(plural, CHERUBIM); a celestial spirit, which in the hierarchy is placed next to the seraphim. See HIERARCHY.

The term cherub, in Hebrew, is sometimes taken for a calf or ox. Ezekiel sets down the face of the cherub as synonymous to the face of an ox. The word cherub, in Syriac and Chaldee, signifies to till or plow, which is the proper work of oxen. Cherub also signifies strong and powerful. Grotius says, that the cherubim were figures much like that of a calf. Bochart thinks likewise, that the cherubim were more like to the figure of an ox than to any thing besides; and Spencer is of the same opinion. Lastly, St John, in the Revelation, calls cherubim beasts. Josephus says the cherubim were extraordinary creatures, of a figure unknown to mankind. Clemens of Alexandria be- cherub liesves, that the Egyptians imitated the cherubim of the Hebrews in the representations of their sphinxes and their hieroglyphical animals. All the several descriptions, which the scripture gives us of cherubim, differ from one another; but all agree in representing them as a figure composed of various creatures, as a man, an ox, an eagle, and a lion. Such were the cherubim described by Ezekiel. Those which Isaiah saw, and are called Jeraphim by him, had the figure of a man with six wings; with two whereof they covered their faces, with two more they covered their feet, and with the two others they flew. Those which Solomon placed in the temple at Jerusalem are supposed to have been nearly of the same form. Those which St John describes in the Revelations were all eyes before and behind, and had each six wings. The first was in the form of a lion, the second in that of a calf, the third of a man, and the fourth of an eagle. The figure of the cherubim was not always uniform; since they are differently described in the shapes of men, eagles, oxen, lions, and in a composition of all these figures put together. Moses likewise calls these symbolical or hieroglyphical representations, which were embroidered on the veils of the tabernacle, cherubim of costly work. Such were the symbolical figures which the Egyptians placed at the gates of their temples and the images of the generality of their gods, which were commonly nothing but statues composed of men and animals.