Exodus 25:18
New International Version
And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.

New Living Translation
Then make two cherubim from hammered gold, and place them on the two ends of the atonement cover.

English Standard Version
And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat.

Berean Standard Bible
Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,

King James Bible
And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

New King James Version
And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.

New American Standard Bible
You shall make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the atoning cover.

NASB 1995
“You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.

NASB 1977
“And you shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.

Legacy Standard Bible
You shall make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.

Amplified Bible
You shall make two cherubim (winged angelic figures) of [solid] hammered gold at the two ends of the mercy seat.

Christian Standard Bible
Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.

American Standard Version
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat.

English Revised Version
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Make two angels out of hammered gold for the two ends of the throne of mercy,

Good News Translation
Make two winged creatures of hammered gold,

International Standard Version
You are to make two cherubim of gold; you are to make them of hammered work at the two ends of the Mercy Seat.

Majority Standard Bible
Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,

NET Bible
You are to make two cherubim of gold; you are to make them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid.

New Heart English Bible
You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy-seat.

World English Bible
You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have made two cherubim of gold; you make them beaten work at the two ends of the propitiatory covering;

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast made two cherubs of gold, beaten work dost thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;

Smith's Literal Translation
And make two cherubs of gold; of turned work shalt thou make them, from the two ends of the cover.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt make also two cherubims of beaten gold, on the two sides of the oracle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Likewise, you shall make two Cherubim of formed gold, on both sides of the oracle.

New American Bible
Make two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the cover;

New Revised Standard Version
You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall make two cherubim of gold, of cast work shall you make them, on the two sides of the mercy seat.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And make two Cherubim of gold; make them of smelting from the two sides of the Mercy Seat.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the ark-cover.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt make two cherubs graven in gold, and thou shalt put them on both sides of the propitiatory.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Mercy Seat
17And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, 19one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.…

Cross References
Hebrews 9:5
Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

1 Kings 6:23-28
In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood. / One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was five cubits long as well. So the full wingspan was ten cubits. / The second cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same size and shape, ...

Numbers 7:89
When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony. Thus the LORD spoke to him.

1 Chronicles 28:18
the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense; and the plans for the chariot of the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

1 Samuel 4:4
So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

2 Samuel 6:2
And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.

2 Chronicles 5:7-8
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. / For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles.

Psalm 80:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

Psalm 99:1
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Ezekiel 10:1-2
And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire. / And the LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

Ezekiel 10:18-19
Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim. / As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the ground, with the wheels beside them as they went. And they stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, with the glory of the God of Israel above them.

Ezekiel 11:22
Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

Revelation 4:6-8
And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. / The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. / And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Revelation 5:6
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 7:11
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shall you make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

two cherubims of gold

Exodus 37:7-9
And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; …

Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

1 Samuel 4:4
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

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Ark-Cover Beaten Cherubim Cherubs Cover Ends Gold Hammered Mercy Mercy-Seat Ones Seat Winged Work
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Ark-Cover Beaten Cherubim Cherubs Cover Ends Gold Hammered Mercy Mercy-Seat Ones Seat Winged Work
Exodus 25
1. What the Israelites were to offer for the building of the tabernacle
10. The dimensions of the ark
17. The mercy seat, with the cherubim
23. The table of show bread, with the furniture thereof
31. The golden candlestick, with the instruments thereof














And make
The directive "And make" signifies a divine command given to Moses. The Hebrew word used here is "עָשָׂה" (asah), which means to create or fashion. This is not merely a suggestion but an imperative from God, emphasizing the importance of obedience and precision in following His instructions. The act of making is a form of worship, reflecting the Creator's own work in Genesis.

two cherubim
The "two cherubim" are angelic beings, often associated with the presence and glory of God. The Hebrew word "כְּרוּבִים" (keruvim) suggests beings of great power and majesty. In the ancient Near Eastern context, cherubim were seen as guardians of sacred spaces. Biblically, they are first mentioned in Genesis 3:24, guarding the way to the Tree of Life. Their presence on the Ark signifies the holiness and inaccessibility of God, except through His appointed means.

of hammered gold
The phrase "of hammered gold" indicates the material and method used in crafting the cherubim. Gold, in biblical symbolism, represents purity, divinity, and kingship. The Hebrew term "זָהָב" (zahav) for gold underscores its value and beauty. The process of hammering, or "מִקְשָׁה" (miqshah), implies skill and artistry, reflecting the care and devotion required in worship. This craftsmanship points to the excellence and precision God desires in His service.

at the ends
"At the ends" specifies the location of the cherubim on the mercy seat. The Hebrew word "קָצֶה" (qatseh) denotes extremities or boundaries. This placement signifies the cherubim's role as protectors and emphasizes the completeness and symmetry of God's design. It also highlights the balance between God's justice and mercy, as the cherubim flank the mercy seat where atonement is made.

of the mercy seat
The "mercy seat" is the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, known in Hebrew as "כַּפֹּרֶת" (kapporet), derived from the root "כָּפַר" (kaphar), meaning to cover or atone. This is the place where God's presence would dwell and where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. It symbolizes God's throne of grace, where mercy triumphs over judgment. The mercy seat is a profound foreshadowing of Christ's atoning work, where divine justice and mercy meet.

(18) Two cherubims.--"Cherubims," or rather cherubim, had been known previously in one connection only--they had been the guardians of Eden when Adam and Eve were driven forth from it (Genesis 3:24). It is generally allowed that in that passage, as in most others where the word occurs, living beings, angels of God, are intended. But not all angels are cherubim. The cherubim constitute a select class, very near to God, very powerful, very resolute, highly fitted to act as guards. It is probably with this special reference that the cherubic figures were selected to be placed upon the mercy seat--they guarded the precious deposit of the two tables, towards which they looked (Exodus 25:20). The question as to the exact form of the figures is not very important; but it is one which has been discussed with great ingenuity and at great length. Some hold that the proper figure of a cherub is that of a bull or ox, and think that the cherubim of the tabernacle were winged bulls, not unlike the Assyrian. Others regard them as figures still more composite, like the Egyptian sphinxes or the chimaerae of the Greeks. But the predominant opinion seems to be that they were simply human figures with the addition of a pair of wings. (So Kaiisch, Keil, Bishop Harold Browne, Canon Cook, and others.) In this case they would bear a considerable resemblance to the figures of Ma, or Truth, so often seen inside Egyptian arks, sheltering with their wings the searabaeus or some other emblem of deity.

Of beaten work--i.e., not cast, but brought into shape by the hammer. In the Egyptian language karabu was "to hammer," whence, according to some, the word "cherub."

In the. two ends.--Literally, from the two ends--rising, that is, from either end of the mercy seat.

Verse 18. - Two cherubims. The form "cherubims," which our translators affect, is abnormal and indefensible. They should have said either "cherubim," or "cherubs." The exact shape of the Temple cherubim was kept a profound secret among the Jews, so that Josephus declares - "No one is able to state, or conjecture of what form the cherubim were" (Ant. Jud. 8:3, § 3). That they were winged figures appears from verse 28 of this chapter, while from other parts of Scripture we learn that cherubim might be of either human or animal forms, or of the two combined (Ezekiel 1:5-14; Ezekiel 10:1-22). These last have been with some reason compared to the symbolical composite figures of other nations, the andro-sphinxes and crio-sphinxes of the Egyptians, the Assyrian winged bulls and lions, the Greek chimaerae, and the griffins of the northern nations. But it is doubtful whether the cherubim of Moses were of this character. The most sober of recent inquirers (Bp. Harold Browne, Canon Cook, Kalisch, Keil),while admitting the point to be doubtful, come to the conclusion that they were in all probability, "winged human figures, with human face too." In this case their prototype would seem to have been the winged figures of Ma, the Goddess of Truth, frequently seen inside Egyptian arks, sheltering with their wings the scarabaeus or other emblem of the deity. (See Lepsius, Denkmaler, pt. 3. pl. 14; Wilkinson in Rawlinson's Herodotus, vol. it. p. 85, 2nd edition; Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 1. p. 3040 Of beaten work shalt thou make them. Not cast, i.e., but hammered into shape (LXX. τορευτά. The word "cherub" is thought to be derived from an Egyptian root, karabu, signifying "to hammer" (Speaker's Commentary, vol. 4. p. 207). In the two ends. Rather, "From the two ends" - i.e., "rising," or, "standing up from the two ends."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And make
וְעָשִׂ֛יתָ (wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

two
שְׁנַ֥יִם (šə·na·yim)
Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

cherubim
כְּרֻבִ֖ים (kə·ru·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3742: Probably an order of angelic beings

of hammered
מִקְשָׁה֙ (miq·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4749: Rounded work, moulded by hammering

gold
זָהָ֑ב (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

at the two
מִשְּׁנֵ֖י (miš·šə·nê)
Preposition-m | Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

ends
קְצ֥וֹת (qə·ṣō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 7098: A termination

of the mercy seat.
הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ (hak·kap·pō·reṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3727: Propitiatory


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OT Law: Exodus 25:18 You shall make two cherubim of hammered (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 25:17
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