CHERUBIM [CHAIR oo beam] — winged angelic beings, often associated with worship and praise of God. The cherubim are first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 3:24. When God drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, He placed cherubim at the east of the garden, “and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” They were similar in appearance to the statues of winged sphinxes that flanked the entrances to palaces and temples in ancient Babylonia and Assyria.

Symbolic representations of cherubim were used in the TABERNACLE in the wilderness. Two cherubim made of gold were stationed at the two ends of the MERCY SEAT, above the ARK OF THE COVENANT in the HOLY OF HOLIES (Ex. 25:17–22; 1 Chr. 28:18; Heb. 9:5). Artistic designs of cherubim decorated the ten curtains (Ex. 26:1; 36:8) and the veil (Ex. 26:31; 2 Chr. 3:14) of the tabernacle.

When Solomon built the Temple, he ordered that two cherubim be made of olive wood and overlaid with gold. Each measured ten cubits (4.6 meters or 15 feet) high with a wingspread of ten cubits (1 Kin. 6:23–28; 8:6–7; 2 Chr. 3:10–13; 5:7–8). These gigantic cherubim were placed inside the inner sanctuary, or in the Most Holy Place in the Temple. Their wings were spread over the ark of the covenant. Cherubim functioned as the armrests of the throne of the invisible Lord God of Israel, the true Ruler and King of His People (1 Sam. 4:4; 2 Sam. 6:2). The woodwork throughout the Temple was decorated with engraved figures of cherubim, trees, and flowers (1 Kin. 6:29–35; 7:29, 36; 2 Chr. 3:7).

A careful comparison of the first and tenth chapters of the book of Ezekiel shows clearly that the “four living creatures” (Ezek. 1:5) were the same beings as the cherubim (Ezekiel 10). Each had four faces—that of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle ((Ezek. 1:10; also 10:14)—and each had four wings. In their appearance, the cherubim “had the likeness of a man” (Ezek. 1:5). These cherubim used two of their wings for flying and the other two for covering their bodies (Ezek. 1:6, 11, 23). Under their wings the cherubim appeared to have the form, or likeness, of a man's hand (Ezek. 1:8; 10:7–8, 21).

The imagery of Revelation 4:6–9 seems to be inspired, at least in part, by the prophecies of Ezekiel. The “four living creatures” described here, as well as the cherubim of Ezekiel, served the purpose of magnifying the holiness and power of God. This is one of their main responsibilities throughout the Bible. In addition to singing God's praises, they also served as a visible reminder of the majesty and glory of God and His abiding presence with His people.

In some ways, the cherubim were similar to the SERAPHIM, another form of angelic being mentioned in the Bible. Both were winged beings, and both surrounded God on His throne (Is. 6:2–3). But the seraphim of the prophet Isaiah's vision were vocal in their praise of God, singing “Holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” (Is. 6:3). Nowhere else in the Bible do the seraphim break forth in such exuberant praise. They apparently played a quieter, more restrained role in worship.