Cherub

Pl. cherubs, cherubim. Forms: α. 1 cerubin, -im, 1–8 cherubin, 3–7 -ine, 4 -yn, (5 cherybin). β. 4–9 cherub, (6–7 cherube). γ. 4–5 cherubym, 6–8 -im. Plur. δ. 3–7 cherubins, 4 -ynes, 4–6 -yns, (6 -ines, -inis). ε. 4–5 cherubyn, 5 -in. ζ. 6 cherubyms, 6 -ims. η. 7– cherubim. θ. 6 cherubis, -es, 6– cherubs. [OE. and ME. cherubin, ME. and mod. cherub; derived (through F., L., Gr.) from the Heb. of the OTest., where k’rūb, pl. k’rūbīm, are used as explained below. (It has no root or certain etymology in Hebrew, and its derivation is disputed.) From Heb. the word was adopted without translation by the LXX as χερούβ, χερουβίμ (-ίν, -είν), also in N.T., Heb. ix. 5, and by the Vulgate as cherūb, cherūbīn, cherūbīm (the latter in the Clementine text). As the plural was popularly much better known than the sing. (e.g., in the Te Deum), the Romanic forms were all fashioned on cherubin, viz. It. cherubino, pl. -i, Sp. querubin, -es, Pg. querubin, cherubin, F. cherubin, pl. -s.

  The earliest Eng. instances are of cerubin, cherubin, taken over from ecclesiastical Latin apparently as a foreign word, and treated implicitly as a singular, sometimes as a proper name, at other times as a collective. From the ME. period, the popular forms were, as in French, cherubin sing., cherubins plural. Cherubin survived in popular use to the 18th c.; but in the Bible translations, cherub was introduced from the Vulgate by Wyclif, was kept up by the 16th-c. translators, and gradually drove cherubin into the position of an illiterate form. In the plural, cherubins is found from the 13th c.; and although in MSS. of the earlier Wyclifite version, cherubyn is more frequent (after the Vulgate), the later version has always cherubins; this was retained in ordinary use till the 17th c. But in the 16th c., acquaintance with the Heb. led Bible translators to substitute cherubims: this occurs only once in Coverdale, but always in the Bishops’ Bible and version of 1611. From the beginning of the 17th c., cherubim began to be preferred by scholars (e.g., Milton) to cherubims, and has gradually taken its place; the Revised Version of 1881–5 has adopted it. A native plural cherubs arose early in the 16th c.; in Tindale, Coverdale and later versions (but not in that of 1611) it occurs beside cherubins, -ims; it is now the ordinary individual plural, the Biblical cherubim being more or less collective.

  Briefly then, cherubin, cherubins are the original English forms, as still in French. But, in the process of Biblical translation, cherubin has been supplanted by cherub; and cherubins has been ‘improved’ successively to cherubims, cherubim; while, concurrently, cherub has been popularly fitted with a new plural cherubs.

  The foreign form of the plural, coupled with the vagueness of the meaning in many passages, led to curious grammatical treatment even in MSS. of the LXX: here the Heb. sing. and pl. are normally reproduced as χερούβ, χερουβίμ (the latter taken in Gen. iii. 24 as a neuter plural, as it is in Heb. ix. 5), yet in Ps. xviii. 10 and the duplicate passage in 2 Sam. xxii. 11, and in 2 Chron. iii. 11, the Heb. sing. [Hebrew]) (of the Masoretic text) is represented by χερουβίμ, treated as a neuter singular (ἐπὶ τῷ χερουβίμ, τοῦ χερουβὶμ τοῦ ἑτέρου). In the former case the Vulgate follows the LXX with cherubim. Since, in the Latin, there is, in many passages, nothing to show the number of cherubin, it is no cause of surprise that readers often took it as singular, and it is actually used as a sing. (masc. or neuter) in many mediæval Latin hymns and litanies.]

  The history of the sense, or notion attached to the word, lies outside English, though English use reflects all its varieties. In the OTest. the cherubim are ‘living creatures’ with two or four wings, but the accounts of their form are not consistent: cf. the earlier notices with those of Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek. i, x). They first appear in Genesis iii. 24, as guardians of the tree of life. This name was also given to the two images overlaid with gold placed with wings expanded over the mercy-seat in the Jewish tabernacle and temple, over which the shekinah or symbol of the divine presence was manifested. A frequent expression for the Divine Being was ‘he that dwelleth (or sitteth) between (or on) the cherubim.’ Psalm xviii. 10. (also contained in 2 Sam. xxii. 11) says of Jehovah ‘He rode upon a cherub (LXX. cherubim), and did fly.’ It is in connection with this class of passages that the word first appears in English, and it is difficult to know exactly how the word was construed or used. The inclusion of the cherubim among angels appears to belong to Christian Mysticism. According to the 4th-c. work attributed to Dionysius the Areopagite, the heavenly beings are divided into three hierarchies, each containing three orders or choirs, viz. (according to the received order) seraphim, cherubim, thrones; dominions, virtues (δυνάμεις), powers; principalities, archangels, angels. Cherubim were thus made the second of the nine orders, having the special attribute of knowledge and contemplation of divine things. Their angelic character is that which chiefly prevails in later notions and in Christian art.

  † 1.  In early use: (Cherubin, -yn, -ym). A reproduction of the Latin form, app. treated as singular or collective, without article, and variously understood.

  † a.  In certain Biblical expressions describing the seat or dwelling of the Deity. Obs.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter xvii[i]. 10. Astaʓ ofer cerubim & fleh. Ibid., lxxix. 2, and xcviii[i]. 1. Ðu ðe sites ofer Cerubin [L. in all 3 places Cherubin].

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. xvii[i]. 10. And he astah eft ofer cherubin [ascendit super cherubin]. Ibid. xcviii[i]. 1. Sitteð ofer cherubin [sedet super cherubin].

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 111. And steh eft abuuen cherubin.

a. 1240.  Ureisun, 25, in Cott. Hom., 191. Heih is þi kinestol onuppe cherubine.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter xviii. 11. And he stegh ouer cherubin and flegh thar.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter xcviii[i]. 1. Crist is kynge þat sittys on cherubyn.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Sam. iv. 4. The arke … of the Lord of oostis, sittynge vpon cherubym [1388 cherubyn]. Ibid., Ps. xvii[i]. 11. He steȝede vpon cherubyn, and fleiȝ [1388 -ym]. Ibid., Ps. lxxix. [lxxx.] 2. That sittest vpon cherubyn [1388 -ym].

  ¶ The form -in, -im, also stands in one passage in Coverdale, and Bps.’ Bible; in neither of which it is (elsewhere) the plural form:—

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. xxxvii. 26. Thou God of Israel which dwellest vpon Cherubin.

1568.  Bible (Bishops’), ed. 1573, ibid. Which dwellest vpon Cherubim.

  † b.  Explained as ‘fullness of knowledge,’ or ‘a celestial virtue.’

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter xvii[i]. 12. He steghe abouen cherubyn, þat is he passis all manere of conynge, for cherubyn is als mykel as fulnes of conynge.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. ix. (1495), 36. Cherubyn is to vnderstonde plente of cunnynge.

1650.  French, Chym. Dict., Cherubin is a celestiall vertue, and influence … proceeding from God, and descending upon the earth, and upon all men. Of this divine glory Paracelsus speaks largely.

  † c.  Taken as the proper name of an individual angel; particularly of Uriel. Obs.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 356. Þis ilke is … bitocned bi cherubines sweorde biuoren þe ȝeten of Parais.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1245. Now ga To paradis … Til cherubin þat es þe yateward. Ibid., 22599. Þan sal quak sant cherubin, and alsua sal do seraphin.

a. 1300.  Signs bef. Judgem., 152, in E. E. P. (1862), 11. Þan sal quake seraphin and cherubin . þat beþ angles two.

1413.  Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, I. ix. (1859), 7. Cherubyn, my dere broder, to whome is commytted the naked swerde for to kepe the entre of paradys.

1537.  Thersytes, in Four Old Plays (1848), 82. The fyue stones of Dauyd … the wing with which seint Mychaell dyd fly to his mount, the counters wherwith cherubyn, did cheristones count.

[1876.  Dict. Chr. Antiq., I. 89/2. From the name of Uriel being little known, the fourth archangel is designated in some mediæval monuments as St. Cherubin.]

  † d.  Used collectively for a guard, company, or order of angels. Obs.

c. 1367.  Eulog. Hist. (1860), II. IV. xi. 12. Cherubin quoque, id est, Angelorum præsidium.

1388.  Wyclif, Gen. iii. 24. Cherubyn, that is keping of aungels.

1535.  Berthelet’s ed. of Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., II. ix. The ij ordre hyght cherubyn, and is to vnderstonde, plente of counnynge.

1613.  R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Cherubin, order of Angels.

  ¶ Perhaps formerly taken in sense c. or d. in the Te Deum: see 2.

  2.  In extant use: A being of a celestial or angelic order.

  a.  One of the ‘living creatures’ mentioned in the Old Testament, and figured in the Jewish Temple.

  b.  One of the second order of angels of the Dionysian hierarchy, reputed to excel specially in knowledge (as the seraphim in love); a conventional representation of such an angelic being in painting or sculpture.

  As the Christian notion was simply super-imposed as a kind of gloss upon the Hebrew, the two are not usually separable in med.L. or Eng. Milton completely blends them, as did e.g., Durandus in his Rationale Divinorum Officiorum (1286). In early Christian art, cherubim were app. colored red, but according to some, blue, the seraphim being red. In modern art, a cherub is usually represented as a beautiful winged child, or as consisting of a child’s head with wings but no body.

  † α.  Sing. cherubin. Obs. (Cf. 1 c.)

1382.  Wyclif, Exod. xxv. 19. That o cherubyn [1388 cherub] be in the o syde … and that othere in that othere.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 624. A somonour … That hadde a fyr reed cherubynnes [v.r. -ynys, -ynes] face.

1517.  Torkington, Pilgr. (1884), 70. A cherybyn of gold xij spane long.

c. 1570.  Thynne, Pride & Lowl., cciv. 30. A Vintener, His face was redd as any Cherubyn.

1597.  Shaks., Lover’s Compl., 319. Which like a Cherubin above them hover’d.

a. 1626.  Bacon, New Atl. (1658), 22. The Spirit of Chastity … in the likenesse of a fair beautifull Cherubine.

1654.  Jer. Taylor, Real Pres., I. ii. No more then we know how a Cherubin sings or thinks.

1700.  Dryden, Pal. & Arc., Ded. God in either eye has placed a cherubin.

1708–21.  Kersey, A Cherub or Cherubin. So 1721–31 in Bailey. [1742–1800 Cherub or Cherubim [with pl. -ims].]

  β.  Sing. cherub.

c. 1382.  Wyclif, Ezek. xli. 18. & cherubyns forged & palmes; & a palme bitwix cherub & cherub, & cherub hadde two faces.

1535.  Coverdale, Exod. xxv. 19. And thou shalt make two Cherubyns … y^t the one Cherub maye be vpon the one ende. Ibid., 2 Sam. xxii. 11. He sat vpon Cherub and dyd flee.

1568.  Bible (Bishops’), ibid. He rode vpon Cerub. Ibid., Exod. xxxvii. 7. One Cherub on the one side, and another Cherub, [etc.].

1602.  Shaks., Ham., IV. iii. 50. I see a Cherube that see’s him.

1632.  Milton, Penseroso, 54. With the bring … The Cherub Contemplation. Ibid., P. L., VII. 198. Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones, And Vertues, winged Spirits.

1735.  Pope, Prol. Sat., 331. A cherub’s face, a reptile all the rest.

c. 1800.  Dibdin, Poor Jack. There’s a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft To keep watch for the life of poor Jack.

1832.  G. Downes, Lett. Cont. Countries, I. 431. Taking the dimensions of a cherub, placed at some angle as a diminutive ornament.

1875.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, VIII. i. 281. Than if he were a cherub in the clouds of heaven!

  γ.  Sing. cherubim. Obs. (Still dial. and vulgar.)

1568.  Bible (Bishops’), ed. 1573, Exod. xxv. 18–19. Thou shalt make two Cherubims of gold … the one Cherubim shalt thou make on the one ende [elsewhere cherub].

1673.  Lady’s Call., II. iii. 88. The ardor of a cherubim.

1709.  Swift & Addison, Tatler, No. 32, ¶ 2. Why should she wish to be a Cherubim, when ’tis Flesh and Blood that makes her adorable?

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xxxi. As he looks up at the organ, Miss Tox in the gallery shrinks behind the fat legs of a cherubim on a monument.

  † δ.  Plural cherubins. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8282. Þe gilden oyle, þe propiciatori, Tua cherubins [v.r. -ynes].

1382.  Wyclif, Exod. xxv. 18. Two goldun cherubyns. Ibid., Ezek. x. 20. Foure cherubyns.

1490.  Caxton, How to Die, 22. The cherubyns and the syraphyns come to thyne helpe.

1535.  Coverdale, Exod. xxv. 18. Two Cherubyns of beaten golde.

1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. xviii. 10. On Cherubs and on Cherubins full royally he rode.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., III. ii. 74. Feares make diuels of Cherubins, they neuer see truely.

1673.  H. More, Appendix, 11. The Cherubins in the Ark were of this figure.

  † ε.  Plural cherubin. Obs. or arch.

1382.  Wyclif, Exod. xxxvii. 7–8. Two cherubyn [1388 cherubins] of gold … two cherubyn in either heiȝtis.

c. 1400.  Maundev., viii. 86. 4 Lyouns of Gold, upon the whiche thei bare Cherubyn of Gold, 12 Spannes long. [Cherubin in the Te Deum is now taken as an archaic plural: see below ¶.]

  ζ.  Plural cherubims. (arch. or vulgar).

1535.  Coverdale, Exod. xxvi. 1. Cherubyms shalt thou make theron of broderd worke [elsewhere -ins, -yns, or cherubs, -es].

1568.  Bible (Bishops’), ed. 1573, Gen. iii. 24. He set Cherubims and a flaming sword. Ibid., Heb. ix. 5. And ouer it the Cherubims of glory [so always].

1611.  Bible, Exod. xxv. 18. Thou shalt make two Cherubims of gold.

1649.  Jer. Taylor, Life of Christ, I. iv. Inflam’d beyond the love of Seraphims … made more knowing then Cherubims.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 14/1. If there be but one in a Coat it is called a Cherub, but if more then Cherubims.

1714.  Spect., No. 600, ¶ 7. Rabbins tell us, that the cherubims are a Set of Angels who know most.

1762–71.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 207. Mural tablets with cherubims and flaming urns.

1771.  Smollett, Humph. Cl., Let. 10 June. [They] sing psalms and hymns like two cherubims.

  η.  Plural cherubim.

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. 28. The first place … is giuen to the Angels of loue, which are tearmed Seraphim, the second to the Angels of light, which are tearmed Cherubim.

1667.  Milton, P. L., V. 100. Majesty Divine, enclos’d With Flaming Cherubim. Ibid., XI. 128. The Cohort bright Of watchful Cherubim: four faces each Had, like a double Janus: all their shape Spangl’d with eyes.

1756–7.  trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), III. 52. The groupe of cherubim, seraphim, &c. in a marble basso-relievo is by Francesco Fiamingo, who, for sculpture, is accounted a second Michael Angelo.

1821.  Byron, Cain, I. i. 418. I have heard it said, The seraphs love most—cherubim know most.

1864.  Pusey, Lect. Daniel, viii. 520. The Cherubim…, having been placed, with symbols of terror, to forbid his [man’s] return to Paradise, were objects of awe.

1885.  Bible (Revised), Gen. iii. 24. He placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim [so always].

  θ.  Plural cherubs.

1526.  Tindale, Heb. ix. 5. The cherubis of glory [Wyclif 1382 and 1388 cherubyns, Coverd. -ins, Cranmer -ims, Bps.’ Bible -ims, Geneva -ins, Rhem. -ins, 1611 -ims, 1881 -im].

1535.  Coverdale, Gen. iii. 24. Before the garden of Eden he set Cherubes. Ibid., 1 Kings vi. 23. He made also … two Cherubins … One wynge of ether of the Cherubs had fyue cubytes.

1609.  Bible (Douay), Ezek. x. 1. Ouer the head of the Cherubs [so throughout the Chapter].

a. 1711.  Ken, Hymnotheo, Wks. 1721, III. 201. Cherubs encircling Heav’n with Swords of Flame.

1718.  Prior, Solomon, I. ad fin. That fatal Tree … Which flaming Swords and angry Cherubs guard.

1822.  Byron, Vis. Judgm., xxxi. The cherubs and the saints bow’d down before That archangelic hierarch.

  ¶ In the Te Deum, in 15th c., cherubin and seraphin, may have been a retention of the Latin plural; but they may also (as in some OFr. versions) have been taken as singular. They are now taken as plural, and in edd. of the Prayer-bk. of the American Episcopal Church, altered to ‘cherubim and seraphim.’

c. 1400.  Prymer MS., Maskell, Mon. Rit. Eccl. Angl. (1882), III. 1516. To thee cherubyn and seraphym: crien with uncecynge vois.

c. 1420.  Douce MS. 275 lf. 6 b. To thee cherubyn and seraphin: crien with outen stentinge.

c. 1420.  Douce MS. 246 lf. 16 b. To the cherubyn and seraphyn cryeth with voyce withouten cessynge.

1543.  Prymer in Eng. & Lat., use of Sarum, C. v. b. To the crye forth all Angels … To the thus cryeth Cherubyn, and Seraphin contynually.

1546.  Primer. Too the Cherubin and Seraphin continually do cry.

1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. (1619). To thee Cherub and Seraphin, to cry they doe not lin.

  3.  transf. Applied to persons: † a. (in form cherubim) to a divine of surpassing intellect. Obs.

1547.  Hooper, Decl. of Christ & his Office, iv. No mans authoritie, Be he Augustine, Tertullian, or other Cherubim or Cherabim [? Seraphim].

1638.  E. Knot, in Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. iv. § 9. S. Thomas [Aquinas] the Cherubim among Divines.

  † b.  (in form cherubin) to a beautiful or beloved woman (cf. angel). Obs.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., IV. ii. 63. Thou young and Rose-lip’d Cherubin. Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 152. O, a Cherubin Thou was’t that did preserue me.

1634.  Habington, Castara, I. viii. (Arb.), 21. Sing forth sweete Cherubin.

1703.  Rowe, Fair Penit., V. i. 1756. Hadst thou been honest, thou hadst been a Cherubin.

  c.  (in form cherub, pl. cherubs) to a beautiful and innocent child.

1705.  Otway, Orphan, II. ii. 446. My little Cherub what hast thou to ask me?

1814.  Scott, Wav., ii. The round-faced rosy cherub before him.

1855.  Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 18. Two little cherubs appeared in the Clapham Paradise.

1884.  Miss Braddon, Ishmael, I. iv. 75. The youngest…, a rosy-cheeked cherub, with golden curls flying in the wind.

  d.  Cherubim: a provincial name of the Barn Owl.

1864.  Harry Jones, Holiday Papers, 321. You’ve been and shot a cherubim.

1885.  Swainson, Prov. Names Brit. Birds, 126. [Locality not given.]

  e.  Cherubims: a nickname of the 11th Hussars, ‘by a bad pun’ from their cherry-colored trousers. Brewer, Phr. & Fable.

  † 4.  In the cherubins: unsubstantial, fanciful, ‘in the clouds.’ Obs. rare.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 139 (D.). Diogenes mocking soch quidificall trifles, that were al in the cherubins, said [etc.].

  5.  attrib. and in comb.

1607.  Shaks., Timon, IV. iii. 63. This fell whore … Hath in her more destruction then thy Sword, For all her Cherubin looke.

1611.  Cotgr., s.v. Cherubin, Rouge comme vn Cherubin, Red-faced, Cherubin-faced, hauing a fierie facies like a Cherubin.

1617.  S. Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, 415. Seraph-like, not Cherub-like.

a. 1771.  Gray, Bard, ix. A voice, as of the Cherub-Choir.

1792.  W. Roberts, Looker-on, No. 21. With a little cherub-like face.

1794.  Coleridge, Death of Chatterton, 7. Assume, O Death! the cherub wings of Peace.

1812.  Byron, Ch. Har., I. lxv. Ah, Vice! how soft are thy voluptuous ways … A cherub-hydra round us dost thou gape. Ibid. (1821), Cain, I. i. 90. The cherubim-defended battlements. Ibid., II. ii. 139. The cherub-guarded walls of Eden.

1877.  Mrs. Forrester, Mignon, I. 12. The gold-framed cherub face.