The Hebrew words (cherub) and (seraph) are well-known terms, but it is unclear exactly to what they refer. Many sources agree that the word cherub refers to a composite creature such as a griffin, sphinx or winged bull. Less research has been done on the meaning of the word seraph. This study employs a textual and iconographic analysis to attempt to reconstruct a picture of what the authors of the Hebrew Bible had in mind when they wrote about cherubim and seraphim. Every text in the Hebrew Bible mentioning one of these words is listed, translated and analysed with the aid of various sources. Special attention is paid to texts that discuss cherubim or seraphim at length, such as the description of the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus, the visions of cherubim in Ezekiel and the reference to seraphim in Isaiah. Artefacts from certain cultures and dating within a specific timeframe, depicting composite creatures, are studied and analysed. Possible depictions of seraphim are identified, using information from the texts of the Hebrew Bible and through analogy with widely-accepted depictions of cherubim. The study contends that where cherubim were seen as winged composite creatures with parts of two or more of the eagle, lion, ox/bull and human, seraphim was a term used to describe winged composite creatures including parts of the serpent. It is also argued that seraphim are generally not associated with dragonlike composite creatures because of the negative connotations that modern symbolism has of snakes and dragons, and that the ancient Hebrews did not necessarily share this view. / Afrikaans: Die Hebreeuse woorde (gerub) en (seraf) is bekende terme, maar dit is onduidelik waarna hulle verwys. Baie bronne is dit eens dat die woord gerub verwys na ‘n gedierte met buitengewone en verskillende saamgestelde liggaamsdele soos ‘n griffioen, ‘n sfinks of ‘n gevleulde bul. Minder navorsing is al gedoen oor die betekenis van die woord seraf. In hierdie studie word ‘n tekstuele en ikonografiese analise benut om te poog om ‘n beeld te rekonstrueer van wat die skrywers van die Hebreeuse Bybel in gedagte gehad het toe hulle geskryf het oor gerubs en serafs. Elke teks in die Hebreeuse Bybel wat een van hierdie woorde gebruik, word gelys, vertaal en geanaliseer deur ander bronne ook te benut. Spesiale aandag word gegee aan tekste wat breedvoerig oor óf gerubs óf serafs handel, soos die beskrywing van die Verbondsark in Eksodus, en die visioene van gerubs in Esegiël en van serafs in Jesaja. Artefakte van bepaalde kulture en wat binne ‘n sekere tydraam gedateer kan word, wat diere uit saamgestelde dele uitbeeld, word bestudeer en geanaliseer. Moontlike uitbeeldings van serafs word geïdentifiseer deur gebruik te maak van inligting in tekste van die Hebreeuse Bybel en deur middel van analogie met algemeen aanvaarde uitbeeldings van gerubs. Die studie beoog om aan te dui dat waar die gerubs beskou was as gevleuelde gediertes bestaande uit saamgestelde gedeeltes met twee of meer dele van ‘n arend, ‘n leeu, bul en mens, verwys die term seraf gewoonlik na ‘n gevleuelde gedierte wat dele van ‘n slang bevat. Dit word ook geargumenteer dat serafs nie algemeen met ‘n draakagtige gevleulde gedierte geassosieer is nie weens die negatiewe konnotasies wat geheg word aan slange en drake in moderne simbolisme en dat die antieke Hebreërs nie noodwendig hierdie beskouing gedeel het nie. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Ancient Languages / MA / Unrestricted

Thesis with title The Vision of Merkabah and its Reflexion in Rabbinical Judaism deals with jewish's mysticism. The work has point evidence, that jewish's mysticism starts yet in early medieval times. During centuries extends further and its line achieves until today's time. It compares most old mysticism texts with their occurrence at a later literature. It focus on mystical groups and theirs incidence. The work attends to difference mystic of jewish in different geographical regions in course of time. Keywords Ezekiel, prophets, mysticism, kabbalah, merkabah, sefirot, God