Jun 13, 2002 18:26
21 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
United States
Literature and lyrics true to original!
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, English
cherubim
English
Art/Literary
Is "cherubim" a plural of "cherub," or can it be written as "cherubims" in the plural? Webster says it is "cherub" and "cherubim" (singular and plural). However, the Bible uses both "cherubim" and "cherubims" when using the plural for this word. This is for a religious treatise I´m proofreading. My computer is flagging out "cherubims" as a misspelled word. Thanks for the help.
Responses
Responses
+1
20 mins
Patricia Rolland
Passion for Words and Meanings
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France)
Works in: English to French, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
Cherubim, Hebrew plural of Cherub
Cherubims, in the King James version of the bible, is an incorrect form, made by adding the English plural termination to the Hebrew plural cherubim instead of to the singular cherub (http://onlinedictionary.datasegment.com/word/Cherubim/)
Also see:
cher'-u-bim, cher'-oo-bim (kerubhim, plural of cherub, kerubh):
Through the influence of the Septuagint, "cherubim" was used in the earlier English versions, also as a singular, hence, the plural was made to sound "cherubims." The etymology of the word cannot be ascertained. (http://beta.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T2023)
Hope it helps.
Also see:
cher'-u-bim, cher'-oo-bim (kerubhim, plural of cherub, kerubh):
Through the influence of the Septuagint, "cherubim" was used in the earlier English versions, also as a singular, hence, the plural was made to sound "cherubims." The etymology of the word cannot be ascertained. (http://beta.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T2023)
Hope it helps.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Pat, for the helpful information. I would have split it between you and Oso, but that´s not possible. In the end, I chose your´s because the links explained how the word got in the Bible in plural form. Thanks to my pal Oso and everyone else for their erudition. :-))"
+10
5 mins
cherubim plural of cherub
Hi Bill,
According to the reference below, cherubim is the plural form of cherub.
Good luck from Oso ¶:^)
According to the reference below, cherubim is the plural form of cherub.
Good luck from Oso ¶:^)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kim Metzger
: The Consise Oxford also has cherubs as a plural
3 mins
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Thanks Kim ¶:^))
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| agree |
Claudia Andreani
5 mins
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Thank you Clau ¶:^))
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| agree |
Sam D (X)
8 mins
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Thanks Sam ¶:^))
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| agree |
Daniela McKeeby
9 mins
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Thank you Daniela ¶:^))
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| agree |
athena22
: Yes! Hebrew plural of cherub. Kim is right about cherubs, too. See: http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=cherubim
16 mins
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Hoooola Athena22! Grazie mille! ¶:^))
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| agree |
Yuri Geifman
: "cherubim" is based on Hebrew grammar (-im common ending for plural)
17 mins
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Thanks Yuri ¶:^))
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| agree |
Enza Longo
20 mins
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Thanks Enza ¶:^))
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| agree |
John Kinory (X)
: cherubim is the Hebrew plural form for masculine nouns, in this case of cherub (the Hebrew in pronounced k'ruv - kruvim, btw)
49 mins
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Thank you John ¶:^))
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| agree |
jerrie
1 hr
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Thanks jerrie ¶:^))
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| agree |
Gabriela Tenenbaum (X)
: Oso querubín #:))
5 hrs
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Muchas gracias Gaby ¶:^) ¶:^) ¶:^)
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10 mins
plural of cherub is either cherubs or cherubim
cherubim = ranks of Angels
22 mins
cherubim
This is what my New Oxford Dictionary of English says:
Cherub (pl. cherubim) a winged angelic being described in biblical tradition as attending on God, represented in ancient Middle Eastern art as a lio or bull with eagles' wings and a human face and regarded in traditional Christian agelology as an angel of the second highest order on the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
(pl. cherubim or cherubs) a representation of a cherub in art, depicted as a chubby, healthy-looking child with wings.
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Note added at 2002-06-13 18:52:40 (GMT)
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Whoops - three typos. Should read \'lion\' and \'angelology\' and \'of the ninefold...\' Got the wrong glasses on!
Cherub (pl. cherubim) a winged angelic being described in biblical tradition as attending on God, represented in ancient Middle Eastern art as a lio or bull with eagles' wings and a human face and regarded in traditional Christian agelology as an angel of the second highest order on the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
(pl. cherubim or cherubs) a representation of a cherub in art, depicted as a chubby, healthy-looking child with wings.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-06-13 18:52:40 (GMT)
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Whoops - three typos. Should read \'lion\' and \'angelology\' and \'of the ninefold...\' Got the wrong glasses on!
24 mins
Victoria Barkoff
Native in English
&
English
English translator/editor for 17 years
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
cherubs OR cherubim AND EVEN cherubims
The "-s" ending is the English plural.
The "-im" ending is the Hebrew plural.
So "cherubims" is, technically, a double plural, but it is often used , nonetheless.
The "-im" ending is the Hebrew plural.
So "cherubims" is, technically, a double plural, but it is often used , nonetheless.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
John Kinory (X)
: But cherubims is still WRONG
27 mins
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+1
33 mins
Karina Pelech
Argentinian digital nomad in LatAm
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Latin American)
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish
Related KudoZ points
:
31
some confusion
Hi Bill... some info:
CHERUB: 1. picture or figure of a fat, pretty, usually male child with small wings, used as decoration
2. Informal: a young pretty child who behaves very well.
3. Spoken: used to adderss a young child in a friendly way
4. PLURAL: CHERUBIM, biblical: "ONE" (note!!) of the angels that guard the seat where God sits.
M-Webster says:
Etymology: Latin, from Greek cheroub, from Hebrew kerubh
Date: 13th century
Inflected Form(s): plural usually cher.u.bim /'cher-&-"bim, 'ker- also 'cher-y&-/
1 **plural : an order of angels** -- see CELESTIAL HIERARCHY
2 **plural usually cherubs** a : a usually winged child in painting and sculpture b : an innocent-looking usually chubby and rosy person
- che.ru.bic /ch&-'rU-bik also 'cher-&-/ adjective
- che.ru.bi.cal.ly /-bi-k(&-)lE/ adverb
- cher.ub.like /'cher-&b-"lIk/ adjective
Thus, from these explanations (the first from Longman's Dict.) cherubim can be used plurally or singularly depending on the context.
Hope this helps... :o)
CHERUB: 1. picture or figure of a fat, pretty, usually male child with small wings, used as decoration
2. Informal: a young pretty child who behaves very well.
3. Spoken: used to adderss a young child in a friendly way
4. PLURAL: CHERUBIM, biblical: "ONE" (note!!) of the angels that guard the seat where God sits.
M-Webster says:
Etymology: Latin, from Greek cheroub, from Hebrew kerubh
Date: 13th century
Inflected Form(s): plural usually cher.u.bim /'cher-&-"bim, 'ker- also 'cher-y&-/
1 **plural : an order of angels** -- see CELESTIAL HIERARCHY
2 **plural usually cherubs** a : a usually winged child in painting and sculpture b : an innocent-looking usually chubby and rosy person
- che.ru.bic /ch&-'rU-bik also 'cher-&-/ adjective
- che.ru.bi.cal.ly /-bi-k(&-)lE/ adverb
- cher.ub.like /'cher-&b-"lIk/ adjective
Thus, from these explanations (the first from Longman's Dict.) cherubim can be used plurally or singularly depending on the context.
Hope this helps... :o)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Hermeneutica
: Yes, and the important thing is that cherubs are the pretty putti on mirrors etc and cherubim are part of the celestial host
2 mins
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Many thanks for the comment Dee... greetings from B.A. ... :o)
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| neutral |
John Kinory (X)
: Well, Longman is wrong, sadly (about cherubim being singular)
22 mins
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Perhaps ... and I know little of the subject myself, I'm happy to say ... saludos ... :o)
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