Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition
A Chymical Dictionary
An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language
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Cherubin
A Chymical Dictionary
p. 604Cherubin
Spirits celestial influences and signs · A Chymical Dictionary
At a Glance
The word. A divine celestial influence described through descent and superior power.
In the book. Aniada and Influentia provide related vocabulary for heavenly powers and their relation to natural or human life.
A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 15; facsimile PDF page 343.
Historical Definition
Cherubin is a celestial virtue and influence, a dominion and power above all dominions and powers, proceeding from God and descending to earth and all people. Paracelsus speaks at length of this divine glory in his expositions of the Psalms of David.
Meaning
The definition locates the source in God and describes a movement of influence toward earth and humanity. Its vocabulary of dominion and power ranks the subject above other powers. This is a theological and celestial account, not a material ingredient identified by a familiar chemical name.
The final sentence is also a reading direction supplied by the historical dictionary. It points to Paracelsian expositions of the Psalms of David. This edition preserves that attribution without claiming, solely from the dictionary sentence, to have identified and collated the exact passage intended.
Use in the Book
Aniada and Influentia provide related vocabulary for heavenly powers and their relation to natural or human life. The Cherubin entry makes divine origin particularly explicit. Comparing the terms can clarify how the dictionary moves between religious and natural-philosophical explanation, while keeping each term’s distinct role visible.
Places to Read
Aniada. A term linking heavenly gifts, Christian sacraments and life-preserving celestial influence.
Influentia. The causal action of superior bodies upon inferior bodies.
Seraphin. A heavenly power and, particularly, the assembly of angels.
Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 15; facsimile PDF page 343 — Facsimile
Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Cherubin ; compare Aniada, Influentia, Seraphin
See also. Aniada; Influentia; Seraphin
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The complete 706 historical definitions of the 1650 English dictionary, modernised and accompanied by expanded Diotimos commentary, reading routes, 15 textual notes and complete linked indexes.
Historical Text
A Chymicall Dictionary, London 1650, English version associated with John French, based on Gerhard Dorn’s Dictionarium Theophrasti Paracelsi. The containing volume also prints Sendivogius and Paracelsus; neither neighboring work changes this dictionary’s attribution.
About This Edition
Complete 706 definition paragraphs with new introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes; Diotimos Editions, 2026.
Rights
The historical 1650 English text is in the public domain. New introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and published with the site owner’s authorization.
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