כְּרוּב
𐤊𐤓𐤅𐤁
kᵉrûwb
H3742 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A supernatural or heavenly being, typically represented as a composite figure associated with the divine presence and protection of sacred spaces. In the Hebrew Bible, the כְּרוּב (keruv) appears prominently as a guardian or attendant of the throne of YHWH, often depicted as supporting the throne or covering the Ark of the Covenant with outstretched wings. In prophetic and poetic contexts, the keruv is depicted as a winged figure, sometimes described as possessing multiple faces or aspects, symbolizing power, movement, and proximity to the divine.
Semantic Range
supernatural or heavenly being, guardian of sacred space, attendant of divine throne, image on Ark of the Covenant, visionary throne guardian; cherub (in English translation, but distinct from later usage)
Root / Etymology
etymology uncertain. The root and derivation of כְּרוּב (keruv) are unknown; it does not correspond with any securely identified Hebrew root. Attempts to link it to Akkadian karabu ('to bless'), kuribu ('intercessor, protective spirit'), or related West Semitic terms describing guardian beings are debated and remain inconclusive.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The use of כְּרוּב (keruv) in the Hebrew Bible is largely concentrated in texts describing sacred architecture or divine encounters (e.g., tabernacle, temple, prophetic visions). In Exodus and Chronicles, keruvim (plural) are the figures above the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place, representing a divine chariot or throne and acting as guards of sacred boundaries. In prophetic visions (Ezekiel 1, 10), the keruvim are part of a complex visionary description, distinct from later angelologies. The term later came to be rendered in English as 'cherub' or 'cherubim' (KJV), though in biblical contexts these are not infantile or decorative figures, but powerful, awe-inspiring beings linked with the presence of Israel's deity. No direct Judean or Israelite iconographic evidence survives; artistic parallels exist in Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian sphinxes or winged guardians, but the biblical description is unique. Usage of the term in post-exilic, Second Temple, and rabbinic periods evolved alongside changing understandings of angelology and celestial hierarchy. The English 'cherub' derives ultimately from the Hebrew term, but later iconography diverges greatly from biblical usage.
Translation Consistency
'Cherub' is the standard, natural English equivalent for כְּרוּב and covers the typical semantic range (heavenly/supernatural attendant, guardian of the throne or Ark). It is concise, familiar to readers, and can be inflected to plural or otherwise as needed; while later usage nuances exist, 'cherub' best preserves the biblical imagery and consistency across all occurrences.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; a cherub or imaginary figure; cherub, (plural) cherubims.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1002 | בִּירָה | the citadel |
| H105 | אֲגַרְטָל | bowls of |
| H1081 | בַּלְאֲדָן | Baladan |
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3742-02 |
הַ/כְּרוּבִ֖ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim | 40 |
H3742-01 |
הַ/כְּרוּב֙ | hakeruv | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian | 15 |
H3742-04 |
כְּרוּבִ֣ים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) | 15 |
H3742-03 |
כְּר֖וּב | keruv | HNcmsa |
cherub | guardian throne-being | cherub | 7 |
H3742-07 |
לַ/כְּרֻבִ֔ים | lakeruvim | HRd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | to the throne-guardians | the cherubim | 4 |
H3742-05 |
כְרוּבִ֖ים | kheruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | throne-guardians | cherubim | 3 |
H3742-06 |
לַ/כְּר֗וּב | lakeruv | HRd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | to the throne-guardian | to the cherub | 2 |
H3742-09 |
וּ/כְרוּב | ukheruv | HC/Ncmsa |
and cherub | and a throne-guardian | and a guardian throne-being | 2 |
H3742-08 |
לִ/כְר֔וּב | likheruv | HR/Ncmsa |
and a cherub | to a throne-guardian | to a throne-guardian | 1 |
H3742-10 |
וּ/כְרוּבִ֔ים | ukheruvim | HC/Ncmpa |
and cherubim | and throne-guardians | and throne-guardians | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
91 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3742-02 |
Genesis 3:24 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֗ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-04 |
Exodus 25:18 | כְּרֻבִ֖ים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-03 |
Exodus 25:19 | כְּר֨וּב | keruv | HNcmsa |
cherub | guardian throne-being | cherub |
H3742-09 |
Exodus 25:19 | וּ/כְרוּב | ukheruv | HC/Ncmsa |
and cherub | and a throne-guardian | and a guardian throne-being |
H3742-02 |
Exodus 25:19 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֖ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
Exodus 25:20 | הַ/כְּרֻבִים֩ | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
Exodus 25:20 | הַ/כְּרֻבִֽים | hakeruvim-2 | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
Exodus 25:22 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֔ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-04 |
Exodus 26:1 | כְּרֻבִ֛ים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-04 |
Exodus 26:31 | כְּרֻבִֽים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-04 |
Exodus 36:8 | כְּרֻבִ֛ים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-04 |
Exodus 36:35 | כְּרֻבִֽים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-05 |
Exodus 37:7 | כְרֻבִ֖ים | kheruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | throne-guardians | cherubim |
H3742-03 |
Exodus 37:8 | כְּרוּב | keruv | HNcmsa |
cherub | guardian throne-being | cherub |
H3742-09 |
Exodus 37:8 | וּ/כְרוּב | ukheruv | HC/Ncmsa |
and-cherub | and a throne-guardian | and a guardian throne-being |
H3742-02 |
Exodus 37:8 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֖ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the-cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
Exodus 37:9 | הַ/כְּרֻבִים֩ | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
Exodus 37:9 | הַ/כְּרֻבִֽים | hakeruvim-2 | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
Numbers 7:89 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֑ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the-cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
1 Samuel 4:4 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֑ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
on the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
2 Samuel 6:2 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֖ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
on the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-03 |
2 Samuel 22:11 | כְּר֖וּב | keruv | HNcmsa |
a cherub | guardian throne-being | cherub |
H3742-05 |
1 Kings 6:23 | כְרוּבִ֖ים | kheruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | throne-guardians | cherubim |
H3742-01 |
1 Kings 6:24 | הַ/כְּרוּב֙ | hakeruv | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian |
H3742-01 |
1 Kings 6:24 | הַ/כְּר֖וּב | hakeruv-2 | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian |
H3742-01 |
1 Kings 6:25 | הַ/כְּר֖וּב | hakeruv | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian |
H3742-02 |
1 Kings 6:25 | הַ/כְּרֻבִֽים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-01 |
1 Kings 6:26 | הַ/כְּר֣וּב | hakeruv | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian |
H3742-01 |
1 Kings 6:26 | הַ/כְּר֥וּב | hakeruv-2 | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian |
H3742-02 |
1 Kings 6:27 | הַ/כְּרוּבִ֜ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
1 Kings 6:27 | הַ/כְּרֻבִים֒ | hakeruvim-2 | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-01 |
1 Kings 6:27 | הַ/כְּר֣וּב | hakeruv | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian |
H3742-02 |
1 Kings 6:28 | הַ/כְּרוּבִ֖ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-04 |
1 Kings 6:29 | כְּרוּבִ֣ים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-04 |
1 Kings 6:32 | כְּרוּבִ֧ים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-02 |
1 Kings 6:32 | הַ/כְּרוּבִ֥ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the-cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-04 |
1 Kings 6:35 | כְּרוּבִים֙ | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-10 |
1 Kings 7:29 | וּ/כְרוּבִ֔ים | ukheruvim | HC/Ncmpa |
and cherubim | and throne-guardians | and throne-guardians |
H3742-04 |
1 Kings 7:36 | כְּרוּבִ֖ים | keruvim | HNcmpa |
cherubim | heavenly throne-guardians | cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians) |
H3742-02 |
1 Kings 8:6 | הַ/כְּרוּבִֽים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
1 Kings 8:7 | הַ/כְּרוּבִים֙ | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
1 Kings 8:7 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֛ים | hakeruvim-2 | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
2 Kings 19:15 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֔ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-02 |
Isaiah 37:16 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֔ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
on the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-01 |
Ezekiel 9:3 | הַ/כְּרוּב֙ | hakeruv | HTd/Ncmsa |
the-cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian |
H3742-02 |
Ezekiel 10:1 | הַ/כְּרֻבִ֔ים | hakeruvim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | the throne-guardian beings | the cherubim |
H3742-06 |
Ezekiel 10:2 | לַ/כְּר֗וּב | lakeruv | HRd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | to the throne-guardian | to the cherub |
H3742-07 |
Ezekiel 10:2 | לַ/כְּרֻבִ֔ים | lakeruvim | HRd/Ncmpa |
the cherubim | to the throne-guardians | the cherubim |
H3742-11 |
Ezekiel 10:3 | וְ/הַ/כְּרֻבִ֗ים | vehakeruvim | HC/Td/Ncmpa |
and the cherubim | and the throne-guardians | and the throne-guardians |
H3742-01 |
Ezekiel 10:4 | הַ/כְּר֔וּב | hakeruv | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cherub | the throne-guardian | the throne-guardian |