What are cherubim? Are cherubs angels?
Answered from the commentary of Morrish Bible Dictionary, F. B. Hole, A. J. Pollock and 4 others
Cherubim are heavenly beings associated with God’s throne and His judicial government; they are shown guarding the way to the tree of life and attending the throne. Whether they are angels is not settled alike by these passages: some call them a special order of angelic beings or heavenly ministers, while another says they are created spiritual beings but are never identified in Scripture with angels. Others understand them as symbols of God’s judicial power or attributes, rather than created beings.
Verses: Genesis 3:24, Exodus 25:18, Exodus 25:19, Exodus 25:20, Exodus 25:21, Exodus 25:22, Ezekiel 10:1, Ezekiel 10:2, Ezekiel 10:3, Ezekiel 10:4, Ezekiel 10:5, Ezekiel 10:6, Ezekiel 10:7, Ezekiel 10:8, Ezekiel 10:9, Ezekiel 10:10, Ezekiel 10:11, Ezekiel 10:12, Ezekiel 10:13, Ezekiel 10:14, Ezekiel 10:15, Ezekiel 10:16, Ezekiel 10:17, Ezekiel 10:18, Ezekiel 10:19, Ezekiel 10:20, Ezekiel 10:21, Ezekiel 10:22, Ezekiel 1:4, Ezekiel 1:5, Ezekiel 1:6, Ezekiel 1:7, Ezekiel 1:8, Ezekiel 1:9, Ezekiel 1:10, Ezekiel 1:11, Ezekiel 1:12, Ezekiel 1:13, Ezekiel 1:14, Ezekiel 1:15, Ezekiel 1:16, Ezekiel 1:17, Ezekiel 1:18, Ezekiel 1:19, Ezekiel 1:20, Ezekiel 1:21, Ezekiel 1:22, Ezekiel 1:23, Ezekiel 1:24, Ezekiel 1:25, Ezekiel 1:26, Ezekiel 1:27, Ezekiel 1:28, Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah 6:2, Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah 6:4, Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah 6:6, Isaiah 6:7, Hebrews 9:5, Revelation 4:6, Revelation 4:7, Revelation 4:8, Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:7, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 5:11, Revelation 5:12, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 5:14
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
The two cherubims were also of gold, beaten into the required shape, and really all of a piece with the mercy seat, one at either end of it. Genesis 3:24, plainly indicates that the cherubims are a special order of angelic beings, that are concerned with. the execution of God's righteous judgments. The next time they are mentioned in the Scripture is in our chapter, where they are to be represented in gold. Beyond the mention of their wings and their faces no attempt is made to describe their form.
The fact that they had faces indicates that they had perception - eyes to behold. Their wings declared that they would be swift to act in righteousness against sin. But their faces were to be, "toward the mercy seat," and not looking outward toward the sinful people. They were to be represented as gazing on the spot where the blood of propitiation was to be. So in Genesis 3, we see them with the flaming sword of judgment against sin. Here as in repose, because their eye is on the blood. In Ezekiel we find the cherubims more fully described, and there they are seen supporting, "the likeness of a throne," and on that, "the likeness as the appearance of a man." Thus these foreshadowings advance step by step, and we see them first, with the sword of justice; then with the blood of sacrifice; lastly, upholding the Saviour on His throne.
Representatives of God's power in creation and judicial government. They were placed at Eden to keep the tree of life after the fall of man. Gen. 3:24. They were depicted in needlework and in carving both in the tabernacle and the temple, and two of them with wings were represented as overshadowing the mercy-seat. Ex. 25:18-22; Ex. 26:1, 31; Ex. 37:7-9; 1 Kings 6:23-35; 1 Kings 8:6-7. In the visions of Ezekiel cherubim were seen in connection with the wheels, representing the glory and course of God's government in active judgement of Israel. They are called 'living creatures' in Ezekiel 1, with the faces of a man (intelligence), of a lion (strength), of an ox (plodding endurance), and of an eagle (swiftness): see also Ezekiel 10: where they are called 'cherubims,' and cf. Rev. 4:6-9, etc., where in the A.V. the four living creatures are unhappily called 'beasts.'
The first mention of cherubim, in Genesis 3:24, certainly conveys the impression that they were some kind of angelic being. On the other hand Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4 and Revelation 5 are records of visions granted to prophets, and the living creatures appear to be rather symbolic of God's governmental actions in the sphere of creation. God's ways have the strength of the lion, and endurance of the ox, the intelligence of a man, the swiftness and elevation of an eagle. The living creatures are also "full of eyes," not only before and behind, but also within — they scrutinize all the future, and all the past, and the deep internal secrets of the ways of God. Hence they contribute to His praise, giving glory and honour and thanks to Him continually, declaring Him to be the thrice Holy, who lives for ever and ever. Thrice Holy, notice! Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
The cherubim have been well described as "God's judicial executive, to whomsoever entrusted, and in whatsoever circumstances displayed." They do not appear to be a distinct order in the creation of God; they are rather symbolical figures. In His ways of government and judgement God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Whichever it may be, the instruments employed would be God's cherubim for the moment.
The throne of God is mentioned in Revelation chapter 4 but no details are given there about it. This is also the case in the many other passages in the Revelation where the throne is referred to. We are not told what it looks like or, rather, because we are not speaking about material things, what are its characteristics. We do have descriptions of the throne of God in the heavenlies in Ezekiel chapter 1, verse 26, and in Isaiah chapter 6, verse 1. These verses show us that this glorious throne is surrounded and characterised by spiritual beings, especially the "living creatures" as they are called in the first chapter of Ezekiel. The cherubim and seraphim are created spiritual beings but they are never identified in the Word of God with angels. I do not know whether it is wrong to say that they are angels, but Scripture does not do so. In the Book of Revelation the four living creatures certainly combine the characteristics of the living creatures in Ezekiel and the seraphim in Isaiah, chapter 6. The Book of Ezekiel shows us the characteristics of the governmental throne of God.
Two cherubim of gold, made of one piece with the mercy seat, stood over the ark of the covenant. Their faces were turned towards the place where the blood was brought once a year on the great day of atonement. We read in 1 Samuel 4, verse 4, and 2 Samuel 6, verse 2, that God sat between the two cherubim. The German translation says: "He sits on His throne between the cherubim," and it is evident that the ark was the throne of God. It is the most complete representation of the Person and work of the Lord. In this connection we read in Hebrews, chapter 9, of the "Holy of holies, having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, covered round in every part with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables of the covenant; and above over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which it is not now the time to speak in detail."
The throne of God is mentioned in Revelation 4 but no details are given there about it. This is also the case in the many other passages in the Revelation where the throne is referred to. We are not told what it looks like or, rather, because we are not speaking about material things, what are its characteristics. We do have descriptions of the throne of God in the heavenlies in Ezekiel chapter 1, verse 26, and in Isaiah chapter 6, verse 1. These verses show us that this glorious throne is surrounded and characterised by spiritual beings, especially the ‘living creatures’ as they are called in the first chapter of Ezekiel. The cherubim and seraphim are created spiritual beings but they are never identified in the Word of God with angels. I do not know whether it is wrong to say that they are angels, but Scripture does not do so. In the book of Revelation the four living creatures certainly combine the characteristics of the living creatures in Ezekiel and the seraphim in Isaiah, chapter 6. The book of Ezekiel shows us the characteristics of the governmental throne of God.
Two cherubim of gold, made of one piece with the mercy seat, stood over the ark of the covenant. Their faces were turned towards the place where the blood was brought once a year on the day of atonement. We read in 1 Samuel 4:4, and 2 Samuel 6:2, that God sat between the two cherubim. The German translation says: ‘He sits on His throne between the cherubim’, and it is evident that the ark was the throne of God. It is the most complete representation of the person and work of the Lord. In this connection we read in Hebrews 9, of the ‘Holy of holies, having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, covered round in every part with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables of the covenant; and above over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which it is not now the time to speak in detail.’
The Cherubims
Cherubims, angelic creatures, were God's messengers of judgment. Cherubims and a flaming sword barred our fallen and sinful first parents' access to the Tree of Life, lest they should eat of it, and live forever. They stood as representative of God's righteous judgment: "Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne" (Ps. 89:14).
Two cherubims of gold, beaten of one piece (see Ex. 37:7) with outstretched wings covering the Mercy Seat, their faces looking towards each other, and downward towards the Mercy Seat, were placed on the top of the Mercy Seat, as it rested on the Ark.
Overshadowing the mercy seat were two cherubims of gold, standing with outstretched wings, covering therewith the mercy seat, their faces looking inwards and downwards—towards each other and the mercy seat.
There is very little said about cherubims in Scripture, but from what little is said we gather they were God’s messengers of judgment.
Cherubim and Seraphim have ever been associated in people’s mind with the angels. Allusions to them in the Scriptures are few and mysterious.
Cherubim
Verses
- Genesis 3:24And he drove out Man; and he set the Cherubim, and the flame of the flashing sword, toward the east of the garden of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life.
- Exodus 25:18–2218And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; [of] beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat. 19And make one cherub at the end of the one side, and one cherub at the end of the other side; out of the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim at the two ends thereof. 20And the cherubim shall stretch out [their] wings over it, covering over with their wings the mercy-seat, and their faces opposite to one another toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be [turned]. 21And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above on the ark, and shalt put in the ark the testimony that I shall give thee. 22And there will I meet with thee, and will speak with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, everything that I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
- Ezekiel 10:1–221And I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 2And he spoke unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Come in between the wheels, under the cherub, and fill the hollow of thy hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. 3And the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. 4And the glory of Jehovah mounted up from the cherub, [and came] over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of Jehovah's glory. 5And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. 6And it came to pass when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim, then he went in, and stood beside the wheel. 7And the cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and took and put it into the hands of him [that was] clothed with linen; who took [it], and went out. 8And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man's hand under their wings. 9And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was as the look of a chrysolite stone. 10And as for their appearance, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel were in the midst of a wheel. 11When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it they turned not as they went. 12And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes round about, in them four [and] their wheels. 13As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, Galgal. 14And every one had four faces the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15And the cherubim mounted up. This was the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar. 16And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. 17When they stood, these stood; and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them for the spirit of the living creature was in them. 18And the glory of Jehovah departed from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight, when they went out; and the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of Jehovah's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. 21Each one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. 22And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I had seen by the river Chebar — their appearance and themselves they went every one straight before them.