Strong's Lexicon hilastérion: Propitiation, Atonement Cover, Mercy Seat Original Word: ἱλαστήριον Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἱλάσκομαι (hilaskomai), meaning "to appease" or "to make propitiation." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H3727 - כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporeth): Refers to the mercy seat or atonement cover in the Old Testament. Usage: The term "hilastérion" is used in the New Testament to denote a means of appeasement or atonement. It is often translated as "propitiation" or "mercy seat," referring to the lid of the Ark of the Covenant where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. In a broader theological sense, it signifies the place or means by which reconciliation between God and humanity is achieved, particularly through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Cultural and Historical Background: In the context of the Old Testament, the "hilastérion" or "mercy seat" was a critical component of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. It was the gold cover on the Ark of the Covenant, flanked by two cherubim, where God's presence was believed to dwell. The high priest would enter the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) to sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the mercy seat, symbolizing the atonement for the sins of Israel. In the New Testament, this concept is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is seen as the ultimate atoning sacrifice. HELPS Word-studies 2435 hilastḗrion (a substantival adjective, derived from 2433 /hiláskomai, "to propitiate") – the place of propitiation; the lid of the golden ark (the mercy-seat) where the blood of a vicarious lamb appeased God's wrath on sin. See also 2434 (hilasmós). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hilastérios; from hilaskomai Definition propitiatory NASB Translation mercy seat (1), propitiation (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2435: ἱλαστήριοςἱλαστήριος, ἱλαστηρια, ἱλαστήριον (ἱλάσκομαι, which see), relating to appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory: μνῆμα ἱλαστήριον, a monument built to propitiate God, Josephus, Antiquities 16, 7, 1; ἱλαστήριος θάνατος, 4 Macc. 17:22; χεῖρας ἱκετηριους, εἰ βούλει δέ ἱλαστηριους, ἐκτείνας Θεῷ, Niceph. in act. SS. edition Mai, vol. v., p. 335, 17. Neuter τό ἱλαστήριον, as a substantive, a means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation (German Versöhnungs- oderSühnmittel); cf. Winer's Grammar, 96 (91); (592 (551)). So used of: 1. the well-known cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins were expiated); hence, the lid of expiation, the propitiatory, Vulg.propitiatorium; Luth.Gnadensruhl (A. V. mercy-seat): Hebrews 9:5 (the Sept. Exodus 25:18ff; Leviticus 16:2, etc.; more fully ἱλαστήριον ἐπίθεμα, Exodus 25:17; Exodus 38:7 (Exodus 37:6), for the Hebrew כַּפֹּרֶת, from כִּפֶּר to cover, namely, sins, i. e. to pardon). Theodoret, Theophylact, Oecumenius, Luther, Grotius, Tholuck, Wilke, Philippi, Umbreit (Cremer (4te Aufl.)) and others give this meaning to the word also in Romans 3:25, viz. that Christ, besprinkled with his own blood, was truly that which the cover or 'mercy-seat' had been typically, i. e., the sign and pledge of expiation; but in opposed to this interpretation see Fritzsche, Meyer, Van Hengel (Godet, Oltramare) and others at the passage 2. an expiatory sacrifice; a piacular victim (Vulg.propitiatio): Romans 3:25 (after the analogy of the words χαριστηρια sacrifices expressive of gratitude, thank-offerings, σωτηρία sacrifices for safety obtained. On the other hand, in Dio Chrysostom or. 11, 121, p. 355, Reiske edition, the reference is not to a sacrifice but to a monument, as the preceding words show: καταλείψειν γάρ αὐτούς ἀνάθημα κάλλιστον καί μέγιστον τῇ Ἀθηνα καί ἐπιγράψειν, ἱλαστήριον Ἀχαιοι τῇ Ἰλιαδι). (See the full discussion of the word in Dr. Jets. Morison, Critical Exposition of the Third Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, pp. 281-303.) Neuter of a derivative of hilaskomai; an expiatory (place or thing), i.e. (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specially) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple) -- mercyseat, propitiation. see GREEK hilaskomai Englishman's Concordance Romans 3:25 N-ANSGRK: ὁ θεὸς ἱλαστήριον διὰ τῆς NAS: displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood KJV: hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through INT: God a mercy seat through the Hebrews 9:5 N-ANS |
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