cherubim

Cherubim are a class of beings described in the Hebrew Bible as winged creatures associated with the presence and throne of God. The word is derived from Hebrew keruv, and the form cherubim is the standard English plural. The exact nature and origin of the term are debated, but in biblical usage it denotes beings connected with divine guardianship and proximity to the divine throne.

In the biblical narrative, cherubim appear in several key contexts. In Genesis 3, after the Fall, they guard the way to the tree of life with a flaming sword. In Exodus 25:18–20, two cherubim of gold are placed on the mercy seat atop the Ark of the Covenant, facing inward toward each other. In Solomon’s temple, carved cherubim ornament the inner sanctuary. In the prophetic visions of Ezekiel (chapters 1 and 10), cherubim are described as living creatures with multiple faces, many wings, and associated with a divine chariot and wheels, emphasizing their role as attendants around God’s throne.

The cherubim thus function as guardians and as vivid symbols of divine presence and mystery. In Jewish tradition, they are primarily understood as sacred attendants rather than personal angels in the modern sense. Over time, Christian tradition incorporated cherubim into the angelic hierarchy (often listed among the nine choirs) and aggregated their role with broader theological concepts about God’s mobility and majesty. In Western art, depictions frequently diverge from biblical descriptions, sometimes portraying cherubim as winged children, a representation that diverges from the scriptural emphasis on guardianship and proximity to the divine presence.