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Christian Standard Bible ®

Psalms 18:10

He rode on a cherub and flew,soaring on the wings of the wind.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - God;   Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena;   Readings, Select;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Cherubim;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Cherub;   Fire;   Psalms, the Book of;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Cherubim;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cherub;   Winds;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Cherub, Cherubim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Apocalyptic Literature;   Cherubim;   Cloud;   David;   English Versions;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Jonah;   Kingdom of God;   Psalms;   Salvation, Saviour;   Shekinah;   Sin;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Cherubim ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Fire;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Cherub;   David;   Psalms the book of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fly;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Cherub;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bush, the Burning;   Cherubim (1);   Wings;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Theophany;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
He rode on a Keruv, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
King James Version
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
English Standard Version
He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
New Century Version
He rode a creature with wings and flew. He raced on the wings of the wind.
New English Translation
He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.
Amplified Bible
And He rode upon a cherub (storm) and flew; And He sped on the wings of the wind.
New American Standard Bible
He rode on a cherub and flew; And He sped on the wings of the wind.
World English Bible
He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he rode vpon Cherub and did flie, and he came flying vpon the wings of the winde.
Legacy Standard Bible
He rode upon a cherub and flew;And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
Berean Standard Bible
He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
Contemporary English Version
You rode on the backs of flying creatures and swooped down with the wind as wings.
Complete Jewish Bible
He lowered heaven and came down with thick darkness under his feet.
Darby Translation
And he rode upon a cherub and did fly; yea, he flew fast upon the wings of the wind.
Easy-to-Read Version
He flew across the sky, riding on a Cherub angel racing on the wings of the wind.
George Lamsa Translation
And he rode upon cherubim and flew; yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
Good News Translation
He flew swiftly on his winged creature; he traveled on the wings of the wind.
Lexham English Bible
And he mounted a cherub and flew, and he swooped down on wings of wind.
Literal Translation
and He rode on a cherub, and He flew; yea He soared on the wings of the wind;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He rode vpo the Cherubins & dyd fle: he came flyenge with the wynges of the wynde.
American Standard Version
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
Bible in Basic English
And he went in flight through the air, seated on a storm-cloud: going quickly on the wings of the wind.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.
King James Version (1611)
And he rode vpon a Cherub, and did flie: yea he did flie vpon the wings of the wind.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He ridde vpon the Cherub, and he dyd flee: he came fleeyng vpon the wynges of the wynde.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he mounted on cherubs and flew: he flew on the wings of winds.
English Revised Version
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly, yea, he flew swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He bowide doun heuenes, and cam doun; and derknesse was vndur hise feet.
Update Bible Version
And he rode on a cherub, and flew; Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he rode upon a cherub, and flew; yes, he flew upon the wings of the wind.
New King James Version
And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind.
New Living Translation
Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
New Life Bible
He sat upon a cherub and flew. He traveled on the wings of the wind.
New Revised Standard
He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then he rode on a cherub, and flew, and darted on the wings of the wind;
Douay-Rheims Bible
(17-11) And he ascended upon the cherubim, and he flew; he flew upon the wings of the winds.
Revised Standard Version
He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
Young's Literal Translation
And He rideth on a cherub, and doth fly, And He flieth on wings of wind.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He rode upon a cherub and flew; And He sped upon the wings of the wind.

Contextual Overview

1I love you, Lord, my strength. 2The Lord is my rock,my fortress, and my deliverer,my God, my rock where I seek refuge,my shield and the horn of my salvation,my stronghold. 3I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,and I was saved from my enemies. 4The ropes of death were wrapped around me;the torrents of destruction terrified me. 5The ropes of Sheol entangled me;the snares of death confronted me. 6I called to the Lord in my distress,and I cried to my God for help.From his temple he heard my voice,and my cry to him reached his ears. 7Then the earth shook and quaked;the foundations of the mountains trembled;they shook because he burned with anger. 8Smoke rose from his nostrils,and consuming fire came from his mouth;coals were set ablaze by it. 9He bent the heavens and came down,total darkness beneath his feet. 10He rode on a cherub and flew,soaring on the wings of the wind.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

rode: Psalms 99:1, 2 Samuel 22:11, 2 Samuel 22:12, Ezekiel 1:5-14, Ezekiel 10:20-22

he did fly: Psalms 104:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 40:34 - a cloud Deuteronomy 33:26 - rideth 1 Kings 6:23 - two cherubims 1 Chronicles 28:18 - the chariot Job 20:8 - fly away Job 26:8 - thick clouds Job 30:22 - to ride Psalms 68:4 - rideth Psalms 68:17 - chariots Psalms 68:33 - rideth Psalms 139:9 - the wings Isaiah 6:2 - did fly Isaiah 19:1 - rideth Ezekiel 10:1 - above Ezekiel 10:18 - and stood Daniel 3:17 - our God Habakkuk 3:8 - ride Matthew 17:5 - behold Acts 2:2 - as

Cross-References

Genesis 16:10
The angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count.”
Genesis 17:16
I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
Genesis 17:19
But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a permanent covenant for his future offspring.
Genesis 17:21
But I will confirm my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”
Genesis 18:3
and said, “My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant.
Genesis 18:5
I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.”
Genesis 18:8
Then Abraham took curds and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree.
Genesis 18:9
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
Genesis 18:13
But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’
Genesis 18:14
Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly,.... The Targum renders it in the plural number, "cherubim"; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions; and by whom may be meant, either the angels, who are as horses and chariots, on whom Jehovah rides, and who art he makes use of as executioners of his wrath and vengeance, Zechariah 6:5; and to whom wings are assigned as a token of swiftness, Isaiah 6:2; or rather the ministers of the Gospel, who are the living creatures in Revelation 4:7; and answer to the "cherubim" in Ezekiel's visions; and whom God made use of, especially after the death of Christ, and when the Gospel was rejected by the Jews, to carry it into the Gentile world, which was done by them with great speed and swiftness; and Maimonides u gives a caution, not to understand the phrase, "he did fly", as of God, but of the cherub;

yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind; which may design the speedy help and assistance God gave to his Son, and gives to his people; and the swift destruction of their enemies; see Psalms 104:3; the words in

2 Samuel 22:11, with only the variation of a letter in one word, are, "and he was seen upon the wings of the wind"; which were both true; nor need a various reading be supposed, the psalmist using both words at different times, suitable to his purpose, and which both express his sense. Wings are ascribed to the winds by the Heathen poets, and they are represented as winged on ancient monuments w.

u Moreh Nevochim. par. 1. c. 49. w Vide Cuperi Apotheos. Homeri, p. 178. Wings are given to the south wind by Ovid, Metamorph. l. 1. Fab. 7. and by Juvenal, Satyr. 5. v. 10. and by Virgil, Aeneid. 8. v. 430. and who also speaks of wings of lightning, Aeneid. 5. v. 319.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And he rode upon a cherub - Compare Isaiah 14:13, note; Isaiah 37:16, note. The cherub in the theology of the Hebrews was a figurative representation of power and majesty, under the image of a being of a high and celestial nature, “whose form is represented as composed from the figures of a man, ox, lion, and eagle,” Ezekiel 1:0; Ezekiel 10:0. Cherubs are first mentioned as guarding the gates of Paradise, Genesis 3:24; then as bearing the throne of God upon their wings through the clouds, Ezekiel 1:0; Ezekiel 10:0; and also as statues or images made of wood and overlaid with gold, over the cover of the ark, in the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle, and of the temple, Exodus 25:18 ff; 1 Kings 6:23-28. Between the two cherubim in the temple, the Shechinah, or visible symbol of the presence of God, rested; and hence, God is represented as “dwelling between the cherubim,” Exodus 25:22; Numbers 7:89; Psalms 80:1; Psalms 99:1. The cherubim are not to be regarded as real existences, or as an order of angels like the seraphim Isaiah 6:2-3, but as an imaginary representation of majesty, as emblematic of the power and glory of God. Here God is represented as “riding on a cherub;” that is, as coming forth on the clouds regarded as a cherub (compare Ezekiel 1:0), as if, seated on his throne, he was borne along in majesty and power amidst the storm and tempest.

And did fly - He seemed to move rapidly on the flying clouds.

Yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind - Rapidly as the clouds driven along by the wind. The “wings of the wind” are designed to represent the rapidity with which the wind sweeps along. Rapid motion is represented by the flight of birds; hence, the term wings is applied to winds to denote the rapidity of their movement. The whole figure here is designed to represent; the majesty with which God seemed to be borne along on the tempest. Herder renders it, “He flew on the wings of the storm.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 18:10. He rode upon a cherub, and did fly — - That is, as it is immediately explained, Yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. God was in the storm, and by the ministry of angels guided the course of it, and drove it on with such an impetuous force as nothing could withstand. He 'rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.' Angels are in a peculiar sense the attendants and messengers of the Almighty, whom he employs as his ministers in effecting many of those great events which take place in the administration of his providence; and particularly such as manifest his immediate interposition in the extraordinary judgments which he inflicts for the punishment of sinful nations. See Psalms 103:20; Psalms 104:4. The cherub is particularly mentioned as an emblem of the Divine presence, and especially as employed in supporting and conveying the chariot of the Almighty, when he is represented as riding in his majesty through the firmament of heaven: -

-Forth rush'd with whirlwind sound

The chariot of paternal Deity;

Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn,

Itself instinct with spirit, but convey'd

By four cherubic shapes.

Par. Lost, lib. vi.


This seems to be the image intended to be conveyed in the place before us. "He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; he flew on the wings of the wind," i.e., the cherub supported and led on the tempest, in which the Almighty rode as in his chariot. This is agreeable to the office elsewhere ascribed to the cherubim. Thus they supported the mercy-seat, which was peculiarly the throne of God under the Jewish economy. God is expressly said to "make the clouds his chariot," Psalms 104:3; and to "ride upon a swift cloud," Isaiah 19:1: so that "riding upon a cherub," and "riding upon a swift cloud," is riding in the cloud as his chariot, supported and guided by the ministry of the cherubim. The next clause in the parallel place of Samuel is, "He was seen on the wings of the wind;" ירא yera, he was seen, being used for ידא yede, he flew, ד daleth being changed into ר resh. Either of them may be the true reading, for the MSS. are greatly divided on these places; but on the whole וירא vaiyera appears to be the better reading: "And he was seen on the wings of the wind."

As the original has been supposed by adequate judges to exhibit a fine specimen of that poetry which, in the choice of its terms, conveys both sense and sound, I will again lay it before the reader, as I have done in the parallel place, 2 Samuel 22:2. The words in italic Hebrew to be read from right to left.

ויעף כרוב על וירכב

vaiyaoph kerub al vayirkab

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly!

רוח כנפי על וידא

ruach canphey al waiyede

Yea, he flew on the wings of the wind!


The word רוח ruach, in the last line, should be pronounced, not ruak, which is no Hebrew word: but as a Scottish man would pronounce it, were it written ruagh. With this observation, how astonishingly is the rushing of the wind heard in the last word of each hemistich! Sternhold and Hopkins have succeeded in their version of this place, not only beyond all they ever did, but beyond every ancient and modern poet on a similar subject: -

"On cherub and on cherubin

Full royally he rode;

And on the wings of mighty winds

Came flying all abroad."


Even the old Anglo-Scottish Psalter has not done amiss: -

And he steygh aboven cherubyn and he flow;

He flow aboven the fethers of wyndes.


 
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