Cherub vs. Angel

By Jaxson

Main Difference

The main difference between Cherub and Angel is that the Cherub is a winged angelic being and Angel is a supernatural being or spirit in certain religions and mythologies

  • Cherub

    A cherub (; plural cherubim; Hebrew: כְּרוּב‎ kərūv, pl. כְּרוּבִים kərūvîm) is one of the unearthly beings who directly attend to God, according to Abrahamic religions. The numerous depictions of cherubim assign to them many different roles, such as protecting the entrance of the Garden of Eden.In Jewish angelic hierarchy, cherubim have the ninth (second-lowest) rank in Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah (12th century), and the third rank in Kabbalistic works such as Berit Menuchah (14th century).

    De Coelesti Hierarchia places them in the highest rank alongside Seraphim and Thrones.In the Book of Ezekiel and (at least some) Christian icons, the cherub is depicted as having two pairs of wings, and four faces: that of a lion (representative of all wild animals), an ox (domestic animals), a human (humanity), and an eagle (birds). Their legs were straight, the soles of their feet like the hooves of a bull, gleaming like polished brass.

    Later tradition ascribes to them a variety of physical appearances. Some early midrashic literature conceives of them as non-corporeal. In Western Christian tradition, cherubim have become associated with the putto (derived from classical Cupid/Eros), resulting in depictions of cherubim as small, plump, winged boys.In Islam, the cherubim are the angels closest to God. Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall noted Rūḥ as one of the most noble among the cherubim. Others are the Bearers of the Throne or the archangels. In Ismailism, there are seven cherubim, comparable to the Seven Archangels.

  • Angel

    An angel is generally a supernatural being found in various religions and mythologies. In Abrahamic religions, angels are often depicted as benevolent celestial beings who act as intermediaries between God or Heaven and humanity. Other roles of angels include protecting and guiding human beings, and carrying out God’s tasks. Within Abrahamic religions, angels are often organized into hierarchies, although such rankings may vary between sects in each religion. Such angels are given specific names or titles, such as Gabriel or Michael. The term “angel” has also been expanded to various notions of spirits or figures found in other religious traditions. The theological study of angels is known as “angelology.” Angels who were expelled from Heaven are referred to as fallen angels.

    In fine art, angels are usually depicted as having the shape of human beings of extraordinary beauty but no gender (until the 19th century at least). They are often identified with symbols of bird wings, halos, and light.

Wikipedia
  • Cherub (noun)

    A winged highest order of ranked above thrones and below texts of the Hebrew Bible, more humanoid in later texts.

  • Cherub (noun)

    An being, typically in the form of a winged head with wings but no body.

    “amoretto|cupid|putto”

  • Cherub (noun)

    A innocent.

    “angel|innocent”

  • Angel (noun)

    An incorporeal and sometimes divine messenger from a deity, or other divine entity, often depicted in art as a youthful winged figure in flowing robes.

  • Angel (noun)

    One of the lowest order of such beings, below virtues.

  • Angel (noun)

    A person having the qualities attributed to angels, such as purity or selflessness.

    “You made me breakfast in bed, you little angel.”

  • Angel (noun)

    Attendant spirit; genius; demon.

  • Angel (noun)

    An official (a bishop, or sometimes a minister) who heads a Christian church, especially a Catholic Apostolic church.

  • Angel (noun)

    An ancient gold coin of England, bearing the figure of the archangel Michael, and varying in value from six shillings and eightpence to ten shillings.

  • Angel (noun)

    An altitude, measured in thousands of feet.

    “Climb to angels sixty. (“ascend to 60,000 feet”)”

  • Angel (noun)

    An unidentified flying object detected by air traffic control radar.

  • Angel (noun)

    An affluent individual who provides capital for a startup, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity; an angel investor.

  • Angel (noun)

    A person who has Angelman syndrome.

  • Angel (verb)

    To support by donating money.

Wiktionary
  • Angel (noun)

    a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe

    “the Angel of Death”

    “God sent an angel to talk to Gideon”

  • Angel (noun)

    an attendant spirit, especially a benevolent one

    “there was an angel watching over me”

  • Angel (noun)

    (in traditional Christian angelology) a being of the lowest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.

  • Angel (noun)

    short for Hells Angel

  • Angel (noun)

    a person of exemplary conduct or virtue

    “their parents think they are angels”

    “I know I’m no angel”

  • Angel (noun)

    used in similes or comparisons to refer to a person’s outstanding beauty, qualities, or abilities

    “you sang like an angel”

  • Angel (noun)

    used in approval to a person who is kind or helpful

    “be an angel and let us come in”

  • Angel (noun)

    used as a term of endearment

    “I miss you too, angel”

  • Angel (noun)

    a person who supports a business financially, typically one who invests private capital in a small or newly established enterprise

    “the longer it takes you to get your product into the marketplace, the longer it will be until the angels get their money back”

  • Angel (noun)

    a financial backer of a theatrical production

    “every year we raise the money for the next season and we are always looking for an angel”

  • Angel (noun)

    a former English coin minted between the reigns of Edward IV and Charles I and bearing the figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.

  • Angel (noun)

    an aircraft’s altitude (often used with a numeral indicating thousands of feet)

    “we rendezvous at angels nine”

  • Angel (noun)

    an unexplained radar echo.

Oxford Dictionary

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