Where did the idea come from that angels have wings?

Question

I have searched the Bible off & on over the years & have found nothing that says angels have wings. Only the cherubim statues.
As a Christian I feel guilt when someone gives me an angel figurine as a gift. Should I feel guilty?
Thank you.

Answer 1

Actually, the books of Daniel and Isaiah describes Cherubim as having 6 wings. Two to cover their faces, two to cover their feet and 2 to fly with. They fly around the throne of God saying to one another "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come!". So, not two wings, but six. There is no other mention in the Bible of the angels having two wings except for the instructions on how to build the ark of the covenant, on the mercy seat of which there are two cherubim with wings facing each other.
And don't feel guilty when someone gives you a gift. "There is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus"

Answer 2

The Bible is a good source for what an angel looks like. Here are just two passages.

1 Kings 8:6

6 The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim.

Isaiah 6

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

Cherubim and Serphim are orders of angels.

I don't believe you should feel guilty about receiving angels as gifts. If you do not worship these figurines then you should accept them and perhaps use them as an opportunity to express your faith to the giver.

Answer 3

No you shouldn't feel guilty unless you worship or pray to the statues. They are just representation or symbols of what people believe is an angel. The cherubim (I though it was a different type on the ark) were crafted with wings so that's probably where all types have wing, and the impression that there are different types.

Realistically, worrying about whether angels have wings or not is rather useless as if they exist, they are the way they are and your beliefs will not affect that one way or another.

Answer 4

The most common image on an angel is essentially a human being with wings. This is not Biblical. The Bible often presents angels as appearing as human beings. However, this does not indicate that angels in their essence resemble human being. Further, the Bible vary rarely describes angels as having wings. However, there are definitely two types of angels mentioned in the Bible that have wings: (1) Cherubim (Exodus 25:20; Ezekiel 10), (2) Seraphim (Isaiah 6). Cherubim and Seraphim are two types of angels, possibly the two highest orders of angels. So, this much is clear, some angels do have wings.

Answer 5

In the bible's book of Isaiah chapter 6:

It is describe that the Seraphim Angels have 3 pairs of wings. Two to shield their eyes from God's intense glory, Two to fly and two to cover their feet from stepping on hallowed ground.

Within the book of Ezekiel also is scattered many time description of Angels and Cherubims having wings.

Answer 6

Beside the verses about cherubims having wings, God is always said to have wings. Maybe not literally though, maybe just to describe His sheltering love. I wouldn't feel guilty though, it is not a salvation issue whether angels have wings or not. Here is some verses i found:
Ruth 2:12 - The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Psalms 36:7 - How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Psalms 61:4 - I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

Answer 7

What is it with Christians and guilt? Sheesh! Do you feel guilty when the figurines are female, too?

On the shelf above the Tender Hearted stood the seraph figurines; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Enjoy the figurines!

Answer 8

the idea of angels with wings predates christianity and goes into Paganism, theres a statue of the Egyptian Ma'at with wings, he was considered an angel at one time, unfortunately most angels do not want to become angels because of the christians stealing the concept, I would explain it to you but i dont think as a human you can understand.

Answer 9

Cherubim on the ark of the covenant. their arms looked like wings.

Answer 10

They would have a very strange anatomy, usually you either get animals with arms or birds with wings but never both arms and wings...still all things are possible in the world of fiction and what else are angels?.