he maketh it 'with' cherubs; (YLT). ...
/m/maketh.htm - 34k

Causeth (209 Occurrences)
... Genesis 3:24 yea, he casteth out the man, and causeth to dwell at the east of the
garden of Eden the cherubs and the flame of the sword which is turning itself ...
/c/causeth.htm - 38k

Resources

What are cherubim? Are cherubs angels? | GotQuestions.org

What is Angelology? | GotQuestions.org

What is the purpose of angels? | GotQuestions.org

Cherubs: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Cherubs (52 Occurrences)

Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed Cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
(WEB YLT)

Exodus 25:18
and thou hast made two cherubs of gold, beaten work dost thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;
(YLT)

Exodus 25:19
and make thou one cherub at the end on this side, and one cherub at the end on that; at the mercy-seat ye do make the cherubs on its two ends.
(YLT)

Exodus 25:20
And the cherubs have been spreading out wings on high, covering the mercy-seat over with their wings, and their faces 'are' one towards another -- towards the mercy-seat are the faces of the cherubs.
(YLT)

Exodus 25:22
and I have met with thee there, and have spoken with thee from off the mercy-seat (from between the two cherubs, which 'are' on the ark of the testimony) all that which I command thee concerning the sons of Israel.
(YLT)

Exodus 26:1
And thou dost make the tabernacle: ten curtains of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet; 'with' cherubs, work of a designer, thou dost make them;
(YLT)

Exodus 26:31
And thou hast made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, work of a designer; he maketh it 'with' cherubs;
(YLT)

Exodus 36:8
And all the wise-hearted ones among the doers of the work make the tabernacle; ten curtains of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, 'with' cherubs, work of a designer, he hath made them.
(YLT)

Exodus 36:35
And he maketh the vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, work of a designer he hath made it, 'with' cherubs;
(YLT)

Exodus 37:7
and he maketh two cherubs of gold, of beaten work he hath made them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;
(YLT)

Exodus 37:8
one cherub at the end on this 'side', and one cherub at the end on that, out of the mercy-seat he hath made the cherubs, at its two ends;
(YLT)

Exodus 37:9
and the cherubs are spreading out wings on high, covering over the mercy-seat with their wings, and their faces 'are' one towards another; towards the mercy-seat have the faces of the cherubs been.
(YLT)

Numbers 7:89
And in the going in of Moses unto the tent of meeting to speak with Him -- he doth even hear the voice speaking unto him from off the mercy-seat which 'is' upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubs; and He speaketh unto him.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 4:4
And the people sendeth to Shiloh, and they take up thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of Hosts, inhabiting the cherubs, and there 'are' two sons of Eli, with the ark of the covenant of God, Hophni and Phinehas.
(YLT)

2 Samuel 6:2
and David riseth and goeth, and all the people who 'are' with him, from Baale-Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God, whose name hath been called -- the name of Jehovah of Hosts, inhabiting the cherubs -- upon it.
(YLT)

1 Kings 6:23
And he maketh within the oracle two cherubs, of the oil-tree, ten cubits 'is' their height;
(YLT)

1 Kings 6:25
and ten by the cubit 'is' the second cherub, one measure and one form 'are' to the two cherubs,
(YLT)

1 Kings 6:27
and he setteth the cherubs in the midst of the inner house, and they spread out the wings of the cherubs, and a wing of the one cometh against the wall, and a wing of the second cherub is coming against the second wall, and their wings 'are' unto the midst of the house, coming wing against wing;
(YLT)

1 Kings 6:28
and he overlayeth the cherubs with gold,
(YLT)

1 Kings 6:29
and all the walls of the house round about he hath carved with openings of carvings, cherubs, and palm trees, and openings of flowers, within and without.
(YLT)

1 Kings 6:32
And the two doors 'are' of the oil-tree, and he hath carved upon them carvings of cherubs, and palm-trees, and openings of flowers, and overlaid with gold, and he causeth the gold to go down on the cherubs and on the palm-trees.
(YLT)

1 Kings 6:35
And he hath carved cherubs, and palms, and openings of flowers, and overlaid with straightened gold the graved work.
(YLT)

1 Kings 7:36
And he openeth on the tablets of its spokes, and on its borders, cherubs, lions, and palm-trees, according to the void space of each, and additions round about.
(YLT)

1 Kings 8:6
And the priests bring in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, unto the oracle of the house, unto the holy of holies, unto the place of the wings of the cherubs;
(YLT)

1 Kings 8:7
for the cherubs are spreading forth two wings unto the place of the ark, and the cherubs cover over the ark, and over its staves from above;
(YLT)

2 Kings 19:15
And Hezekiah prayeth before Jehovah, and saith, 'O Jehovah, God of Israel, inhabiting the cherubs, Thou 'art' God Himself -- Thyself alone -- to all the kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made the heavens and the earth.
(YLT)

1 Chronicles 13:6
and David goeth up, and all Israel, to Baalah, unto Kirjath-Jearim that 'is' to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God Jehovah, inhabiting the cherubs, where the Name is called on.
(YLT)

1 Chronicles 28:18
and for the altar of perfume refined gold by weight, and for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubs of gold -- spreading and covering over the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 3:7
and he covereth the house, the beams, the thresholds, and its walls, and its doors, with gold, and hath graved cherubs on the walls.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 3:10
And he maketh in the most holy house two cherubs, image work, and he overlayeth them with gold;
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 3:11
as to the wings of the cherubs, their length 'is' twenty cubits, the wing of the one 'is' five cubits, touching the wall of the house, and the other wing 'is' five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 3:13
The wings of these cherubs are spreading forth twenty cubits, and they are standing on their feet and their faces 'are' inward.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 3:14
And he maketh the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and causeth cherubs to go up on it.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 5:7
And the priests bring in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, unto the oracle of the house, unto the holy of holies, unto the place of the wings of the cherubs;
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 5:8
and the cherubs are spreading out wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubs cover over the ark, and over its staves, from above;
(YLT)

Psalms 99:1
Jehovah hath reigned, peoples tremble, The Inhabitant of the cherubs, the earth shaketh.
(YLT)

Isaiah 37:16
Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, inhabiting the cherubs, Thou 'art' God Himself -- Thyself alone -- to all kingdoms of the earth, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:1
And I look, and lo, on the expanse that 'is' above the head of the cherubs, as a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne, He hath been seen over them.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:3
And the cherubs are standing on the right side of the house, at the going in of the man, and the cloud hath filled the inner court,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:5
And a noise of the wings of the cherubs hath been heard unto the outer court, as the voice of God -- the Mighty One -- in His speaking.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:6
And it cometh to pass, in His commanding the man clothed with linen, saying, 'Take fire from between the wheel, from between the cherubs,' and he goeth in and standeth near the wheel,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:7
that the 'one' cherub putteth forth his hand from between the cherubs unto the fire that 'is' between the cherubs, and lifteth up, and giveth into the hands of him who is clothed with linen, and he receiveth, and cometh forth.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:8
And there appeareth in the cherubs the form of a hand of man under their wings,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:9
and I look, and lo, four wheels near the cherubs, one wheel near the one cherub, and another wheel near the other cherub, and the appearance of the wheels 'is' as the colour of a beryl stone.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:15
And the cherubs are lifted up, it 'is' the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:16
And in the going of the cherubs, the wheels go beside them; and in the cherubs lifting up their wings to be high above the earth, the wheels turn not round, even they, from being beside them.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:18
And go forth doth the honour of Jehovah from off the threshold of the house, and standeth over the cherubs,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 10:20
It 'is' the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar, and I know that they are cherubs.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 11:22
And the cherubs lift up their wings, and the wheels 'are' over-against them, and the honour of the God of Israel 'is' over them above.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 41:18
And it is made 'with' cherubs and palm-trees, and a palm-tree 'is' between cherub and cherub, and two faces 'are' to the cherub;
(YLT)

Ezekiel 41:20
from the earth unto above the opening 'are' the cherubs and the palm-trees made, and 'on' the wall of the temple.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 41:25
And made on them, on the doors of the temple, 'are' cherubs and palm-trees as are made on the walls, and a thickness of wood 'is' at the front of the porch on the outside.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Cherubs

Related Terms

Jearim (19 Occurrences)

Ches'alon (1 Occurrence)

Seir (38 Occurrences)

Cherubs (52 Occurrences)

Kesalon (1 Occurrence)

Kiriath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Kiriathjearim

Northwards (4 Occurrences)

Northern (18 Occurrences)