Cherubim are powerful, heavenly creatures found throughout the Bible. They are not cute, flying babies like many modern drawings. Instead, they are fierce guardians, close to God’s throne, and often appear during moments of great holiness.
Let’s take a closer look at what Scripture says about them.
Cherubim Were First Seen in the Garden of Eden
The first time cherubim appear is in Genesis 3:24, right after Adam and Eve are removed from the Garden of Eden. God places cherubim at the entrance to guard the Tree of Life.
After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. —Genesis 3:24 (NIV)
This was to protect the holiness of God’s creation and to keep sinful people from returning to the garden.
Cherubim Were Part of the Ark of the Covenant
God gave Moses instructions to make the Ark of the Covenant, which would be kept in the Holy of Holies. On the cover of the ark—the “mercy seat”—God told Moses to place golden cherubim.
Make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other... The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. —Exodus 25:18–20 (NIV)
There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. —Exodus 25:22 (NIV)
This showed how closely they were tied to the presence of God.
Cherubim Decorated the Tabernacle and the Temple
Not only were cherubim on the ark, they were also sewn into the curtains of the tabernacle.
Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. —Exodus 26:1 (NIV)
Later, when Solomon built the Temple, large cherubim were placed inside the inner sanctuary.
In the inner sanctuary he made a pair of cherubim out of olive wood, each ten cubits high... The wings of the cherubim extended twenty cubits in all. The cherubim were placed inside the inner sanctuary, and they spread their wings out. —1 Kings 6:23–27 (NIV)
Their constant presence in the most holy places shows their importance in worship and God's glory.
God Is Enthroned Between the Cherubim
Multiple passages describe God as sitting or dwelling between the cherubim. This emphasizes His majesty and the holiness of His throne.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth. —Psalm 80:1 (NIV)
The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. —Psalm 99:1 (NIV)
He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. —2 Samuel 22:11 (NIV)
Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. —Isaiah 37:16 (NIV)
These verses reveal the cherubim as part of God's heavenly throne room.
Ezekiel’s Vision of the Cherubim Was Astonishing
In Ezekiel 1 and Ezekiel 10, the prophet sees visions of strange, powerful beings—later identified as cherubim.
Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was what looked like human hands. —Ezekiel 1:6 (NIV)
Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. —Ezekiel 1:10 (NIV)
Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. —Ezekiel 1:12 (NIV)
These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim. —Ezekiel 10:20 (NIV)
They moved with God’s Spirit and were filled with His glory.
Cherubim Are Not the Same as Seraphim
It’s important to note that cherubim are different from seraphim, which appear in Isaiah’s vision.
Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. —Isaiah 6:2 (NIV)
| Feature | Cherubim | Seraphim |
|---|---|---|
| First appearance | Genesis 3:24 | Isaiah 6:2 |
| Role | Guardians, throne-bearers | Worshippers, proclaiming holiness |
| Number of wings | 4 (sometimes more) | 6 |
| Faces | Man, lion, ox, eagle | Human-like (faces covered) |
| Associated with | God's presence and holiness | God's holiness and praise |
Cherubim Teach Us About God’s Glory
Wherever cherubim appear, God’s glory is near. They guard what is holy, and they remind us how great God is.
Here are a few truths they show us:
- God’s holiness must be respected. His glory is not something we can approach lightly.
- Sin separates us from God's presence. Just like the cherubim guarded Eden, sin blocks our way until Jesus makes a path.
- God welcomes us back through Christ. Jesus opened the way to God's presence again.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart. —Hebrews 10:19,22 (NIV)
Summary Table
| Truth About Cherubim | Bible Reference |
|---|---|
| First mentioned guarding Eden | Genesis 3:24 |
| Placed on the Ark of the Covenant | Exodus 25:18–22 |
| Woven into Tabernacle curtains | Exodus 26:1 |
| Giant forms in Solomon’s Temple | 1 Kings 6:23–27 |
| God sits enthroned between them | Psalm 80:1, Psalm 99:1 |
| Part of Ezekiel’s visions | Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel 10 |
| Different from Seraphim | Isaiah 6:2 |
| Associated with God's glory and power | 2 Samuel 22:11, Isaiah 37:16 |
