Psalm 104.3 has a parallel to this verse: “You use the clouds as your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind.”
The cherub (plural “cherubim”) in the Old Testament is a winged creature, guarding the heavenly throne of Yahweh; see the description in Ezekiel 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 (see 1 Sam 4.4; 2 Sam 6.2; 2 Kgs 19.15); and 1 Chronicles 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.
The verb translated rode is related to the noun “chariot” in Hebrew. And came swiftly in line b translates a verb used of birds of prey that “swoop” down (see Deut 28.49; Jer 48.40); some translations have “gliding” (New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).
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 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.
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.”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .