The word cherubim comes from the Latin "cherubim ," which in turn comes from the Hebrew " qerub ." It's a concept used in religion to refer to spiritual entities. Although this term may be new to you, you've surely heard of them at some point. Their image is even frequently used in art and jewelry.
So here we are going to explain in more detail about its meaning, origin and other curiosities so that you do not have any doubts.
What are cherubs?
Within the Christian religion, there is some variation in the understanding of what cherubim are . Some believe they are the second level of angels, lower in the angelic hierarchy than seraphim . Cherubim are guardian angels who protect God's glory and sit beside him in Catholic tradition. Originally, the term referred to an exceptionally beautiful baby, especially a boy. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to refer to a child with wings.
Its Hebrew meaning can be translated as "bull." Angels are spiritual, not material, beings . Their primary task is to assist God and follow the commands of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They possess extreme beauty and purity, like that of a baby, due to their neutral nature. Interestingly, it is said that cherubim aid in travel, as they move by means of lightning. The names of angels often include references to cherubim and their characteristics.
Who can see the cherubim?
In traditional Judaism, cherubim are a highly controversial topic. According to Catholic beliefs, only those who have ascended to a higher plane can see them . Their existence is questioned within Judaism, and although various versions of traditional Judaism mention them, few believe in or venerate them.
Origin of the cherubim
As we have already said, they have their Christian origin; the first time they are mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 3:24
"So he drove the man out, and placed cherubim on the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword that turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life."
In fact, Satan was a cherub before he was revealed (Ezekiel 28:12-15) . There were many representations of cherubim in the tabernacle and the temple: Exodus 25:17-22; 26:1, 31; 36:8; 1 Kings 6:23-35; 7:29-36; 8:6-7; 1 Chronicles 28:18; 2 Chronicles 3:7-14; 5:7-8; Hebrews 9:5.
Ezekiel described the cherubim in chapters 1 through 10 as “four living creatures.” Each of these had the face of a human, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. In appearance, they were described as human-like. They had four wings: two to cover their bodies and two for flying. Their bodies were described as having the shape of human hands. The Ark of the Covenant also contained representations of cherubim.
They are described in Book 4 of Revelation, verses 6 through 9. Their main function is to magnify the holiness and power of God, to serve as a visible reminder of His presence among the people , and to be the choirs that sing praises to God.
Relationship with the seraphim
Cherubim are part of the divine order, ranking below seraphim . They accompany seraphim in song, forming the second choir. Seraphim hold the highest position in the Catholic hierarchy. They are characterized by their boundless passion and love for the divine. It is said that their song controls the vibrations of heaven and love. If you would like to learn more about seraphim, please see our related article.
Other meanings of cherubs
In colloquial speech, the term "cherub" is used to describe a very handsome young man . For example: "The cherub drove the whole store crazy as soon as he walked in."
On the other hand, Querubín is the name of an Argentine brand of cleaning products. Powdered soaps, fabric softeners, detergents, bleaches and disinfectants used in laundry use this trade name.
Finally, the Mexican artist Edgar Clement named one of his literary works "Kerubin and other stories" (2007).
cherubs in art
The Sistine Chapel is famous for its cherubs, as shown in the image above . Many other works of art and paintings feature cherubs as the main subject, for example: Jan van Eyck painted "Angel Singing," Rosso Fiorentino painted "Mary and Child," Hans Memling painted "The Last Judgment," François Boucher painted "The Cello of Europa," and Raphael, known as the most renowned painter of cherubs, created many of these paintings in the Vatican Chapels during his career. Jacopo Amigoni painted "Bacchus and Ariadne" in 1732. If you are interested in Christian art , you can explore this topic further.
draw a cherub
Here are a few tips for painting cherubs. Following these guidelines will help you achieve the best possible result. The first step is to draw the outline of the cherubs using geometric shapes: a triangle for the dress and a circle for the head . The hair should appear to hang down, the cheeks should be rosy, and the upper part of the cheeks should be clearly defined, giving them chubby cheeks.
I hope this information has been useful to you. If you want to know more about deities, you can access it at this link.
