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.
Original Language Analysis
וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ
And thou shalt make
H6213
וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ
And thou shalt make
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
1 of 10
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כַפֹּ֖רֶת
a mercy seat
H3727
כַפֹּ֖רֶת
a mercy seat
Strong's:
H3727
Word #:
2 of 10
a lid (used only of the cover of the sacred ark)
זָהָ֣ב
gold
H2091
זָהָ֣ב
gold
Strong's:
H2091
Word #:
3 of 10
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
טָה֑וֹר
of pure
H2889
טָה֑וֹר
of pure
Strong's:
H2889
Word #:
4 of 10
pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense)
וְאַמָּ֥ה
thereof and a cubit
H520
וְאַמָּ֥ה
thereof and a cubit
Strong's:
H520
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)
Cross References
Hebrews 9:5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.Exodus 37:6And 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.Hebrews 4:16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Exodus 40:20And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:Romans 3:25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;1 Chronicles 28:11Then 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,
Historical Context
The mercy seat, approximately 3.75' × 2.25', formed the lid of the Ark. On Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the high priest sprinkled blood here seven times, making atonement for the nation's sins (Leviticus 16).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the mercy seat 'covering' the law illustrate Christ's atonement covering our guilt?
- What does it mean that mercy and justice meet at the place where blood is applied?
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Analysis & Commentary
The mercy seat (כַּפֹּרֶת, kapporet) derives from כָּפַר (kaphar, 'to cover, atone'). Made of pure gold (unalloyed divinity), it covers the law whose demands man cannot meet. This is the place of atonement where sacrificial blood is sprinkled (Leviticus 16:14-15), prefiguring Christ as our propitiation (Romans 3:25, using ἱλαστήριον, the LXX translation of kapporet). God's justice and mercy meet at the cross.