H3742 H3742
Cherub; a supernatural winged being guarding sacred space and bearing the divine presence
The keruvim are majestic winged beings that appear at the most solemn thresholds of divine presence in Scripture. They guard the way to Eden after the fall (Gen 3:24), overshadow the Ark of the Covenant with outstretched wings (Exod 25:18–20), and adorn Solomon's Temple as monumental gold-overlaid figures. In Ezekiel's visions they serve as living bearers of God's throne-chariot, each with four faces and four wings (Ezek 10). Spanish 'querubines,' German 'Cherubim,' and the French transliterations all preserve the Hebrew plural form, reflecting a being with no close equivalent in ordinary language.
Senses
1. cherub, angelic guardian being — A supernatural winged being stationed at the boundary between the divine and earthly realms, serving as guardian of sacred space and bearer of God's throne-presence. They appear guarding Eden (Gen 3:24), atop the Ark (Exod 25:18–20), throughout Solomon's Temple (1 Kgs 6:23–28), and as the living creatures of Ezekiel's chariot-throne (Ezek 10). The consistent transliteration across languages — Spanish 'querubines,' German 'Cherubim' — signals a being without mundane parallel. 91×
AR["الْكَرُوبَيْنِ", "الْكَرُوبِيمَ", "الْكَرُوبِيمُ", "الْكَرُوبِيمِ"]·ben["-করূবদের", "-করূবেরা", "-কেরুবিম", "করূবদের", "করূবেরা"]·DE["Cherub", "die-Cherubim", "zu-Cherubim"]·EN["the-cherubim", "the-keruvim"]·FR["[הכרבים]", "[לכרבים]", "[לכרובים]", "les-chérubins"]·heb["ה-כרוב", "ה-כרובים", "ל-כרובים"]·HI["करूब", "करूबीम", "करूबों", "के-करूबों"]·ID["kerub-kerub", "kerub-kerub-itu", "kerubim"]·IT["a-cherubini", "cherubino", "i-cherubini"]·jav["kérub-kérub", "kérub-kérub-punika", "para-kérub"]·KO["그-그룹들", "그-그룹들의", "그-그룹들이"]·PT["os-querubins", "para-os-querubins"]·RU["керувимы", "на-херувимах", "с-херувимами", "херувимами", "херувимов", "херувимы"]·ES["los-querubines"]·SW["makerubi", "vya-makerubi", "ya-makerubi"]·TR["kerublar", "kerubların", "keruvlar", "keruvların"]·urd["-کروبیوں-کے", "کروبی", "کروبیم", "کروبیوں", "کروبیوں-نے", "کروبیوں-پر", "کروبیوں-کے"]
Exod 25:18, Exod 25:19, Exod 25:20, Exod 25:20, Exod 25:22, Exod 26:1, Exod 26:31, Exod 36:8, Exod 36:35, Exod 37:7, Exod 37:8, Exod 37:9 (+38 more)
Related Senses
G2316 1. God, the true God (1315×)H6635b 1. hosts, armies (of YHWH) (286×)H0410 1. God, the true God (223×)G0032 1. heavenly angel (170×)H4397 2. messenger, envoy, ambassador (102×)H0430 2. gods (pagan deities) (81×)H0426 1. God, the true God (76×)G1140 1. demon, evil spirit (62×)H0433 1. God, the true God (54×)H5945b 1. Most High (30×)G4152 1. spiritual (21×)H0426 2. god(s), pagan deities (20×)H5943 1. [ketiv:Most High] (18×)G1139 1. be demon-possessed (13×)H1712 1. Dagon (13×)G2316 2. god, pagan deity (12×)G5310 1. Most High (9×)H0410 3. a god, deity (generic) (9×)H3645 1. Chemosh (9×)H0842 2. Asherah (goddess) (8×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. כְּרוּב n.pr.loc. in Babylonia Esr 2:59; Neh 7:61.