Lexical Summary Cheroubin: Cherubim Original Word: Χερουβίν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cherubims. Plural of Hebrew origin (kruwb); "cherubim" (i.e. Cherubs or kerubim) -- cherubims. see HEBREW kruwb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin, pl. of kerub Definition Cherubim, heavenly beings who serve God NASB Translation cherubim (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5502: χερουβιμχερουβιμ (R G) and Χερούβειν (L T Tr WH; in manuscripts also Χερουβιν, Χερουβειμ; (cf. Tdf Proleg., p. 84; WH's Appendix, p. 155a; and under the word εἰ, ἰ)), τά (neuter gender also in most places in the Sept.; rarely, as Exodus 25:18, 19, οἱ χερουβιμ; Χερουβεις in Exodus 25:18 (but this is a mistake; the form in Χερουβεις seems not to occur in the O. T.); in Philo τά χερουβιμ, in Josephus, οἱ Χερουβεις, Antiquities 3, 6, 5; αἱ Χερουβεις, ibid. 8, 3, 3; the use of the neuter gender seemed most suitable, because they were ζῷα; Χερουβεις ζῷα ἐστι πετεινά, μορφήν δ' ὀυδεναι τῶν ὑπ' ἀνθρώπων ἑωραμενων παραπλησια, Josephus, Antiquities 3, 6, 5), Hebrew כְּרוּבִים (hardly of Semitic origin, but cognate to the Greek γρύψ, γρυπος (for the various opinions cf. Gesenius' Hebrew Lexicon, Mühlau and Volck edition, under the word כְּרוּב)), cherubim, two golden figures of living creatures with two wings; they were fastened to the lid of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of holies (both of the sacred tabernacle and of Solomon's temple) in such a manner that their faces were turned toward each other and down toward the lid, which they overshadowed with their expanded wings. Between these figures God was regarded as having fixed his dwelling-place (see δόξα, III. 1): Hebrews 9:5. In Ezekiel 1 and Ezekiel 10 another and far more elaborate form is ascribed to them; but the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews has Exodus 25:18-20 in mind. Cf. Winers RWB, under the word Cherubim; Gesenius, Thesaurus, ii., p. 710f; Dillmann in Schenkel i. 509ff; Riehm, De Natura et Notione Symbolica Cheruborum (Basil. 1864); also his 'Die Cherubim in d. Stiftshütte u. im Tempel' in the Theol. Studien und Kritiken for 1871, p. 399ff; and in his HWB, p. 227ff; (cf. Lenormant, Beginnings of History (N. Y. 1882), chapter iii.). Topical Lexicon Occurrence in the New Testament Hebrews 9:5 contains the only New Testament use of the Greek plural Χερουβίν. In the writer’s description of the earthly sanctuary, “Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat” (Hebrews 9:5). By recalling the cherubim over the Ark, the author underscores both the sacredness of the Old Covenant worship and its typological anticipation of the true heavenly sanctuary revealed in Christ. Old Testament Background 1. Guardians of Eden (Genesis 3:24) – After the fall, cherubim with a flaming sword prevented access to the tree of life, signifying the rupture between a holy God and sinful humanity. Symbolism and Theology • Holiness and Separation – Stationed at Eden’s gate and around the throne, cherubim dramatize that unmediated approach to God is impossible apart from atonement. Christological and Eschatological Connections • Incarnation Foreshadowed – Just as the glory of God was localized between the cherubim, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Ministry Significance Today 1. Awe in Worship – Cherubim remind the church that God is simultaneously transcendent and immanent; reverence should mark every gathering. Key References for Further Study Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:18-22; 1 Kings 6:23-29; Psalm 80:1; Ezekiel 10:1-22; Hebrews 9:5; Revelation 4:6-8 Forms and Transliterations εχέοντο κεχερσωμένη κεχυμέναι κεχυμένω κέχυται χεεί χείται χερούβ χερουβείμ Χερουβειν Χερουβεὶν χερουβίμ χερουβίν Χερουβὶν χερσαίος χέρσον χέρσος χέρσου χερσωθήσεται χηλών χυθήσεται Cheroubin CheroubìnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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