Hebrews 9:5
New International Version
Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

New Living Translation
Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now.

English Standard Version
Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Berean Standard Bible
Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

Berean Literal Bible
And above it were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat; concerning which it is not now the time to speak in detail.

King James Bible
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

New King James Version
and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

New American Standard Bible
and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

NASB 1995
and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

NASB 1977
And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Legacy Standard Bible
And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Amplified Bible
and above the ark were the [golden] cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but we cannot now go into detail about these things.

Christian Standard Bible
The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The cherubim of glory were above it overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.

American Standard Version
and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.

Contemporary English Version
On top of the chest were the glorious creatures with wings opened out above the place of mercy. Now isn't the time to go into detail about these things.

English Revised Version
and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Above the ark were the angels of glory [with their wings] overshadowing the throne of mercy. (Discussing these things in detail isn't possible now.)

Good News Translation
Above the Box were the winged creatures representing God's presence, with their wings spread over the place where sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in detail.

International Standard Version
Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. (We cannot discuss these things in detail now.)

Majority Standard Bible
Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

NET Bible
And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.

New Heart English Bible
and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we cannot speak now in detail.

Webster's Bible Translation
And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Weymouth New Testament
And above the ark were the Cherubim denoting God's glorious presence and overshadowing the Mercy-seat. But I cannot now speak about all these in detail.

World English Bible
and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the propitiatory covering, concerning which we are not to particularly speak now.

Berean Literal Bible
And above it were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat; concerning which it is not now the time to speak in detail.

Young's Literal Translation
and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we are not now to speak particularly.

Smith's Literal Translation
And above it the cherubs of glory overshadowing the propitiatory; of which it is not now to speak in turn.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And over it were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the propitiatory: of which it is not needful to speak now particularly.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And over the ark were the Cherubim of glory, overshadowing the propitiatory. There is not enough time to speak about each of these things.

New American Bible
Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of expiation. Now is not the time to speak of these in detail.

New Revised Standard Version
above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot speak now in detail.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And over it the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat; now is not the time to describe how these things were made.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And above, the cherubim of glory, which shrouded over the mercy seat; but there is no time for us to speak about each one of these things which were thus fashioned.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and over the ark, the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we can not now speak particularly.

Godbey New Testament
and above this was the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; concerning which things it is not pertinent to speak specifically.

Haweis New Testament
and above, over it the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the propitiatory.

Mace New Testament
over the ark were the cherubims of glory covering the propitiatory with their wings, of which we cannot now enter into a particular detail.

Weymouth New Testament
And above the ark were the Cherubim denoting God's glorious presence and overshadowing the Mercy-seat. But I cannot now speak about all these in detail.

Worrell New Testament
and over it Cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which things we cannot now speak in detail.

Worsley New Testament
and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat: of which it is not necessary now to speak particularly.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Earthly Tabernacle
4containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 6When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.…

Cross References
Exodus 25:17-22
And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. / Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, / one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. ...

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

1 Kings 8:6-7
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.

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.

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.

Romans 3:25
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

Exodus 37:6-9
He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. / He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, / one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. ...

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.

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

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.

Isaiah 37:16
“O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

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.

Matthew 27:51
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.

John 20:12
and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.


Treasury of Scripture

And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

over.

Exodus 25:17-22
And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof…

Exodus 37:6-9
And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof…

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

the mercy-seat.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Leviticus 16:2,13
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat…

1 Chronicles 28:11
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,

Jump to Previous
Ark Atonement Cherubim Cherubims Cover Covering Detail Discuss Glorious Glory God's Mercy Mercy-Seat Ones Overshadowing Particularly Possible Presence Seat Shadowing Speak Time Winged Wings
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Ark Atonement Cherubim Cherubims Cover Covering Detail Discuss Glorious Glory God's Mercy Mercy-Seat Ones Overshadowing Particularly Possible Presence Seat Shadowing Speak Time Winged Wings
Hebrews 9
1. The description of the rites and sacrifices of the law;
11. which are far inferior to the dignity and perfection of the sacrifice of Christ.














Above the ark
This phrase refers to the position of the cherubim in relation to the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Ark was central to the worship practices of ancient Israel, symbolizing God's covenant with His people. The term "above" signifies the exalted and divine nature of what is being described, emphasizing the heavenly origin and authority of the cherubim.

were the cherubim of glory
The "cherubim" are angelic beings often associated with the presence and majesty of God. In the Hebrew Scriptures, cherubim are depicted as guardians of sacred spaces, such as the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24) and the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and Temple. The "glory" here refers to the Shekinah, the visible manifestation of God's presence. The cherubim of glory thus represent the divine majesty and holiness that surrounds God's throne.

overshadowing the mercy seat
The "mercy seat" (Greek: hilastērion) was the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. This act symbolized the atonement of the people's sins and God's mercy. The term "overshadowing" suggests protection and divine presence, reminiscent of the cloud that led the Israelites in the wilderness. It signifies God's willingness to dwell among His people and offer them grace and forgiveness.

But we cannot discuss these things in detail now
This phrase indicates the author's intention to focus on the broader theological implications rather than the intricate details of the Tabernacle's furnishings. It suggests a recognition of the limitations of human understanding when it comes to divine mysteries. The author of Hebrews is more concerned with the spiritual realities these symbols point to, particularly the ultimate atonement accomplished through Christ. This serves as a reminder of the depth and richness of God's plan of salvation, which surpasses human comprehension.

(5) Cherubims of glory.--See Exodus 25:18-22; Exodus 29:43; Numbers 7:89; Ezekiel 10:19-20. As these passages will show, the reference is to the glory which appeared above the mercy seat. (See Note on Hebrews 1:3.) This is the only express mention of the cherubim in the New Testament; but see the Notes on Revelation 4:6, et seq. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Above
ὑπεράνω (hyperanō)
Preposition
Strong's 5231: Far above. From huper and ano; above upward, i.e. Greatly higher.

[the ark]
αὐτῆς (autēs)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[were the] cherubim
Χερουβὶν (Cheroubin)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5502: Cherubim. Plural of Hebrew origin; 'cherubim'.

of glory,
δόξης (doxēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1391: From the base of dokeo; glory, in a wide application.

overshadowing
κατασκιάζοντα (kataskiazonta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2683: To overshadow. From kata and a derivative of skia; to overshade, i.e. Cover.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

mercy seat.
ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2435: Neuter of a derivative of hilaskomai; an expiatory, i.e. an atoning victim, or the lid of the Ark.

[But] we cannot discuss
λέγειν (legein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

[these things]
ὧν (hōn)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

in
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

detail
μέρος (meros)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3313: A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.

now.
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 9:5 And above it cherubim of glory overshadowing (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 9:4
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