UBS Greek Dictionary Article

Form 1

Part of speech: adjc.

Sense 1: the means of forgiveness, expiation

Semantic entry: 40.12

Semantic domains: Reconciliation, Forgiveness

Subdomains: Forgiveness

Definition: the means by which sins are forgiven

Notes: Though some traditional translations render ἱλαστήριον as ‘propitiation,’ this involves a wrong interpretation of the term in question. Propitiation is essentially a process by which one does a favor to a person in order to make him or her favorably disposed, but in the NT God is never the object of propitiation since he is already on the side of people. ἱλασμός and ἱλαστήριον[a] denote the means of forgiveness and not propitiation.

Show passage in OET: ROM 3:25

OET-RV ROM 3:25

25 who God placed on the altar as a sacrifice for sin. This happens through faith in his blood, which was a sign of his sinlessness.
¶ (God hasn’t yet judged those who sinned in the past,

OET-LV ROM 3:25

25 whom set _forth the god as_an_atonement, through the faith in the of _him blood, for a_sign of _the righteousness of _him, because _of the forbearance of _the having _previously _happened sins

Jump to OET ROM 3:25 section.

Sense 2: place of forgiveness, place where sins are forgiven

Semantic entry: 40.13

Semantic domains: Reconciliation, Forgiveness

Subdomains: Forgiveness

Definition: the location or place where sins are forgiven (in traditional translations rendered mercy seat)

Show passage in OET: HEB 9:5

OET-RV HEB 9:5

5 On the top of the box were the cherubs OF GLORY with their wings stretched out over the mercy seat which we won’t talk about right now.

OET-LV HEB 9:5

5 And above it, Cherubims of _glory overshadowing the mercy _seat, concerning which not it _is now to _be _speaking in part.

Jump to OET HEB 9:5 section.

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

ἱλαστήριος

Form 1

Sense 1: the means of forgiveness, expiation

Sense 2: place of forgiveness, place where sins are forgiven