Okay, I love Logos Bible Software, and so that means this is in no way a complaint. They do great things. It is just that a graphic that appeared on their home page today reminded me of Pet Peeve #48.
I can’t show you the graphic because they must have crammed too many pixels into it. But their graphic is by no means alone in the world of such renditions. I don’t think I have ever seen an accurate rendition of the ark of the covenant in my life. The cherubim are invariably represented as kneeling human figures, with big sweeping wings curving upwards, making them look for all the world like jalapeños at prayer.
That is not a cherub. Neither is a cherub to be thought of the way some Renaissance painters did, as flying chubby babies with wings that wouldn’t keep a pigeon up. You want a cherub? I’ll show you a cherub. Put one your next Valentine card and see what happens.
I may give that a shot. If nothing else, the Assyrian bull is manlier in appearance than cherubim have been depicted through the ages.
The offending pic I suspect
Hahahaha!
These guys are frightening, not sweet and cuddly. The Bible is clear that the natural reaction to them would be one of fear (possibly with wet pants) not romantical, sappiness with heavy sighs of contentment as you drift along on a cloud.
Amen. This is a pet peeve that I heartily share! (I love the way that the artist put a real cherub into Nate Wilson’s “The Dragon and the Garden” by the way.)
Also those things in Renaissance paintings aren’t supposed to be cherubs, properly speaking. It’s just that everyone calls them that for some reason.
On occasion I’ve eaten jalapeños that have made me pray.