Cherubim and Seraphim : a textual and iconographic study

The Hebrew words (cherub) and (seraph) are well-known terms, but it is unclear exactly to what they refer. Many sources agree that the word cherub refers to a composite creature such as a griffin, sphinx or winged bull. Less research has been done on the meaning of the word seraph. This study employs a textual and iconographic analysis to attempt to reconstruct a picture of what the authors of the Hebrew Bible had in mind when they wrote about cherubim and seraphim. Every text in the Hebrew Bible mentioning one of these words is listed, translated and analysed with the aid of various sources. Special attention is paid to texts that discuss cherubim or seraphim at length, such as the description of the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus, the visions of cherubim in Ezekiel and the reference to seraphim in Isaiah. Artefacts from certain cultures and dating within a specific timeframe, depicting composite creatures, are studied and analysed. Possible depictions of seraphim are identified, using information from the texts of the Hebrew Bible and through analogy with widely-accepted depictions of cherubim. The study contends that where cherubim were seen as winged composite creatures with parts of two or more of the eagle, lion, ox/bull and human, seraphim was a term used to describe winged composite creatures including parts of the serpent. It is also argued that seraphim are generally not associated with dragonlike composite creatures because of the negative connotations that modern symbolism has of snakes and dragons, and that the ancient Hebrews did not necessarily share this view.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Pretoria

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Prinsloo, G.T.M. (Gert Thomas Marthinus)

• UCTD
• Ark (of the covenant)
• Iconography
• Merkabah
• Cherubim
• Seraphim
• Griffin

Statement dc:rights

• © 2009 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.

Dc Identifier Other

E1156/ag

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/30799