CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM IN THE BIBLE, WHAT ARE THE CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM LIKE?
What the Bible says about cherubs and seraphim in the Bible
1. The Old Testament certainly has a lot to say about angels.
to. Of his service to God and his people.
b. Carrying the will of God as messengers and in other ways.
2. There are also two other classes of spiritual beings at the service of God: Seraphim and cherubs according to the Bible
to. Cherub (singular – cherub or cherub) a word whose etymology is uncertain.
3. What are those spiritual beings, Cherubim and Seraphim in the Bible?
to. The seraphim and cherubs, they certainly fit into the category of ministering spirits.
b. The seraphim and cherubs, are they angels or a higher class than they are?
We could not answer from this side of eternity but let’s see what the Bible reveals about seraphim and cherubs.
I. THE CHERUBS IN THE BIBLE, WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?, WHAT IS A CHERUB?
A. The Cherubim in the Bible as Guardians of Paradise.
1. The Cherubim in the Bible were placed by God after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden Genesis 3:24.
2. In their role as guardians of paradise, they present an analogy to the winged lions and bulls of Assyria and Babylon. The gigantic statues with human faces that stand guard at the entrance of temples and palaces as well as in Egypt, the entrance of the sanctuaries are guarded by sphinxes.
3. No description is given but the mention of “flaming swords” is notorious.
B. Cherubs in the Bible as Throne Bearers.
1. As God’s assistants, the cherubim carry the throne on which he descends from his dwelling Psalms 18:9,10.
2. Through the use of parallel synonyms they are described as the “wings of the wind” Ps.18:10; 104:3.
3. Thus, God is described as “sitting on the cherubs” Ps.80:1; 99:1, 1Sam.4:4.
C. The Cherubim in the Bible are like Winged Beings of Fire.
1. The role of cherubs in the Bible
The function of the cherubim in the Bible, as bearers and movers of the divine throne, is carried out more clearly in Ezekiel’s vision.
to. In chapter 1 the prophet designates them as “living beings” Eze.1:4,5.
b. Later he perceives that the living beings were “cherubs” Eze.10: 15, 20.
c. The chariot or throne from which the glory rose is a cherub Eze.9:3.
2. The cherubs in the Bible seen by Ezekiel, four living creatures. What are the cherubs like? What is cherub?
The cherubs in the Bible seen by Ezekiel were four living beings, each one had:
to. Four faces: Of man, lion, ox (replaced in the parallel chapter as cherub) eagle, Eze.1:10; 10:14
b. The figure and hands of man Ezekiel 1:5,8.
c. Their feet were straight, and the soles of their feet were like those of a calf and flashed like burnished bronze, Eze.1:7.
d. four wings:
– Two extended above them, which came together supporting the divine throne, Ezekiel.1:11, 22; 10:1.
– Two wings extended below their bodies, Eze.1:11, 23.
– They had the sound of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the noise of an army, Ezekiel 1:24.
3. The appearance of the cherubs in the Bible as seen by Ezekiel
The cherubs in the Bible that were seen by the prophet Ezekiel were in appearance like:
to. Surrounded by coals of fire.
b. Torches burning like fire and lightning that rose and fell among the living beings like fire that glowed, Ezekiel 1:13.
4. The cherub seen by Ezekiel according to the Bible
to. They ran and returned like lightning, Ezekiel 1:14.
b. They did not turn when they walked, they always walked straight ahead, Ezekiel 1:9, 17; 10:11.
c. They had on each side of them a wheel, Ezekiel :15-21.
– As color of beryl (sea green or gold color) Ezekiel :16. 2)
– Like a wheel between wheels, Ezekiel 1:16.
– They did not turn when they walked, they moved towards their four sides, Ezekiel 1:17.
– And their earrings were high and terrifying and full of eyes, Eze.1:18.
– Which followed the cherubs wherever they went, Eze.1:19.
– The spirit of the cherubs provided the direction of the wheels, Ezekiel 1:19-21, 10:16, 17.
5. Above the cherubs (the living beings) was…
to. A marvelous crystal-like expanse or firmament, Ezekiel 1:25.
b. A voice was heard from above the firmament.
c. A throne like a sapphire stone, and on the figure of the throne there was a likeness that seemed to be of a man, Ezekiel 1:26.
– From the appearance of their loins upwards, like glowing bronze like the appearance of fire all around, Ezekiel 1:27.
– From their loins downwards like fire that had glow around it, Ezekiel 1:27.
d. The brightness of it like the rainbow around, Ezekiel 1:28.
This is how Ezekiel described the appearance of the glory of the Lord, Ezekiel 1:28, Rev.4:2-6.
D. Cherubim in the Bible as Ornaments in the Tabernacle and the Temple.
1. Cherubim in the Tabernacle according to the Bible
to. On the mercy seat covering the ark were two solid gold cherubs.
– Facing each other with wings extended upwards, Ex.25:18-20; 37:7-9.
– Above which appeared the glory of the Lord, and from where he spoke, Ex.25:22, Num.7:89, 1Sam.4:4, 2Sam.6:2, Heb.9:5.
b. Over the curtains were artistic woven designs of cherubs, Ex.26:1; 36:8.
c. There were also on the veil of the tabernacle, Ex.26:31; 36:35.
2. Cherubim in the Temple of Solomon according to the Bible
to. Inside the Sanctuary in the most holy place, 1King.6:23-29, 2Chr.3:10-13.
– Placed on the ark of the covenant, 1King.8:6, 7, 2Chr.5:7, 8.
– Where the presence of the Lord was manifested 2King.19:15, Sal.80:1; 99:1.
b. On the veil 2Cr.3:14.
c. On the walls and the door 1King.6:29-35, 2Chron.3:7
d. On the ten sockets and ten boards 1 King 7:29, 36.
3. Cherubim in the Temple of Ezekiel according to the Bible
to. That is the Temple that Ezekiel saw in a vision, Eze.41-43.
b. On the interior walls of the Temple alternate palm trees and cherubs were carved, each with two faces, on one side a lion and on the other a man, Eze.41:18-20.
c. The doors of the sanctuary were carved with cherubs, Eze.41:23-25.
4. In Herod’s Temple
to. There were no cherubs in Herod’s temple but figures of them were drawn on the walls.
b. In Josefa’s time no one knew what the shape of the scriptural cherub was.
II. THE SERAPHIM IN THE BIBLE
What are seraphim in the Bible?
Unlike the cherub, there is only one specific mention of the Seraphim in the Bible.
A. Seraphim in the Bible, vision of Isaiah.
1. The Lord is on a throne in the Temple, high and lifted up, Isa.6:1.
2. The seraphim in the Bible are above the throne, Isa.6:2.
3. Seraphim in the Bible have six wings, Isa.6:2.
to. With two they cover their faces.
b. With two they cover their feet.
c. And with two they flew.
4. The Seraphim, according to the Bible, gave each other voices saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Jehovah of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory” Isa.6:3.
5. A Seraphim flew to Isaiah, Isa.6:6, 7.
to. The Seraph flew with a burning coal in his hands taken from the altar with pincers.
b. He touched Isaiah’s mouth saying: “Behold, this touched your lips and removes your guilt and cleanses you from sin”
B. How Seraphim Are Described by Various Sources.
1. The word Seraphim means “fiery beings” it is supposed to allude to their fiery love, they are represented and they are above the throne where the King is seated ready to serve Him. Their form seems like human beings, only that with wings (Eastron’s Dictionary)
2. Nowhere is it applied to the angels serving God, but to “living beings” such as snakes (they were not winged but fast moving) that stung the Israelites (Num.21:4-6) are called for the inflammatory venom caused by the bites.
Seraphim is burning, burning zeal, refulgent brilliance 2King.2:11, 6:17, Ezekiel 1:13, Mat.28:3 and the speed of the serpent like that of the seraphim at the service of God. Perhaps Satan’s form as a serpent with the appearance of a man has some connection to his original form as a seraph of light.
The head of the serpent was a symbol of the wisdom of Egypt (compare Num.21:8, 2King.18:4) the seraph with six wings is difficult to identify as the Cherubim, which had four wings (in the temple only two) and four faces Eze.1:5-12, but compare Rev.4:8. The face and foot imply a human form, in the shape of something like a serpent (perhaps cobra-headed as in the Tabas temples) or perhaps a mixture with cobra.
Thus, the cherub was composed of various forms of animals. However, “Seraf” comes from a root word meaning chief prince applied in Daniel 10:13 to Michael, just as “Cherub” comes from a root word meaning “noble.”
3. The most that can be said with certainty regarding the seraphim is that they were a separate group of attendants praising God on his throne.
Conclusion on Cherubim and Seraphim in the Bible:
Seraphim and cherubs in the Bible
1. That whether either a seraph or a cherub can be rightly called angels is uncertain.
to. Perhaps they are a higher order or types of angels, Heb.1:7.
b. If they are similar to the living beings in Revelation it is seen that they differ from the angels, Rev.4:6-8, 5:11.
2. In any case, they certainly were “ministering spirits” whose service reminds us:
to. Of the glory and majesty of which he sits on the throne.
b. Of the mercy and forgiveness of God whom they praise.
Are we like the cherubs on the mercy seat who contemplate the mercy that God extends to his people?
Are we like the seraphim in the Bible who find God’s holiness to be praiseworthy?
“But you are a chosen lineage, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people chosen by God so that you may announce the virtues of him who called you out of darkness into his admirable light; you who in another time were not a people but who are now the people of God; that in another time you had not obtained mercy, but now you have obtained mercy” 1Pet.2: 9, 10.
Have you obeyed the gospel that qualifies you to live a life of service to this unique and wonderful God? 2Thes.2:14, Col.1:12, 13.