Mercy Seat* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Gold slab placed on top of the ark of the covenant with cherubim attached to it on either end, termed the “mercy seat” in many English versions of the Bible (cf. Ex 25:17-22). The Hebrew word for which “mercy seat” is the translation is technically best rendered as “propitiatory,” a term denoting the removal of wrath by the offering of a gift. The significance of this designation is found in the ceremony performed on the Day of Atonement, held once a year, when blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat to make atonement for the sins of the people of Israel (Lv 16). Because of the importance of this covering on the ark and the ceremony associated with it, the Holy of Holies in which the ark was housed in the temple is termed the “room for the mercy seat” in 1 Chronicles 28:11 (rsv). The term “mercy seat” came into English use from Luther’s German rendering of the Hebrew term, which is difficult to translate appropriately from the Hebrew (cf. niv “atonement cover” and NLT “Ark’s cover”).

Show passage in OET: EXO 25:17–22

OET-RV EXO 25:17

17 You must make a lid the same length and width as the chest. It must be made of pure gold and will be known as ‘the atonement platform’.

OET-RV EXO 25:18

18 Then make a pair of winged-creatures from gold that’s hammered from the two ends of the atonement platform.

OET-RV EXO 25:19

19 Yes, make one winged-creature from each end of the gold lid material.

OET-RV EXO 25:20

20 Their up-lifted wings should spread out covering the atonement platform and they should be facing each other across the top of the platform.

OET-RV EXO 25:21

21 When I give you the stone slabs, put them inside the box and then fasten the atonement platform on top to form the lid.

OET-RV EXO 25:22

22 Then I’ll meet with you there, and from the atonement platform between the two winged-creatures and above the stone slabs, I’ll be able to tell you my commands to pass on to the Israelis.

OET-LV EXO 25:17

17 And_you _will _make an _atonement _cover _of gold pure will _be_two _cubits and_a _half length _of_its and_will _be_a _cubit and_a _half breadth _of_its.

OET-LV EXO 25:18

18 And_you _will _make two cherubim gold hammered _work you _will _make DOM_them from_the _two _of the _ends _of the _atonement _cover.

OET-LV EXO 25:19

19 And_make a _cherub one from_an _end from_this and_a _cherub one from_an _end from_this from the _atonement_cover you(pl)_will _make DOM the_cherubims on the _two _of ends _of_its.

OET-LV EXO 25:20

20 And_ the_cherubims _they _will _be spreading _out _of (of)_wings (to)_upwards covering with_wings _of_their over the _atonement_cover and_faces _of_their each will _be_to his/its_brother to the _atonement_cover they _will _be the _faces _of the_cherubims.

OET-LV EXO 25:21

21 And_you _will _put DOM the _atonement_cover on the_box from_to_above and_near/to the_box you _will _put DOM the_transcript which I _will _give to_you.

OET-LV EXO 25:22

22 And_I _will _meet to/for_yourself(m) there and_I _will _speak with_you from_under the _atonement_cover from_between the _two _of the_cherubims which will _be_above the _box _of the _transcript DOM all _of that I _will _command you to the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: CH1 28:11

OET-RV CH1 28:11

11 Then David gave the plans for the temple to his son Shelomoh, including plans for its porch, its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms and its inner rooms, and the room to contain the sacred box.

OET-LV CH1 28:11

11 And_ Dāvid _he/it _gave to_Shəlomoh/(Solomon) son _of_his DOM the _pattern _of the _porch and_DOM houses _of_its and_treasuries _of_its and_its _upper _of_rooms and_rooms _of_its (the)_inner and_the _house _of the _atonement _cover.

Jump to OET EXO 25:17–22 section.

Jump to OET CH1 28:11 section.

The mercy seat measured two and a half cubits (45 inches, or 114.3 centimeters) by one and a half cubits (27 inches, 68.6 centimeters). The cherubim on each end were also made of gold and faced each other with their wings spread upward over the ark. It was in this space above the ark that the Lord’s presence with his people was localized in a special sense, and from which the Lord made his commandments known to Moses (Ex 25:22; cf. also Lv 16:2). Because of the close association of the Lord’s presence with the space above the ark, he is said to be enthroned between the cherubim (1 Sm 4:4; 2 Sm 6:2). The ark itself contained the tables of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments that summarized the covenantal obligations of the Israelites to their divine King. When the children of Israel fell short of their covenant obligations by sinning against God and breaking his commands, the blood of the sacrifice sprinkled on the mercy seat made atonement for their sin and reconciled them with God.

Show passage in OET: EXO 25:22

OET-RV EXO 25:22

22 Then I’ll meet with you there, and from the atonement platform between the two winged-creatures and above the stone slabs, I’ll be able to tell you my commands to pass on to the Israelis.

OET-LV EXO 25:22

Show passage in OET: LEV 16:2

OET-RV LEV 16:2

2 and he told Mosheh:
¶ Tell your brother Aharon that if he doesn’t want to die, then he mustn’t just enter the holiest room inside the curtain at any old time. The atonement lid is on the sacred box, and I will appear in a cloud over that lid.

OET-LV LEV 16:2

2 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to Mosheh speak to ʼAhₐron your(ms)_brother/kindred and_not let _him _come at_every _of time into the _holy_place from_inside _of to_curtain to the _face _of the _atonement _cover which is_on the_box and_not he _will _die if/because in_cloud I _will _appear over the _atonement_cover.

Show passage in OET: SA1 4:4

OET-RV SA1 4:4

4 So the people sent men to Shiloh and from there they lifted the box containing Yahweh’s agreement and the sacred platform with the winged creatures. Eli’s two sons, Hofni and Pinhas, were there with the box containing God’s agreement.

OET-LV SA1 4:4

4 And_ the_people _it _sent Shiloh and_they _brought from_there DOM the _box _of the _covenant _of YHWH soldiers/messengers who_sits _of the_cherubims and_there the _two _of the _sons _of ˊĒlī were_with the _box _of the _covenant _of the_ʼElohīm Ḩofnī and_Pinḩāş.

Show passage in OET: SA2 6:2

OET-RV SA2 6:2

2 He led them to Kiryat-Yearim (formerly called Ba’alah) in Yehudah (Judah) to get the box of God (whose name is Commander-in-chief Yahweh) who lives between the two winged creatures on the top of it.

OET-LV SA2 6:2

2 And_he/it _rose _up and_ Dāvid and_all the_people which with_him/it _he/it _went from_Baale- Yehuda to_bring _up from_there DOM the _box _of the_ʼElohīm which the_name the _name _of YHWH soldiers/messengers who_sits the_cherubims on/upon/above_him/it it _is _called.

Jump to OET EXO 25:22 section.

Jump to OET LEV 16:2 section.

Jump to OET SA1 4:4 section.

Jump to OET SA2 6:2 section.

The propitiatory or mercy seat points forward to Jesus, who is termed by Paul (Rom 3:25) the “means of propitiation” through faith in his blood for all who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Here in Romans 3:25 the Greek term translated “propitiation” is the same Greek word consistently used in the Septuagint and in Hebrews 9:5 to translate the Hebrew word for mercy seat in the OT.