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

primary "cherub" 4 occurrences

'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.

Alternatives (46 occurrences):
"cherubim" (25x) "cherubim (heavenly throne-guardians)" (9x) "throne-guardian" (8x) "guardian throne-being" (2x) "throne-guardians" (2x)

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

Root uncertain uncertain (possibly, to be near, to bless, to protect; meaning in Hebrew 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