What were the cherubim made in the most holy place?

The cherubim in this passage were large figures shaped to represent angelic beings that attend God’s presence. They were made as image work, then completely overlaid with gold. These were not the small cherubim attached to the ark’s mercy seat, but two larger ones added when the most holy place of the temple was built bigger than the earlier tent. They filled the inner room so that the place where God’s presence was shown would not look empty, but clearly marked off as holy and guarded.

How big were the wings of the cherubim in the temple?

The wings of the two cherubim together measured twenty cubits across, which was the full width of the most holy place. Each cherub had two wings. One wing of each cherub was five cubits long and reached to a side wall of the room. The other wing, also five cubits long, stretched inward until it touched the wing of the other cherub. In this way the wings formed a continuous span from wall to wall over the area where the ark of the covenant stood.

Why did the cherubim face inward with their wings spread?

The cherubim are described as standing on their feet with their faces turned inward. This shows them in a posture of service, facing toward the ark, not toward the people. They were not made to be worshiped, but to picture heavenly servants attending the invisible God who met with Israel above the mercy seat. Their spread wings, touching wall to wall, formed a kind of covering over the ark, reminding worshipers that God is holy and that even mighty angels serve before him with reverence.

How were these cherubim different from the ones on the ark?

There were already small cherubim on the ark’s mercy seat. Those were part of the ark itself and were carried with it. The cherubim in this passage were additional, much larger figures placed in the most holy place of the permanent temple. When the inner room was enlarged, these great cherubim were added so the holy space would be filled in a fitting way. The smaller cherubim stayed on the ark, while the larger ones stood over and around it, both sets pointing to God’s presence and holiness.

What does this passage teach about worshiping angels?

This passage actually guards against the idea of worshiping angels. The cherubim stand on their feet like servants, and their faces look inward toward the ark where God’s presence was shown. They are not pictured as seated on thrones or turned toward worshipers. This shows they are not gods but created beings who serve the living God. People were to worship God alone, but they were to remember that in worship they joined in with the heavenly hosts who honor him in awe and obedience.

Why were the cherubim in the most holy place covered with gold?

The cherubim were overlaid with gold because the most holy place was the inner room of the temple where God’s presence was shown in a special way. Gold is often used in Scripture to mark off what is most set apart to God. Covering the cherubim with gold matched the other rich materials in that room and underlined its sacred purpose. This was not about showing human wealth for its own sake, but about setting apart this space and its furnishings for the worship of the holy God of Israel.

What does the inward-facing posture of the cherubim mean for us today?

The inward-facing posture of the cherubim reminds readers that true worship centers on God, not on the worshipers themselves. The figures are turned toward the ark, where God’s presence was shown, as if ready to serve and obey. Today this can encourage believers to approach God with the same focus and respect, remembering that even the highest heavenly beings are pictured as standing before him in humble service. It points our hearts away from self and back toward God’s glory and holiness.

2Chr.3.10

2 Chronicles 3:10

KJV

And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.

The Cherubim

And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.

¶ And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.

And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.

The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.