Thread by @bibleproject

We’ve received a lot of great questions about our recent Angels and Cherubim video. One question, in particular, has been: Who or what are the seraphim in Isaiah chapter 6, and how do they relate to the cherubim? The rabbit hole, as always, is deep and fascinating!

Let’s recall that the cherubim function as guardians at the boundary between heaven and earth (as in Genesis 3:24). They support Yahweh’s throne in the heavenly temple (Psalm 99:1), or carry his mobile throne-chariot that appears to prophets on earth (as in Ezekiel 9:3 and 10:1).

An important fact here is that each time they appear, they look slightly different and are called by different titles. They’re “living creatures” (Ezekiel 1) or “cherubim” (Ezekiel 10). They have have two wings (Exodus 25:20) or four (Ezekiel 1:6), with one face (1 Kings 8:6-7)

or two (Ezek 41:18) or four (Ezek 10:14)! This variety points to their symbolic nature. The diversity of their appearance mirrors the diversity of the earthly creatures that they represent in the heavenly realm, channeling creation’s beauty into praise to the Creator.

These various titles and depictions help us understand what the prophet Isaiah (ch. 6) sees in his vision of the same heavenly throne room. He describes hybrid creatures who perform a similar role to the cherubim, but with some variations. They have six wings

(instead of two or four), and they guard the divine throne with their choir song: “Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh of hosts, that which fills the land is his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). In addition, they're called seraphim only here in the Hebrew Scriptures.

This uniqueness has led some people to think that seraphim are a species of spiritual being different from the cherubim but this is unlikely. Isaiah’s vision fits the same pattern of heavenly throne guardians who have different appearances & titles when they show up in scripture.

But why are they called seraphim in Isaiah chapter 6? Here's the real rabbit hole! The Hebrew word "seraphim" is one of the common Hebrew words for "snake." And if the image of winged snakes sounds crazy to you,

notice that Isaiah uses the same exact word two other times where its meaning is very clear: “flying snakes” (Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6). In Isaiah chapter 14, it’s a metaphor for the ruler of Babylon, who has attempted to ascend into the heavens and usurp God’s throne (14:12-15)!

Does that sound familiar? Isaiah’s seraphim are hyperlinked to the rebel cherub in Ezekiel 28:14 and to that clever snake in Genesis 3! This is why we omitted discussion of the seraphim in our Angels and Cherubim video because we’ll focus on them in our forthcoming video on

The Satan and Demons. And one last thing! If you’re still not sure if the cherubim and seraphim are the same creature, check out Revelation 4:5-9, where John’s vision of the divine throne room merges imagery from all over the Hebrew Bible.

He sees a crystal sky-platform (from Exodus 24:10), with living creatures (from Ezekiel 1) that have eyes all over (from the cherubim in Ezekiel 10), but they have six wings and sing “holy, holy, holy…!” (from the seraphim of Isaiah 6).

In John’s apocalyptic imagination, all of these diverse heavenly creatures are really one, transforming the noise and beauty of creation into one ultimate song that honors the Creator and King of all.

For more information, check out our Angels and Cherubim video here:

And check out our Spiritual Beings explore page and study notes here: thebibleproject.com/explore/spirit…

#TheBibleProject #Angels #Cherubim #SpiritualBeings