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Cherubim and Seraphim
The cherubim of Ezekiel 1 and 10, the seraphim of Isaiah 6, and the four beasts around the throne in Revelation 4, in the King James Version, with what each passage says they look like and do.
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The cherubim and seraphim are the beings the Bible places around the throne of God. Ezekiel saw four living creatures, each with four faces and four wings, and later says “I knew that they were the cherubims” (Ezekiel 10:20Ezekiel 10:20 · King James VersionThis 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 10:20 · King James VersionOpen source). Isaiah saw seraphim, each with six wings, crying “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:2–3Isaiah 6:2 · King James VersionAbove it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Isaiah 6:2 · King James VersionOpen source). Revelation 4 describes four beasts full of eyes, with six wings, who say the same words.
Key Points
- Cherubim guard the way to the tree of life in Genesis 3:24Genesis 3:24 · King James Version
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.
Genesis 3:24 · King James VersionOpen source and are made of gold over the mercy seat in Exodus 25:18–22Exodus 25:18 · King James VersionAnd thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
Exodus 25:18 · King James VersionOpen source. - In Ezekiel 1:10Ezekiel 1:10 · King James Version
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 1:10 · King James VersionOpen source each creature has the face of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. In Ezekiel 10:14Ezekiel 10:14 · King James VersionAnd every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 10:14 · King James VersionOpen source the first face is “the face of a cherub.” - The seraphim are named only in Isaiah 6Isaiah 6:2 · King James Version
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Isaiah 6:2 · King James VersionOpen source. Each has six wings: two cover the face, two the feet, and two fly. - The four beasts of Revelation 4:7–8Revelation 4:7 · King James Version
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:7 · King James VersionOpen source are like a lion, a calf, a man, and a flying eagle, each with six wings, saying “Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty.” - Ezekiel’s creatures are under the throne and the likeness of a man above it. See What Does God Look Like?
Ezekiel 1: The Living Creatures
| Reference | King James Version |
|---|---|
| Ezekiel 1:4 | And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. |
| Ezekiel 1:5 | Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. |
| Ezekiel 1:6 | And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. |
| Ezekiel 1:7 | And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. |
| Ezekiel 1:8 | And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. |
| Ezekiel 1:9 | Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. |
| Ezekiel 1:10 | As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. |
| Ezekiel 1:11 | Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. |
| Ezekiel 1:12 | And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. |
| Ezekiel 1:13 | As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. |
| Ezekiel 1:14 | And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. |
| Ezekiel 1:22 | And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. |
| Ezekiel 1:23 | And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. |
| Ezekiel 1:24 | And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. |
| Ezekiel 1:25 | And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. |
Ezekiel 10: The Cherubim
| Reference | King James Version |
|---|---|
| Ezekiel 10:1 | Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. |
| Ezekiel 10:2 | And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. |
| Ezekiel 10:8 | And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings. |
| Ezekiel 10:9 | And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. |
| Ezekiel 10:10 | And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. |
| Ezekiel 10:11 | When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. |
| Ezekiel 10:12 | And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. |
| Ezekiel 10:13 | As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. |
| Ezekiel 10:14 | And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. |
| Ezekiel 10:15 | And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. |
| Ezekiel 10:16 | And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. |
| Ezekiel 10:17 | When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them. |
| Ezekiel 10:18 | Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. |
| Ezekiel 10:19 | And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. |
| 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 10:21 | Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. |
| Ezekiel 10:22 | And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward. |
Isaiah 6: The Seraphim
| Reference | King James Version |
|---|---|
| Isaiah 6:1 | In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. |
| Isaiah 6:2 | Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. |
| Isaiah 6:3 | And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. |
| Isaiah 6:4 | And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. |
| Isaiah 6:5 | Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. |
| Isaiah 6:6 | Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: |
| Isaiah 6:7 | And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. |
Revelation 4: The Four Beasts
| Reference | King James Version |
|---|---|
| Revelation 4:6 | And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. |
| Revelation 4:7 | And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. |
| Revelation 4:8 | And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. |
| Revelation 4:9 | And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, |
| Revelation 4:10 | The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, |
| Revelation 4:11 | Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. |
Cherubim Elsewhere
| Reference | King James Version |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Exodus 25:18 | And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. |
| Exodus 25:19 | And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. |
| Exodus 25:20 | And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. |
| Exodus 25:21 | And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. |
| 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 which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. |
| Psalm 80:1 | Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. |
| Psalm 99:1 | The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. |
| Hebrews 9:5 | And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Cherubim Babies With Wings?
Not in the Bible. Ezekiel’s cherubim have four faces, four wings, straight feet like a calf’s, and hands of a man under their wings (Ezekiel 1:6–8Ezekiel 1:6 · King James VersionAnd every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
Ezekiel 1:6 · King James VersionOpen source).
Keep Reading
References
- Book of Ezekiel, 1:4–25; 10:1–22Ezekiel 1:4–25 · King James Version1:4
And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
1:5Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
1:6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
1:7And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
1:8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
1:9Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
1:10As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
1:11Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
1:12And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
1:13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
1:14And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
1:15Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
1:16The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
1:17When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
1:18As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
1:19And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
1:20Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
1:21When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
1:22And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
1:23And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
1:24And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
1:25And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
Ezekiel 1:4–25 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Book of Isaiah, 6:1–7Isaiah 6:1–7 · King James Version6:1
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
6:2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
6:3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
6:4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
6:5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6:6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
6:7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Isaiah 6:1–7 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Book of Revelation, 4:6–11Revelation 4:6–11 · King James Version4:6
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
4:7And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
4:8And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
4:9And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
4:10The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
4:11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 4:6–11 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Book of Genesis, 3:24Genesis 3:24 · King James Version
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.
Genesis 3:24 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Book of Exodus, 25:18–22Exodus 25:18–22 · King James Version25:18
And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
25:19And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
25:20And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
25:21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
25:22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Exodus 25:18–22 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
See Also
- What Are the Attributes of God? — Every King James verse that says what God is, grouped by attribute: love, light, spirit, holy, righteous, just, merciful, gracious, good, faithful, true, eternal, unchanging, almighty, all-knowing, everywhere present, wise, sovereign, one, and the I AM.
- What Does God Look Like? — Every Bible description of God’s appearance: the throne visions of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation, the glorified Christ, the Transfiguration, the Angel of the LORD, and the verses that say no man has seen God, in the King James Version.
- Is God Real? — Is God real? Christians say yes. The question does God exist is the same question: contingency, moral life, and a world fit for life, with the strongest atheist replies.
- The I AM Statements of Jesus — The seven “I am” sayings in John, from the bread of life to the true vine, and the sayings where Jesus says “I am” with no predicate, set beside “I AM THAT I AM” and “I am he” in the Old Testament, with the Greek and every King James verse.
- The Jehovah Compound Names — Jehovah-jireh, Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah-shalom, Jehovah-tsidkenu, Jehovah-shammah, and the other names that join the divine name to a word, with the Hebrew, Strong’s numbers, and every King James verse.