Here is a description of the cherubim as seen by Ezekiel the prophet:
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. 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. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 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.
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 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.
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 1:4-11).
The cherubim (plural for cherub) are always seen around the figure of God. Many people call them angels, but a cherub and an angel have distinct differences. Here are several reasons why they are not angels.
Cherubim are never called angels in the Bible.
Angels are messengers. They have delivered messages to men and women on behalf of God. Cherubim seldom have spoken to people.
Angels are called out from heaven to earth to do God’s work. Cherubim never go out from the presence of God.
Cherubim have wings. Angels are never described as having wings. Perhaps the early artists painted angels with wings because they figured cherubim were angels. Yet cherubim have four or six wings, not two.
These are some of the ways cherubim are different from angels.
What Do You Think?
a. We’ve all seen the cute images and statues of cherub figures. Do those images match up with the description of Ezekiel, who actually saw a cherub? Are those baby-like cherub figures real?
