The term "Mercy-seat" refers to the gold cover of the Ark of the Covenant, which was located in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. The Hebrew word for mercy-seat is "kapporet," which is derived from the root "kaphar," meaning "to cover" or "to atone." This sacred object held profound theological significance in the religious life of ancient Israel, symbolizing God's presence and His provision for atonement.

Biblical Description and Construction

The instructions for the construction of the Mercy-seat are found in the Book of Exodus. God commanded Moses to make the Mercy-seat of pure gold, measuring two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide (Exodus 25:17). It was to be placed atop the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna.

Two cherubim of hammered gold were to be made at the two ends of the Mercy-seat. These cherubim faced each other, with their wings spread upward, overshadowing the Mercy-seat (Exodus 25:18-20). The cherubim represented the heavenly beings that attend to God's presence, emphasizing the sacredness of the space.

Theological Significance

The Mercy-seat served as the focal point of God's presence among His people. It was here that God promised to meet with Moses and communicate His commandments for the Israelites (Exodus 25:22). The Mercy-seat thus symbolized God's throne on earth, a place where divine and human interaction occurred.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the Mercy-seat (Leviticus 16:14-15). This act of atonement was central to the Israelites' understanding of reconciliation with God. The blood on the Mercy-seat symbolized the covering of sins, allowing God to dwell among His people without His holiness being compromised by their sinfulness.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the Mercy-seat is understood as a foreshadowing of the ultimate atonement provided by Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul refers to Christ as a "propitiation" or "atoning sacrifice" in Romans 3:25 , using the Greek word "hilasterion," which is often translated as "mercy-seat." This connection highlights the belief that Christ's sacrificial death fulfilled the atoning work symbolized by the Mercy-seat, providing a means for humanity's reconciliation with God.

The Mercy-seat, therefore, is not only a significant artifact of Israel's religious history but also a profound symbol of God's mercy and the redemptive work accomplished through Jesus Christ.Mercy-Seat

1 Chronicles 28:11, the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, which see. The Hebrew word means a cover, but contains an allusion to the covering or forgiving of sins, Psalm 32:1. In the New Testament it is designated by a Greek word meaning "the propitiatory," or "expiatory," Hebrews 9:4,5. It was approached only by the high priest, and not without the blood of atonement, to show that the divine mercy can be granted only through the blood of Christ, Romans 3:25.

(Hebrews kapporeth, a "covering;" LXX. and N.T., hilasterion; Vulg., propitiatorium), the covering or lid of the ark of the covenant (q.v.). It was of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, or perhaps rather a plate of solid gold, 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 broad (Exodus 25:17; 30:6; 31:7). It is compared to the throne of grace (Hebrews 9:5; Ephesians 2:6). The holy of holies is called the "place of the mercy-seat" (1 Chronicles 28:11: Leviticus 16:2).

It has been conjectured that the censer (thumiaterion, meaning "anything having regard to or employed in the burning of incense") mentioned in Hebrews 9:4 was the "mercy-seat," at which the incense was burned by the high priest on the great day of atonement, and upon or toward which the blood of the goat was sprinkled (Leviticus 16:11-16; Comp. Numbers 7:89 and Exodus 25:22).

MERCY-SEAT, THE

mur'-si-set (kapporeth; New Testament hilasterion, Hebrews 9:5): The name for the lid or covering of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:17, etc.). The Old Testament term means "covering," then, like the New Testament word, "propitiatory" (compare kipper, "to cover guilt," "to make atonement"). The ark contained the two tables of stone which witnessed against the sin of the people. The blood of sacrifice, sprinkled on the mercy-seat on the great day of atonement, intercepted, as it were, this condemning testimony, and effected reconciliation between God and His people. See ATONEMENT; ATONEMENT, DAY OF; PROPITIATION; ARK OF THE COVENANT. In Romans 3:25, Jesus is said to be set forth as "a propitiation (literally, "propitiatory"), through faith, in his blood," thus fulfilling the idea of the mercy-seat (compare Hebrews 9:5, 7, 11, 12, etc.).

W. Shaw Caldecott

2435. hilasterion -- propitiatory
... mercy seat. ... an expiatory (place or thing), ie (concretely) an atoning victim, or
(specially) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple) -- mercyseat, propitiation. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2435.htm - 7k3727. kapporeth -- propitiatory
... seat. Word Origin from the same as kopher Definition propitiatory NASB
Word Usage mercy seat (27). mercy seat. From kaphar; a lid ...
/hebrew/3727.htm - 6k

The Mercy-Seat.
... DEVOUT EXERCISES. 452. " The Mercy-seat. 452. LM Stowell. The Mercy-seat.
1 From every stormy wind that blows, From every swelling ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/452 the mercy-seat.htm

Invitation to the Mercy-Seat.
... MOURNING AND CONSOLATION. 575. " Invitation to the Mercy-seat. 575. 11s.
& 10s. M. Spiritual Songs. Invitation to the Mercy-seat. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/575 invitation to the.htm

Approach, My Soul, the Mercy-Seat
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCXXV Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat.
Where JESUS answers prayer; There humbly fall before His feet,. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/ccxxv approach my soul the.htm

Approach, My Soul, the Mercy-Seat
... SACRAMENTS AND RITES Holy Communion: Introits 303. Approach, my soul, the
mercy-seat. CM ... DOXOLOGY. Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat,. Where Jesus answers ...
/.../holy communion introits 303 approach.htm

Retreat. LM
... LM. The Mercy-Seat. ... From every stormy wind that blows, From every swelling tide of
woes, There is a calm, a sure retreat;" 'Tis found before the mercy-seat. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/384 retreat l m.htm

Importance of Small Things in Religion
... the presence of the Most High God. The lid of the ark, as you will remember
was called the mercy-seat. The whole ark was one of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/importance of small things in.htm

From Every Stormy Wind that Blows
... There is a calm, a sure retreat; 'Tis found beneath the mercy-seat. ... A place than
all beside more sweet; It is the bloodstained mercy-seat. ...
/.../daily prayer through the week.htm

The Day of Atonement
... 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 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Foreshadowed in the Ritual ...
... Fourth, the goat of the sin-offering was killed and its blood brought within the
veil and sprinkled both upon and before the mercy-seat. (vs.15). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/5 the fact of the.htm

July 4 Evening
... Toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. ... I will meet with
thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat. ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/july 4 evening.htm

Mercyseat (1 Occurrence)
... blood," thus fulfilling the idea of the mercy-seat (compare Hebrews 9:5, 7, 11,
12, etc.). W. Shaw Caldecott. Multi-Version Concordance Mercyseat (1 Occurrence) ...
/m/mercyseat.htm - 9k

Mercy-seat (23 Occurrences)
Mercy-seat. Mercyseat, Mercy-seat. Merdiful . Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews ...
WBS). Mercyseat, Mercy-seat. Merdiful . Reference Bible.
/m/mercy-seat.htm - 16k

Ark-cover (21 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:17 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. ...
/a/ark-cover.htm - 12k

Cherubs (52 Occurrences)
... (WEB YLT). Exodus 25:18 and thou hast made two cherubs of gold, beaten work
dost thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat; (YLT). ...
/c/cherubs.htm - 22k

Propitiation (4 Occurrences)
... sinners. In Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 9:5 (AV, "mercy-seat") the Greek word
hilasterion is used. It is the word employed by the LXX. ...
/p/propitiation.htm - 15k

Cherub (21 Occurrences)
... animals. Two cherubim were placed on the mercy-seat of the ark; two of
colossal size overshadowed it in Solomon's temple. Ezekiel ...
/c/cherub.htm - 18k

Wings (81 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 9:5 And over it were the winged ones of glory with their wings covering
the mercy-seat; about which it is not possible now to say anything in detail. ...
/w/wings.htm - 34k

Upward (74 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy
seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. ...
/u/upward.htm - 32k

Screening (3 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:20 And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, covering the
mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy...
/s/screening.htm - 7k

Spreading (74 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:20 And the cherubs have been spreading out wings on high, covering the
mercy-seat over with their wings, and their faces 'are' one towards another ...
/s/spreading.htm - 28k

What is the mercy seat? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God is merciful? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Ark of the Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

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