Exodus 26:34
And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
Original Language Analysis
וְנָֽתַתָּ֙
And thou shalt put
H5414
וְנָֽתַתָּ֙
And thou shalt put
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 8
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 8
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת
the mercy seat
H3727
הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת
the mercy seat
Strong's:
H3727
Word #:
3 of 8
a lid (used only of the cover of the sacred ark)
עַ֖ל
H5921
עַ֖ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 8
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Exodus 25:21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.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:Hebrews 9:5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Historical Context
The ark and mercy seat remained perpetually within the Most Holy Place, behind the veil, inaccessible except on Yom Kippur. This arrangement meant Israel's most sacred object—God's throne—stayed perpetually in the presence of His glory cloud (Shekinah).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the mercy seat 'covering' the law illustrate the gospel?
- Why must God's mercy satisfy rather than ignore the law's demands?
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Analysis & Commentary
The mercy seat is placed upon the ark within the veil—in the Most Holy Place. The mercy seat (כַּפֹּרֶת, kapporet, place of atonement) covers the law (testimony). Here's the gospel pictured: God's law demands perfect righteousness; God's mercy seat provides covering through atoning blood. Both are necessary—the law isn't removed, but mercy covers it. Christ satisfies the law's demands (under the mercy seat) while providing mercy above.