Seraph vs. Cherub — What's the Difference?

Celestial beings of the highest order, often associated with light and purity.

Guardians of the way to the Tree of Life in Genesis.

Described as having six wings, two covering their face, two covering their feet, and two for flying.

Symbolize divine wisdom and authority.

Known for their ceaseless worship of God, chanting "Holy, Holy, Holy."

Featured in visions of Ezekiel and Revelation as part of divine chariot and throne.

Often symbolize God's burning love and judgment.

Associated with the protection of God’s glory and presence.

Serve as agents of purification, as seen in Isaiah's vision.

Often depicted as having four wings and sometimes faces of different creatures.

A seraph (, "the burning one"; plural seraphim ) is a type of celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism. The term plays a role in subsequent Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.Tradition places seraphim in the highest rank in Christian angelology and in the fifth rank of ten in the Jewish angelic hierarchy.

A cherub (; plural cherubim; Hebrew: כְּרוּב‎ kərūv, pl. כְּרוּבִים kərūvîm, krūvîm, likely borrowed from a derived form of Akkadian: ??? karābu "to bless" such as ??? kāribu "one who blesses", a name for the lamassu) is one of the unearthly beings who directly attend to God, according to Abrahamic religions.

(Bible) A celestial being having three pairs of wings.

A winged celestial being.

Seraphim(Christianity) The first of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.

Cherubim(Christianity) The second of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.

(biblical) A six-winged angel; one of the highest choir or order of angels in Christian angelology, ranked above cherubim, and below God. They are the 5th-highest order of angels in Jewish angelology. A detailed description can be found at the beginning of [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_%28World_English%29/Isaiah#Chapter_6 Isaiah chapter 6].

A putto.

One of an order of celestial beings, each having three pairs of wings. In ecclesiastical art and in poetry, a seraph is represented as one of a class of angels.

A person, especially a child, with an innocent or chubby face.

An angel of the first order; usually portrayed as the winged head of a child

(biblical) A winged creature attending God, described by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (short=yes) as the second highest order of angels, ranked above thrones and below seraphim; similar to a lamassu in the pre-exilic texts of the Hebrew Bible, more humanoid in later texts.

An artistic depiction of such a being, typically in the form of a winged child or a child's head with wings but no body.

(figuratively) A person, especially a child, seen as being particularly angelic or innocent.

A mysterious composite being, the winged footstool and chariot of the Almighty, described in Ezekiel i. and x.

A symbolical winged figure of unknown form used in connection with the mercy seat of the Jewish Ark and Temple.

One of a order of angels, variously represented in art. In European painting the cherubim have been shown as blue, to denote knowledge, as distinguished from the seraphim (see Seraph), and in later art the children's heads with wings are generally called cherubs.

A beautiful child; - so called because artists have represented cherubs as beautiful children.

A sweet innocent baby

An angel of the second order whose gift is knowledge; usually portrayed as a winged child

While not directly involved in earthly ceremonies, seraphim influence religious thought and art by embodying the ideal of celestial worship and purity.

"Seraphim" translates to "the burning ones" in Hebrew, referring to their fiery nature and role in celestial hierarchy.

Seraphim interact with humans by serving as messengers of purification and divine vision, as seen in Isaiah's call to prophecy.

Seraphim represent the highest level of angelic beings and are considered closest to God, embodying the light of God and serving as a metaphor for divine presence.

In art, cherubim are often depicted with multiple wings and sometimes multiple faces, embodying the omnipresence and omniscience of God.

Cherubim symbolize guardianship and protection, particularly of sacred spaces and divine secrets.

They inspire through their symbolic roles in liturgy and prayer, particularly in the visualization of divine protection and the striving for spiritual purity.

Yes, there are hymns and prayers that invoke the protection of cherubim and the purifying power of seraphim, particularly in Orthodox and Catholic traditions.

Yes, cherubim can be seen as angels of mercy as they not only guard sacred places but also represent God's mercy in maintaining the order and sanctity of these places.

Seraphim are also mentioned in Judaic and Islamic texts, where they hold similarly high ranks and are involved in the worship and praise of God.

These celestial beings teach lessons about the holiness of God, the importance of worship, the guarding of spiritual truths, and the continuous praise of divine creation.

Depictions vary significantly; Orthodox Christianity often portrays them in a more traditional and symbolic manner, while Western Christianity may incorporate more abstract or humanized interpretations in art and literature.

In Western art, cherubim are often depicted as small, chubby infants with wings; in Eastern Christian iconography, they are more likely to appear as majestic, winged creatures.

The number of wings is symbolic of their capacities and duties; seraphim's six wings signify their supreme role in worship and purity, while cherubim's four wings align with their role as guardians.

Biblical cherubim are powerful and majestic creatures, while popular culture often reduces cherubs to the role of cute, infant-like figures in art and literature.