Bible Strands
2 Samuel 22:11
He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David delivers a song of thanksgiving to the Lord following military deliverance from his enemies. The verse functions within a poetic depiction of divine descent to rescue the speaker.
The words — The text employs וַ/יִּרְכַּ֥ב (va/i.yir.Kav, "he rode") and כְּר֖וּב (ke.Ruv, "cherub") to describe the means of approach, followed by וַ/יָּעֹ֑ף (va/i.ya.'Of, "he flew") upon the wings of the wind.
The thread — The identical phrasing appears in Psalms 18:10, while Psalms 104:3 parallels the scene by stating God makes the clouds His chariot and walks on the wings of the wind.
Why it lands — The passage records God's dramatic descent using transport imagery to describe His presence and power. Readers should observe that the text describes divine movement rather than establishing a theological rule for cherub worship.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
Cross-references
- Psalms 104:3 laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.
- Genesis 3:24 So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.
- Psalms 18:10 He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
- Psalms 80:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
- Psalms 99:1 The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!
- Hebrews 1:14 Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Exodus 25:19 one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.
- 1 Samuel 4:4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
- Psalms 68:17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands—thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
- Psalms 139:9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,