cherub

cherub

Chair´uhb; pl. cherubim [chair´yoo-bim]

A Hebrew term denoting an unnatural, composite being associated with sacral contexts in the Bible. Although cherubim are mentioned ninety-two times (ninety-one in the OT), and in (Heb 9:5), no single type of creature is referred to in all cases. They may have one, two, or four faces, and the character of the faces ranges from human through bovine, leonine, and aquiline; the body is sometimes biped and in other instances quadruped. Cherubim are typically winged and are always connected with the deity. They appear as God’s steed (2Sam 22:1; Ps 18:11) or as guardian figures (Gen 3:24; Ezek 28:14; Ezek 28:16).