Emily Dickinson Lexicon

cherubim, n. [see cherubic, adj.] (webplay: face, Jehovah, keep, life, seat, seraphs, spirits, wings).

1. Messengers; types of angel; spirits that announce the presence of God; [fig.] wings of the wind (see 2 Samuel 22:11; Psalm 18).
2. Angels; beings in the celestial hierarchy who are next in order to seraphs; those who keep guard of the tree of life with a flaming sword (see Genesis 3:24); hieroglyphical images; emblematic figures embroidered on the veils of the tabernacle (see Exodus 25); [fig.] skillful.
3. Holy creatures; angelic images in Ezekiel's vision; beings with wings, the hands of a man, and four heads, each with the face of a bull, a man, a lion, and an eagle (see Ezekiel 4, 10).
4. Two golden angels at the ends of the mercy seat; winged figures that face each other; images between which Deity appeared (Exodus 20).