כְּרוּב
𐤊𐤓𐤅𐤁
Keruv
H3743 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Kerub: 1) a specific location in the region of Babylonia; 2) cherub: a term for a particular kind of heavenly or supernatural being frequently associated with the divine presence or as a guardian figure in biblical texts. The term is used both as a place name and as a designation for a class of celestial beings, whose full nature remains partially veiled by ancient Israelite literary conventions.
Semantic Range
(1) a supernatural being or celestial guardian associated with the divine presence, (2) a place name in Babylonia (Kerub)
Root / Etymology
The word כְּרוּב is likely derived from a non-Hebrew (possibly Akkadian or West Semitic) root, with connections proposed to Akkadian 'karabu' (to bless) or 'kuribu' (a protective spirit or interceding figure). In biblical Hebrew, it occurs both as a proper name for a place and as a designation for a celestial being, but its ultimate etymology remains uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, כְּרוּב occurs as the name of a location in Babylonia to which some Israelite exiles were deported (Ezra 2:59; Neh 7:61), but it is far more frequently encountered as the term for a supernatural being (plural: כְּרוּבִים), particularly in temple and vision contexts (e.g., Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:18-22; Ezekiel 10). In priestly and prophetic texts, cherubim serve as throne bearers or guardians of sacred space, and are iconographically associated with composite creatures depicting a synthesis of animal and human features (as reflected in ancient Near Eastern art). English 'cherub' presents a narrowed meaning: artistic traditions later depicted cherubs as childlike angels, a concept unrelated to the original biblical usage, which instead evokes awe-inspiring cosmic guardians. In the context of place names (Kerub), nothing explicit is known beyond its appearance in exile lists. The use of the same word for both a place and a being may indicate borrowing from a wider Mesopotamian lexicon, but does not imply the concepts are directly related.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as כְּרוּב; Kerub, a place in Babylon; Cherub.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כרב (k-r-b) — uncertain; possibly nearness, blessing, protection
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3742 | כְּרוּב | the throne-guardian beings |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3743-01 |
כְּר֥וּב | keruv | HNp |
Cherub | throne-guardian being | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3743-01 |
Ezra 2:59 | כְּר֥וּב | keruv | HNp |
Cherub | throne-guardian being |
H3743-01 |
Nehemiah 7:61 | כְּר֥וּב | keruv | HNp |
Kerub | throne-guardian being |