Seraphs and Cherubs

The Bible describes three types of amazing 'heavenly beings' that don't sound like anything that we'd normally think of as 'angels'. These beings are the Seraphim (or Seraphs), Cherubim (or Cherubs), and the Four Living Creatures. Each having important roles in serving God in heaven.

Seraphs (Seraphim)

The word Seraphim (singular Seraph) means “burning ones” or nobles. They are also sometimes called the 'ones of love' because their name might come from the Hebrew root for 'love'. Seraphim are only fully described in the Bible on one occasion. This is in the book of the prophet Isaiah, when he is being commissioned by God to be a prophet and he has a vision of heaven.

These types of heavenly beings have six wings, but they only use two of them for flying. Notably, they use the rest of wings to cover their face and feet; their face because, being so close to God, they would witness His full glory which would be too powerful to behold and feet because they are considered 'unclean' and so not worthy to be shown to God. The bible doesn’t document how many Seraphim there are, but it's more than one.

Their position is flying above God's throne while their primary duty is to constantly glorify and praise God and they may also be the personal 'attendant' angels of God. Their eternal song "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." has been used by Jews and Christians for thousands of years to join with the angels in praising God. Worth noting, in Hebrew, to use the same word three times to describe something means that the person/object is utterly like the word. So calling God Holy Holy Holy (three times) means that God is utterly and perfectly holy.

NB: Seraphim are described in Isaiah 6:2 as part of God’s retinue and it seems they were creatures of fire, with six wings. Isaiah does not identify the seraphim with angels. The Hebrew name, śārāf means 'the one that burns’

In Jewish folklore, and some later Christian works, the Seraphim are said to be the highest rank of angel. This is probably because of their very close proximity to God.

Strictly Biblically speaking, the Seraphim are only described once in the Bible:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 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. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. Isaiah 6:1-4

Cherubim (or Cherubs)

When most people think of Cherubs they'll think of pudgy little baby-like creatures, with two little wings, who are rather cute. However, that's not how the Bible describes them! Cherubs (the correct plural is Cherubim) are described in two books of the Bible, Genesis and Ezekiel (a Jewish prophet).

In Genesis they guard the Garden of Eden, following Adam and Eve's banishment from the Garden, and are described holding flaming swords.

The prophet Ezekiel has a vivid vision of heaven where he sees many angelic beings. His description of the Cherubim is powerful – almost frightening. These are powerful heavenly beings with four faces and four wings. Ezekiel's vision might seem strange, it might well be that human eyes and senses just can't properly describe the wonder of heaven.

The Bible doesn't say how many Cherubim there are, but we're told that Ezekiel saw four - and there may be more than that! Their role is to guard God's Holy domain and presence from any sin and corruption. They are sometime known as the throne angels as they are seen to be around the throne of God. In Jewish folklore the 'Throne Angels' are known as “Merkabah” and described as having four faces on four side of their heads and being arranged in a square, they can travel in any direction without having to turn.

So far from being cute, cuddly creatures, the Cherubim are the mighty and powerful guardians of God.

NB: The best biblical description of cherubim (sing cherub) is to be found in the story of the Ark of the Covenant, and it appears that they were sphinx-like creatures with human heads, the bodies of lions and two wings.

The Four Living Creatures

In the final book of the Bible, Revelation, there's a description of 'Four Living Creatures'.

These amazing creatures have features in common with both the Seraphim, in having six wings and continually praising God; and like the Cherubim, that they number four, are covered in eyes and look like a lion, ox, man and eagle. Whether these creatures are Seraphim, Cherubim or another sort of angelic/heavenly being, we simply don't know. But they are certainly amazing and very powerful.