Lesson 11 — Third Week
Assigned Discussion: Page 37, Paragraph 2
Discussion-Daniel’s Vision of an Angel
The next class of angels is the Cherubim, winged angelic beings described in biblical tradition as attending to God. It is said that their wings are as loud as God’s voice. Their entire bodies are covered with eyes. Their first appearance is in Genesis 3:24 after Adam and Eve sinned and were put out of the garden. Anyone who might want to try getting back in after Adam and Eve were put out would have to get by the work of the Covenant in Exodus 25, the curtains of the tabernacle in Exodus 36, and later, Solomon’s temple.
When we hear the word cherub, many of us already have an image in mind: a sweet little winged child floating among the clouds. But when we open Scripture, we meet something entirely different. Cherubim are extraordinary heavenly beings associated repeatedly with the presence, holiness, and glory of God.
Before following them through Scripture, however, we need to make an important distinction. Scripture speaks both of living cherubim and of representations of cherubim that God commanded His people to make. The golden cherubim on the Ark were not living heavenly creatures. Neither were the cherubim embroidered into the tabernacle curtains or the large cherubim constructed for Solomon’s Temple. They were representations of the heavenly beings. That distinction helps us read these passages carefully.
Who Created the Cherubim?
Cherubim are created beings. They are not divine, and they are not equal with God. They belong to God’s heavenly creation. Psalm 148 speaks of the angels and heavenly host praising the Lord and reminds us that these heavenly beings exist because God commanded and they were created (Psalm 148:2, 5).
“Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts… for he commanded, and they were created.”
Paul gives us an even broader statement in Colossians:
Colossians 1:16
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible…”
Everything in the heavenly realm ultimately owes its existence to God. Scripture does not specifically tell us when God created the cherubim. By the time we encounter them in Genesis 3, however, they already exist. So we can confidently say: God created the cherubim. We should be more cautious about claiming exactly when He created them because Scripture does not tell us.
Before meeting the cherubim at Eden, we may need to get one very familiar picture out of our minds. When we hear cherub, many of us picture a plump little child with wings—perhaps carrying a bow and arrow on a Valentine’s Day card. That familiar figure does not come from the biblical description of cherubim.
In classical Greek and Roman tradition, winged figures associated with love appeared in depictions connected with Eros, or Cupid. Later, Renaissance artists frequently used putti—small, often winged children—as decorative figures. They appeared in secular art as well as religious paintings and architecture. Over centuries, these artistic traditions became intertwined in popular imagination. Winged putti, angels, cherubim, and Cupid gradually began to resemble one another in Western art and popular culture. Valentine’s Day inherited the familiar winged child associated with Cupid and romantic love, while the word cherub also became popularly attached to the childlike image.
A Cherub is not Cupid
Before meeting the cherubim at Eden, we may need to get one very familiar picture out of our minds. When we hear cherub, many of us picture a plump little child with wings—perhaps carrying a bow and arrow on a Valentine’s Day card. That familiar figure does not come from the biblical description of cherubim.
In classical Greek and Roman tradition, winged figures associated with love appeared in depictions connected with Eros, or Cupid. Later, Renaissance artists frequently used putti—small, often winged children—as decorative figures. They appeared in secular art as well as religious paintings and architecture. Over centuries, these artistic traditions became intertwined in popular imagination. Winged putti, angels, cherubim, and Cupid gradually began to resemble one another in Western art and popular culture. Valentine’s Day inherited the familiar winged child associated with Cupid and romantic love, while the word cherub also became popularly attached to the childlike image.
But Scripture presents something quite different. Biblical cherubim are not symbols of romantic love. They are extraordinary created heavenly beings associated with God’s presence and glory. So when we encounter the word cherubim in Scripture, we have to set aside the Valentine’s Day card. A Cupid belongs to the history of art and mythology. A biblical cherub belongs to the presence of God.
Living Cherubim at Eden
The first time Scripture specifically names cherubim comes immediately after one of the most consequential events in human history. Adam and Eve have sinned. God sends them out of the Garden of Eden. Then we read:
Genesis 3:24
“So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
These are living cherubim placed there by God. They are not statues. They are not artistic representations. And Scripture tells us why they are there: “to keep the way of the tree of life.” Humanity has been expelled from Eden, and the way is guarded. That gives us our first biblical picture of cherubim associated with a boundary mankind cannot freely cross. And that makes what happens later in Scripture especially interesting.
Golden Cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant
Centuries later, when God gives Moses instructions for the Ark of the Covenant, cherubim appear again. But this time they are not living cherubim. God commands Moses to make representations of cherubim from gold.
Exodus 25:18–20
“And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them… And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings…”
These golden cherubim stood above the mercy seat. Then God says something remarkable:
Exodus 25:22
“And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims…”
Think about the contrast. At Eden, living cherubim appear after mankind has been driven from the garden. At the Ark, golden representations of cherubim appear above the mercy seat where God says: “There I will meet with thee.” We should not confuse the living beings with their representations. But neither should we overlook the repeated imagery. Why would God choose cherubim for this place? Why would the imagery that first appears at the boundary of Eden appear again over the mercy seat? Those questions begin to lead us into something much larger than simply identifying a class of heavenly beings.
Cherubim
Representations of cherubim were also woven into the curtains of the tabernacle.
Exodus 26:1
“Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.”
These were embroidered representations—not living cherubim. Yet once again, the imagery of cherubim appears in a place associated with God’s dwelling among His people.
Cherubim in Solomon’s Temple
When Solomon built the Temple, representations of cherubim appeared again. Inside the Most Holy Place were enormous crafted cherubim.
1 Kings 6:27
“And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims…”
Their wings stretched across the inner sanctuary. Again, these were crafted representations, not living heavenly beings. And again, cherubim imagery appears in the place particularly associated with the presence of God. The pattern is becoming difficult to miss.
Ezekiel Sees Living Cherubim
Then Ezekiel gives us one of Scripture’s most extraordinary encounters with cherubim. Here we return to living heavenly beings. Ezekiel describes remarkable living creatures associated with the glory of God. Later, he identifies what he has seen:
Ezekiel 10:20
“This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.”
Ezekiel’s description is certainly no Valentine’s Day card. These are awe-inspiring heavenly creatures. Their appearance reminds us that biblical cherubim belong to an order of creation very different from ourselves. Yet even here, the cherubim are not the center of Ezekiel’s vision. God is. The creatures direct our attention toward the majesty and glory of the One they attend.
Living Cherubim and Their Representations
As we follow cherubim through Scripture, keeping the distinction clear helps us understand what we are reading:
Eden — living cherubim
Ark of the Covenant — golden representations of cherubim
Tabernacle — embroidered representations of cherubim
Solomon’s Temple — crafted representations of cherubim
Ezekiel’s visions — living cherubim
The representations are not themselves heavenly creatures. But there is a striking connection among all these passages. Again and again, living cherubim—or representations of them—appear in connection with God’s holiness, God’s glory, God’s presence, and sacred space.
From Eden to the Mercy Seat
This may be the most interesting part of our study. In Genesis, mankind sins and is driven from Eden. Cherubim appear at the boundary. The way to the tree of life is guarded.
Then, much later, God tells Moses to construct the Ark. Above its mercy seat are representations of cherubim. And from between those cherubim God says: “There I will meet with thee.”
That does not mean the cherubim themselves provide access to God. They do not. But the repeated imagery invites us to notice a larger biblical story. At Eden we see separation following sin. At the mercy seat we see God establishing a place where He will meet with His people. And the cherubim appear in both places.
What Do the Cherubim Point Us Toward?
It would be easy to become fascinated by their appearance—the wings, the faces, the eyes, Ezekiel’s extraordinary vision. But Scripture continually directs our attention beyond the creatures themselves.
Cherubim are created beings. They do not receive the worship belonging to God. They do not save mankind. They do not provide mankind’s way into God’s presence.
Instead, their appearances continually turn our attention toward the One they serve. The cherubim are extraordinary. Their Creator is greater. And from Eden onward, Scripture begins telling the story of how sinful mankind can once again come into the presence of a holy God.
Something to Think About
Perhaps the most important question isn’t simply: What are cherubim?
Perhaps we should also ask: Why do cherubim—or representations of cherubim—repeatedly appear at significant places connected with the presence of God?
At Eden, living cherubim stand at the boundary after mankind is expelled. At the mercy seat, their golden representations stand over the place where God says: “There I will meet with thee.” In the tabernacle and Temple, their images again appear in sacred spaces. And in Ezekiel, living cherubim appear in a vision filled with the glory of God. Through every appearance, the focus ultimately returns to God.
Discussion Question
When we follow the cherubim from Eden to the mercy seat and into Ezekiel’s vision, what do their appearances teach us about the holiness of God, His presence, and mankind’s approach to Him?
For Further Reading
Genesis 3:22–24 — Cherubim at Eden
Exodus 25:17–22 — Cherubim and the mercy seat
Exodus 26:1 — Cherubim in the tabernacle
1 Kings 6:23–29 — Cherubim in Solomon’s Temple
Ezekiel 1 — Ezekiel’s vision of the living creatures
Ezekiel 10 — The creatures identified as cherubim
Psalm 148:1–5 — The heavenly host as God’s creation
Colossians 1:15–17 — All things visible and invisible created through Christ
