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I have been thinking --a dangerous thing, I know--what if beings such as the Cherubim and Seraphim aren’t even “angels?” Let’s examine some biblical terms for angels:
Aggelos (Greek)
A messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God
Mal'ak (Hebrew)
Messenger, representative messenger angel the theophanic angel [1]
Notice a similarity? These words applied to “angels” mean that the beings they are referring to are, basically, messengers. Cherubim and Seraphim are never referred to as “angels.” They are not called “messengers.” But what are they called?
I have been thinking --a dangerous thing, I know--what if beings such as the Cherubim and Seraphim aren’t even “angels?” Let’s examine some biblical terms for angels:
Aggelos (Greek)
A messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God
Mal'ak (Hebrew)
Messenger, representative messenger angel the theophanic angel [1]
Notice a similarity? These words applied to “angels” mean that the beings they are referring to are, basically, messengers. Cherubim and Seraphim are never referred to as “angels.” They are not called “messengers.” But what are they called?
Ezekiel 1
“Living creatures”
Revelation 4
“Beasts”
It would seem that the Cherubim and Seraphim are more akin to heavenly “creatures” than messengers. Here is an interesting verse relating a vision of God:
2 Samuel 22:11
“And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.”
The traditional depiction of a cherub is usually a baby angel with wings. Those are mythical beings and are actually called “putti.” Next, and the usual depiction with regard to Scripture, is that of a man with wings. But, as you know from the verses posted in my last post concerning angels, cherubs and seraphim look nothing like this.
Consider the above verse again, “And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly.” If cherubim, regardless of their mixed animal traits, bore any humanoid resemblance, would God be riding on the back of one?
Speaking of which, the Bible never says specifically if cherubs--or seraphim for that matter--have two or four legs. But considering the above it seems more likely that they have four. Look at the picture at the beginning of this post. It is from ancient Babylon and is known as a “shedu.” Consider also the Egyptian and Greek sphinx, and the medieval European griffin. What do they all have in common? They are all four legged, other-worldly “beasts” with traits of lions, bulls, eagles, and men.
It would seem that the biblical depiction of God riding a cherub through the sky, and the historical depiction of similar creatures as four legged beasts, would give us a picture of beings unlike the humanoid “messengers” that interacted with Abraham, Lot, and King David, and would seem to imply they are more like heavenly creatures that serve different purposes entirely (well, maybe not entirely, but you get the gist of what I’m saying).
So, in conclusion…well, I don’t really have a conclusion. Just a warning. The next time somebody tries to pawn off some old painting of a cherub as a baby angel or a man with wings…uh, don’t believe them.
“Living creatures”
Revelation 4
“Beasts”
It would seem that the Cherubim and Seraphim are more akin to heavenly “creatures” than messengers. Here is an interesting verse relating a vision of God:
2 Samuel 22:11
“And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.”
The traditional depiction of a cherub is usually a baby angel with wings. Those are mythical beings and are actually called “putti.” Next, and the usual depiction with regard to Scripture, is that of a man with wings. But, as you know from the verses posted in my last post concerning angels, cherubs and seraphim look nothing like this.
Consider the above verse again, “And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly.” If cherubim, regardless of their mixed animal traits, bore any humanoid resemblance, would God be riding on the back of one?
Speaking of which, the Bible never says specifically if cherubs--or seraphim for that matter--have two or four legs. But considering the above it seems more likely that they have four. Look at the picture at the beginning of this post. It is from ancient Babylon and is known as a “shedu.” Consider also the Egyptian and Greek sphinx, and the medieval European griffin. What do they all have in common? They are all four legged, other-worldly “beasts” with traits of lions, bulls, eagles, and men.
It would seem that the biblical depiction of God riding a cherub through the sky, and the historical depiction of similar creatures as four legged beasts, would give us a picture of beings unlike the humanoid “messengers” that interacted with Abraham, Lot, and King David, and would seem to imply they are more like heavenly creatures that serve different purposes entirely (well, maybe not entirely, but you get the gist of what I’m saying).
So, in conclusion…well, I don’t really have a conclusion. Just a warning. The next time somebody tries to pawn off some old painting of a cherub as a baby angel or a man with wings…uh, don’t believe them.
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[1] BibleStudyTools.com, Greek and Hebrew Lexicons. http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=angel&rc=LEX&rc2=&ps=10&s=References
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