Rewrite the article as study notes. Each section should include bullet points

Glorious humanoids with gilded armors, beautiful wings, perfect faces, and an all-righteous nature that brings warmth, comfort, and solace — that’s how we picture angels. After all, that’s how we’ve depicted the majestic creatures throughout history in every piece of art and literature.

Is this common description a portrayal of our reimagination, or does it have a striking resemblance to angels who rule heaven?

According to the Bible, it would appear that we’re in the wrong. Unlike the gentle, human-like apparitions we’re familiar with, angels look strange, terrifying even. And it would appear that there’s a good reason behind it.


Biblical Depiction of an Angel via reddit.com
Conceptualizing Angels: A Brief History
The word “angel” has a couple of origins. It is derived from the Greek word “angelos,” and the Greek word, in turn, comes from the Hebrew word “Mal’ akh,” which stands for messenger.


When we’re visualizing an angel, we’re often thinking of Malakim, who acted on God’s behalf in the Old Testament to carry out his judgment and took on the role of messengers in the New Testament.

Malakim are said to be the closest depiction of human beings. However, they are not mentioned in the Bible as beings with wings.

Indeed, the earliest known Christian image of an angel, from the mid-third century, depicted them as human-like beings without wings.

This image, however, changed in the late fourth century as artists reimagined angels with wings to represent their sublime nature, even though the scripture makes no mention of wings.


Popular Angels and Their Biblical Forms
Let’s take a look at some of the most well-known depictions of the angels we’re familiar with and how much they differ from their Biblical descriptions.

Cherubim
According to the Bible, cherubim are responsible for guarding the Garden of Eden — the Biblical terrestrial paradise — against humankind when Adam and Eve, the first humans, were driven out of the heavenly garden.

The prophet Ezekiel’s vision of cherubim is depicted in the Book of Ezekiel in which they are portrayed as having four faces — one of an eagle, one a human, one an ox, and finally a lion.

Cherubim have straight legs, four wings (one set covers their body while the other is used for flying), and bull hooves for feet.


Cherubim – Art by Art by KelbremDusk
Subscribe to the History Defined newsletter!
Get updates on the latest posts and more from History Defined straight to your inbox.

Your Email...
SUBSCRIBE

I consent to receiving emails and personalized ads.
This portrayal is nothing like what we imagine them to be. Cherubim, commonly known as cherubs, are depicted as chubby, beautiful, naked children with wings in art, as represented by Renaissance sculptors who revived the ancient practice of putti.


These depictions of Cherubim are often connected with divinity. These animal-human hybrids have also been associated with cupids, the diaper-clad chubby babies who are sometimes shown with a trumpet and arrow to symbolize romantic love.

Some attribute this modern-day image to cupid-like Greek and Roman deities. On the other hand, the Biblical image is frequently attributed to cultural exchanges with ancient Babylonia, Egypt, and Syria, which explains their mixed appearance. 


Seraphim
According to the Christian angel hierarchy, seraphim hold the highest rank. In art, the four-winged cherubim are painted in blue to symbolize the sky, while the six-winged seraphim are painted in red to symbolize fire.

The Hebrew term “Saraph” means “venomous desert snake” and “Seraph” means “to burn.” These terms are the two main historical influences on Seraphim’s name.

The Bible describes seraphim as having six wings, four of which are used to cover their heads and feet in front of God as a symbol of humility, and the remaining two are used to fly.

They are second in ranking in the angel hierarchy, with their sheer presence emitting holiness. And unlike the ophanim and cherubim, seraphim are not guard-angels. 


Seraphim
Seraphim are described by prophet Isaiah as angelic beings that continually worship God by surrounding God’s throne and singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” in unison when God approaches.



While they’re the epitome of helpfulness and forgiveness, their appearance instills fear in the prophet.

Several historians suggest that the description of the Seraphim’s wings and flames may have been based on the connection with Egyptian imagery and description of the cobra.

Ophanim
“Their entire bodies, including their backs, hands, and wings, were full of eyes all around, as were their four wheels.” (Ezekiel 10:12)



Ophanim, or “the wheels,” are one of the strangest, most bizarre beings referenced in Ezekiel’s vision. They’re portrayed as beings made of interlocking gold wheels, with every wheel adorned with numerous sets of eyes on the exterior.

These wheels, however, do not change directions as the creatures move by floating in the skies. 


Ophanim
The second book of Enoch refers to ophanim as “many-eyed ones.” They are sometimes also described as spheres or whirlwinds. They’re also classified as “thrones.”



There’s an interesting theory that the ophanim are the wheels attached to God’s chariot. Others, like former NASA scientist Jose F. Blumrich, believe ophanim might have been what we would consider a UFO sighting today.

While they’re not considered angels in the Bible, the Jewish angelic hierarchy considers them responsible for guarding God’s throne and being the angels closest to God. This notion also coincides with beliefs held in different traditions.

system
user
parichay

ham swargdooton ko kaise chitrit karte hai:

• gild kavach
• sundar pankh
• shandaar humanoids
• sarv-dharmik swabhaav
• aaraam, garmi or santvanaa

jahaan rajasi swargadoot dikhaai dete hai:

• kala kaa har tukdaa
• sahitya kaa har tukdaa

bible swargadoot hai:
•ajeeb
•bhayanak
• amanviya

shabd "pari" kii utpatti:
• greek "angelos" se liya gaya
• greek shabd hebrew "mel 'akh" se liya gaya he
• "mel 'akh" kaa arth he "massenger"

swargdooton ke prakaar

malakim
• bhagwaan ke faisle ko puraa karne ke liye puraane niyam main dikhaai diya
• nae niyam main doot ke rup main dikhaai diya
• manushyon ke sabase kareeb
• bible main pankh hone ke rup main kabhi ullekh nahin kiya jaataa he
• ek pari kii teesri sadi kii isai chhavi sabase pehle gyaat chhavi he
• yah chhavi swargdooton ko pankh rahit manushyon ke rup main darshaati he
• 4 veen shatabdi ke ant main kalakaaron dwaara pankhons kii chhaviyon kii kalpana kii gai thi

devdoot
• aadam or hawwa ko hataa die jane ke baad manushyon ke khilaaf eden garden kii raksha kii
• yahejakel main darshaya gaya he
• chaar chehre hai
• chehre ek bail, ek sher, ek maanav or ek eagle hai
• sidhe pair hai
• chaar pankh hai
• pankhons kaa ek set sharir ko cover karata he
• ek udaan ke liye he
• pairon ke bajaay bail ke khur hai
• nagn, chulabuli, sundar pankhons vaale bacchon ke rup main kala main chithran
• yah punarjagran ke murtikaron se aata he jo putty kaa abhyaas karte hai
• kala main cherubs kamidon se jude hai
• aadhunik chhavi greeko-roman devataaon ke samaan he
• bible kii chhavi pracheen misr, syria or babul ke liye jimmedaar he
• kala main akaash kaa pratik karne ke liye nile rang kaa chitrit

seraphim
• isai padanukram main ucchtam ranking pari
• kala main, aag kaa pratik laal rang main chitrit kiya gaya
• chah pankh
• chaar pankh ishwar ke saamne dikhaai dene par vinamrata main pairon or sir ko cover karte hai
• do pankhons kaa upyog udaan ke liye kiya jaataa he
• hebrew se prabhavit "saraf" kaa arth he "vishaiylla registan saanp"
• hebrew "seraph" se prabhavit arth "jalane ke liye"
• unki upasthiti pavitrataa kaa utsarjan karti he
• ve guard angels nahin hai
• yashayah dwaara lagaataar ishwar kii puja karne ke rup main varnit he
• ve ishwar ke singhaasana ko gherte hai or jab bhagwaan ke paas hota he to uski mahima gaati he
•madadgaar
• kshamaa karnaa
• paigambar yashayah main bhay paidaa hua
• kuch itihaaskaar seraphim kii aag kii lapaton or pankhons main misr ke cobra imageri se sambandh kaa suzav dete hai

openim
• ijekil main chaaron ore ankhon se bane chaar pahiyon ke rup main varnit
• hanok main "kai-ankhon vaale" ke rup main varnit
• sone ke pahiyon ko interloking se bana
• prayek pahiyaa ke bahari par ankhon ke kai set hote hai
• akaash main tairnaa
• pahie disha nahin badalte hai kyonki ve chalate hai
• kabhi -kabhi bavandar ke rup main varnit kiya jaataa he
• kabhi -kabhi gole ke rup main varnit
• thron ke rup main vargeekrut kiya gaya
• kuch siddhant ve bhagwaan ke rath ke pahie hai
• nasa ke vaigyanik jose epa. blemrik kaa maananaa he ki unhen aaj ek uafo dekhne vaala mana jayega
• bible main swargadoot nahin mana jaataa he
• yahudee padanukram main swargadoot mana jaataa he
• yahudee padanukram unhen bhagwaan ke singhaasana ke sangrakshak ke rup main dekhtaa he
• yahudee dharm main, ye swargadoot bhagwaan ke sabase kareeb hai
• yah kuch anya dharmon or parampara dwaara samarthit he
assistant
<|system|>
</s>
<|user|>
</s>
<|assistant|>
parichay

ham swargdooton ko kaise chitrit karte hai:

• gild kavach
• sundar pankh
• shandaar humanoids
• sarv-dharmik swabhaav
• aaraam, garmi or santvanaa

jahaan rajasi swargadoot dikhaai dete hai:

• kala kaa har tukdaa
• sahitya kaa har tukdaa

bible swargadoot hai:
•ajeeb
•bhayanak
• amanviya

shabd "pari" kii utpatti:
• greek "angelos" se liya gaya
• greek shabd hebrew "mel 'akh" se liya gaya he
• "mel 'akh" kaa arth he "massenger"

swargdooton ke prakaar

malakim
• bhagwaan ke faisle ko puraa karne ke liye puraane niyam main dikhaai diya
• nae niyam main doot ke rup main dikhaai diya
• manushyon ke sabase kareeb
• bible main pankh hone ke rup main kabhi ullekh nahin kiya jaataa he
• ek pari kii teesri sadi kii isai chhavi sabase pehle gyaat chhavi he
• yah chhavi swargdooton ko pankh rahit manushyon ke rup main darshaati he
• 4 veen shatabdi ke ant main kalakaaron dwaara pankhons kii chhaviyon kii kalpana kii gai thi

devdoot
• aadam or hawwa ko hataa die jane ke baad manushyon ke khilaaf eden garden kii raksha kii
• yahejakel main darshaya gaya he
• chaar chehre hai
• chehre ek bail, ek sher, ek maanav or ek eagle hai
• sidhe pair hai
• chaar pankh hai
• pankhons kaa ek set sharir ko cover karata he
• ek udaan ke liye he
• pairon ke bajaay bail ke khur hai
• nagn, chulabuli, sundar pankhons vaale bacchon ke rup main kala main chithran
• yah punarjagran ke murtikaron se aata he jo putty kaa abhyaas karte hai
• kala main cherubs kamidon se jude hai
• aadhunik chhavi greeko-roman devataaon ke samaan he
• bible kii chhavi pracheen misr, syria or babul ke liye jimmedaar he
• kala main akaash kaa pratik karne ke liye nile rang kaa chitrit

seraphim
• isai padanukram main ucchtam ranking pari
• kala main, aag kaa pratik laal rang main chitrit kiya gaya
• chah pankh
• chaar pankh ishwar ke saamne dikhaai dene par vinamrata main pairon or sir ko cover karte hai
• do pankhons kaa upyog udaan ke liye kiya jaataa he
• hebrew se prabhavit "saraf" kaa arth he "vishaiylla registan saanp"
• hebrew "seraph" se prabhavit arth "jalane ke liye"
• unki upasthiti pavitrataa kaa utsarjan karti he
• ve guard angels nahin hai
• yashayah dwaara lagaataar ishwar kii puja karne ke rup main varnit he
• ve ishwar ke singhaasana ko gherte hai or jab bhagwaan ke paas hota he to uski mahima gaati he
•madadgaar
• kshamaa karnaa
• paigambar yashayah main bhay paidaa hua
• kuch itihaaskaar seraphim kii aag kii lapaton or pankhons main misr ke cobra imageri se sambandh kaa suzav dete hai

openim
• ijekil main chaaron ore ankhon se bane chaar pahiyon ke rup main varnit
• hanok main "kai-ankhon vaale" ke rup main varnit
• sone ke pahiyon ko interloking se bana
• prayek pahiyaa ke bahari par ankhon ke kai set hote hai
• akaash main tairnaa
• pahie disha nahin badalte hai kyonki ve chalate hai
• kabhi -kabhi bavandar ke rup main varnit kiya jaataa he
• kabhi -kabhi gole ke rup main varnit
• thron ke rup main vargeekrut kiya gaya
• kuch siddhant ve bhagwaan ke rath ke pahie hai
• nasa ke vaigyanik jose epa. blemrik kaa maananaa he ki unhen aaj ek uafo dekhne vaala mana jayega
• bible main swargadoot nahin mana jaataa he
• yahudee padanukram main swargadoot mana jaataa he
• yahudee padanukram unhen bhagwaan ke singhaasana ke sangrakshak ke rup main dekhtaa he
• yahudee dharm main, ye swargadoot bhagwaan ke sabase kareeb hai
• yah kuch anya dharmon or parampara dwaara samarthit he</s>
