χερουβίμ
cheroubím
G5502 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Ceremonial or apocalyptic heavenly beings described as attending or flanking the throne of the divine; the term denotes a specific class of supernatural attendants traditionally depicted with multiple wings and often in roles related to divine presence, worship, or guardianship. In religious texts, it usually refers to the beings associated with the sanctuary or throne of God.
Semantic Range
heavenly beings attendant on the divine presence, supernatural throne guardians, sanctuary figures over the ark, participants in visionary/apocalyptic depictions of the divine realm
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew כְּרוּבִים (keruvim), the plural form of כְּרוּב (keruv); adopted into Greek with minimal adaptation. The precise etymology of the Hebrew root is uncertain, though some propose connections to Akkadian or related Semitic roots.
Historical & Contextual Notes
χερουβίμ occurs in the Greek Septuagint as a loanword directly from Hebrew to denote a class of supernatural beings, most often accompanying references to the sanctuary (e.g., figures on the Ark of the Covenant) or to apocalyptic visions (e.g., Ezekiel's chariot throne imagery). Unlike Greek mythological daimons or other supernatural figures, χερουβίμ is not a generic term but preserves the Hebrew specificity. In classical Greek, no native term corresponds exactly to its meaning. The term is always plural in Greek, following the Hebrew usage; the singular form (keruv) does not appear in the New Testament or LXX. Early Judean and Hellenistic Jewish texts portray the cheroubím as intermediaries or throne guardians, not objects of worship themselves. Standard English translations as 'cherubim' or 'cherubs' sometimes obscure the fact that the Greek term maintains its status as a technical term, distinguishing these figures from later artistic representations of 'cherubs' as childlike angels. In the New Testament, the term appears only once (Hebrews 9:5), still in its Old Testament cultic context, for the figures over the mercy seat. The semantic field remains stable from LXX to later Christian usage, always indicating a unique class of heavenly beings closely linked to the divine realm.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
plural of Hebrew origin (כְּרוּב); "cherubim" (i.e. cherubs or kerubim):--cherubims.
Root Family
χερουβίμ (cheroubim) — celestial being, throne guardian, supernatural attendant
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5502-01 |
Χερουβεὶν | cheroubein | N NOM N PL |
cherubim | throne-guardian beings | throne-guardian beings | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5502-01 |
Hebrews 9:5 | Χερουβεὶν | cheroubein | N NOM N PL |
cherubim | throne-guardian beings | throne-guardian beings |