The cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant symbolize God’s holiness, His heavenly throne, and the guarded access to His presence. These angelic figures were placed on each end of the mercy seat, facing inward toward it, with their wings stretched upward to overshadow the seat.
Exodus 25:18–20 describes their design:
“And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.”
The cherubim reflect the heavenly reality of God’s throne room, where angels worship and serve Him (Ezekiel 10:1–5). Their posture, looking toward the mercy seat, shows that even the highest angelic beings focus on God’s presence and the atonement provided there. It also illustrates that access to God is not open to all but is guarded and mediated through sacrifice.
This imagery reminds us of Genesis 3:24, where cherubim were placed at the entrance of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life after man’s fall. In the same way, the cherubim on the Ark signify that fellowship with God requires holiness and cannot be approached apart from His appointed means.
Ultimately, the cherubim point to Christ, who opened the way into God’s presence through His blood (Hebrews 10:19–20). What was once guarded is now accessible in Him. The cherubim teach that worship centers on God’s throne and that His glory is to be revered above all.
