The verbs rode and flew may have to be translated by a single verb in the receptor language. The verb translated rode is related to the noun “chariot” in Hebrew. It was understood that the creature was the one doing the actual flying; similarly today a passenger “flies” in an airplane.
Psa 104.3 has a parallel to this verse, “You use the clouds as your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind” (Good News Translation).
The plural of cherub (“cherubim”) is used in 6.2 and 1 Sam 4.4 (see the comments on those verses). Throughout the Old Testament this term refers to a winged creature guarding the heavenly throne of Yahweh, or to images of that creature; see the description in Ezek 1.5-14; 10.21. There were gold figures of cherubim above the Covenant Box (Exo 25.17-22), which were thought of as Yahweh’s throne (1 Sam 4.4; 2 Sam 6.2; 2 Kgs 19.15); and 1 Chr 28.18 speaks of “the golden chariot of the cherubim.” Here the cherub serves as a chariot on which Yahweh rides. The wings of the wind in line b is parallel with the cherub in line a.
He rode on a cherub presents several problems for translators. Since cherub is largely unknown or misunderstood, a descriptive phrase will be required in many cases. However, one must not give the impression that it is a variant of some locally known large bird. Translators should normally avoid transliterating the term unless it is accompanied by a descriptive phrase, and even then the transliterated form may not be helpful. In most translations a descriptive note such as is found in the Word List at the back of Good News Translation will be helpful. If the descriptive phrase is confusing for the reader, it may be better to borrow the term from a major language in the area. Phrases like “winged animal” or “flying being” may be meaningless, and “a flying thing” may be equated with anything from an insect to an airplane.
He was seen: the parallel in Psa 18.10 has in place of this a word meaning “gliding” (Revised Standard Version, “came swiftly”), and there is textual evidence for the same reading here in 2 Samuel. A number of modern English versions seem to follow the variant; Revised English Bible and Anchor Bible have “he swooped,” and Fox has “gliding.” Others read “he soared” (New International Version) or “soaring” (New Jerusalem Bible). But Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends the text followed by Revised Standard Version, giving it a {B} rating. In Hebrew the basic forms of the two verbs are very similar: y-r-ʾ and y-d-ʾ. In those languages where the passive form is not advisable, it will be necessary to indicate who did the seeing. But Contemporary English Version retains the meaning of Revised Standard Version while avoiding the passive, by saying “You appeared.” This would, of course, be “he appeared” if the third-person pronoun of the original had been retained.
Upon the wings of the wind may require adjustment in languages where wind is not spoken of as having wings. In some cases this expression must be rendered as “the wind blew him there swiftly like a bird flies.” In addition to the parallel in Psa 18.10, this expression occurs in Psa 104.3.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .