χερουβίμ (cheroubim)
cheroubim
Cherub
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun cheroubim refers to the two golden figures of living creatures with wings that stood on the lid of the ark of the covenant. These images were placed in the holy of holies, both in the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple, facing each other with their wings overshadowing the cover. This arrangement signified where God chose to dwell among His people.
Although the word appears only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 9:6, it carries significant weight by pointing back to the Old Testament tabernacle described in Exodus. The term is a plural of Hebrew origin, reflecting the presence of these two cherubim as a unit. Their position above the ark marked the place of divine presence and mercy, serving as a tangible symbol of God’s dwelling with Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word cherubim appears just once in the New Testament, found in Hebrews 9:5. Here it describes the golden figures placed on the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant. These were not mere decorations but powerful symbols of God's presence dwelling among His people. The writer uses this image to remind readers of the sacred space where heaven and earth met.
For your faith, this detail highlights how seriously God treated holiness. It shows that access to Him was guarded yet provided for through mercy. While we no longer have a physical ark or temple, the truth remains: God desires to dwell with us. This ancient symbol points forward to Jesus, who is our true meeting place with the Father.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [were the] cherubim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Χερουβὶν1×
Key Verses
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Hebrews 9:5
and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.
This verse explicitly mentions cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat, serving as a visual reminder of God's glorious presence in the Old Testament sanctuary.