Cherub
/ˈtʃɛr.əb/noun
A winged celestial being in biblical tradition, later also a chubby angel in art.
Did you know?In the Hebrew Bible, cherubim are not baby-faced angels but powerful throne-guardians tied to sacred space, and the word’s deeper origin is still debated by scholars.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Near East
Semitic
*k-r-b
“A debated root associated with sacred beings or intercession; the exact original sense is uncertain.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
kərūv
“A cherub, a powerful supernatural guardian being.”
3rd Century BCE
Greek
cheroub / cheroubim
“A transliterated Hebrew term for the angelic beings of Jewish scripture.”
Late Latin
Latin
cherubim
“Plural form used in Christian biblical and theological texts.”
Old English
English
cherub
“A biblical cherub, later an angelic figure in Christian tradition.”
Modern English
English
cherub
“A winged angelic being, often depicted as a small child in art.”