Mercy-seat

How Nave’s arranged it

• Description ofExodus 25:17–22
• Placed on the ark of the testimonyExodus 26:34Exodus 30:6Exodus 31:7Exodus 40:20Hebrews 9:5
• Materials of, to be a freewill offeringExodus 35:4–12
• Made by BezaleelExodus 37:1Exodus 37:6–9
• Sprinkled with bloodLeviticus 16:14Leviticus 16:15
• The shekinah uponExodus 25:22Exodus 30:6Exodus 30:36Leviticus 16:2Numbers 7:89Numbers 17:41 Samuel 4:42 Samuel 6:22 Kings 19:151 Chronicles 13:6Psalms 80:1Psalms 99:1Isaiah 37:16Hebrews 4:16
• In Solomon's temple1 Chronicles 28:11
• See Tabernacle

The passages, in Bible order (25)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. 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.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 25:17–222 voices

   “A mercy seat of pure gold - (Compare Exo 37:6-9.) In external form, the mercy-seat was a plate of gold with the cherubim standing on it, the whole beaten out of one solid piece of metal Exo 37:7; it was placed upon the ark and so took the place of a cover. “mercy” seat expresses well the distinct significance and recognized designation of the Hebrew name. Exo 25:18-20 The cherubim of the mercy-seat were human figures, each having two wings. They must have been of small size, proportioned to the area of the mercy-seat.

   “This propitiatory covering, as it might well be translated, was a type of Christ, the great propitiation, whose satisfaction fully answers the demands of the law, covers our transgressions, and comes between us and the curse we deserve. Thus he is the end of the law for righteousness.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 25:17–22→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Exodus 25:22

   And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 25:221 voice

   “In allusion to this mercy-seat, we are said to come boldly to the throne of grace ( Heb. iv. 16 ); for we are not under the law, which is covered, but under grace, which is displayed; its wings are stretched out, and we are invited to come under the shadow of them, Ruth ii.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 25:22→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Exodus 26:34

   Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Exodus 30:6

   Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 30:62 voices

   “This altar typified the mediation of Christ: the brazen altar in the court was a type of Christ dying on earth; the golden altar in the sanctuary was a type of Christ interceding in heaven. This altar was before the mercy- seat, for Christ always appears in the presence of God for us; and his intercession is unto God of a sweet smelling savour.

   “Before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony - These words in the original are supposed to be a repetition, by mistake, of the preceding clause; the word הפרכת happarocheth, the veil, being corrupted by interchanging two letters into הכפרת haccapporeth, the mercy-seat; and this, as Dr. Kennicott observes, places the altar of incense before the mercy-seat, and consequently In the holy of holies! Now this could not be, as the altar of incense was attended every day, and the holy of holies entered only once in the year.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 30:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Exodus 30:36

   Grind some of it into fine powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 30:361 voice

   “This incense was placed within the sanctuary, to be at hand when the priest required to burn on the altar. The art of compounding unguents and perfumes was well known in Egypt, where sweet-scented spices were extensively used not only in common life, but in the ritual of the temples.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 30:36→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Exodus 31:7

   the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat upon it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Exodus 35:4–12

   Moses also told the whole congregation of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Exodus 37:1

   Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 37:11 voice

   “And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood,.... Jarchi says, because he gave his mind to this work more than the rest of the wise men, it is called by his name.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 37:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 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.

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Exodus 40:20

    Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark.

    ›Commentary on Exodus 40:201 voice

    “And put the testimony into the ark - That is, the two tables on which the ten commandments had been written. See Exo 25:16. The ark, the golden table with the shew-bread, the golden candlestick, and the golden altar of incense, were all in the tabernacle, within the veil or curtains, which served as a door, Exo 40:22, Exo 40:24, Exo 40:26. And the altar of burnt-offering was by the door, Exo 40:

    Everything gathered on Exodus 40:20→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 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.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 16:22 voices

    “But see what a blessed change is made by the gospel of Christ; all good Christians have now boldness to enter into the holiest, through the veil, every day ( Heb. x. 19, 20 ); and we come boldly (not as Aaron must, with fear and trembling) to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat, Heb. iv.

    “That he come not at all times into the holy place - By the holy place we are to understand here what is ordinarily called the Holy of Holies, or most holy place; that place within the veil where the ark of the covenant, etc., were laid up; and where God manifested his presence between the cherubim.

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 16:2→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Leviticus 16:14

    And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 16:141 voice

    “Upon the mercy-seat - To teach us, that God is merciful to sinners only through and for the blood of Christ. With his face east-ward, or upon the eastern part, towards the people, who were in the court which lay east-ward from the holy of holies, which was the most western part of the tabernacle.

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 16:14→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Leviticus 16:15

    Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.

    ›Commentary on Leviticus 16:152 voices

    “Then shall he kill the goat - He went out of the holy of holies, and killed it, and then returned thither again with its blood. And whereas the high-priest is said to be allowed to enter into that place but once in a year, that is to be understood, but one day in a year, though there was occasion of going in and coming out more than once upon that day.

    “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people,.... That upon which the lot came for the Lord, Lev 16:9; the high priest having sprinkled the blood of the bullock, came out of the most holy place, and went into the court of the tabernacle to the altar of burnt offering, and on the north side of that slew the goat for the sin offering, the place where all such were killed; see Lev 1:

    Everything gathered on Leviticus 16:15→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 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.

    ›Commentary on Numbers 7:891 voice

    “With him - i. e. as marginal, “with God,” not (as some) with himself. He heard the voice of one speaking - Rather, he heard the voice speaking, or conversing. The effect was as though Moses was audibly addressed by another person: how this effect was produced we are not told. Thus was the promise of Exo 25:20-22 fulfilled; and that as an immediate response on the part of God to the cheerful readiness with which the tribes had made their offerings, and supplied everything needful for the Holy place and its service.

    Everything gathered on Numbers 7:89→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Numbers 17:4

    Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.

    ›Commentary on Numbers 17:41 voice

    “These rods were to be laid in the tabernacle close to the ark (compare Nu 17:10 and Heb 9:4), where a divine token was promised that would for all time terminate the dispute.

    Everything gathered on Numbers 17:4→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 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.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:42 voices

    “The Lord of hosts - See on 1Sa 1:3 (note). Dwelleth between the cherubims - Of what shape the cherubim were, we know not; but there was one of these representative figures placed at each end of the ark of the covenant; and between them, on the lid or cover of that ark, which was called the propitiatory or mercy-seat, the shechinah, or symbol of the Divine presence, was said to dwell. They thought, therefore, if they had the ark, they must necessarily have the presence and influence of Jehovah.

    “In short, the shout raised in the Hebrew camp, on the arrival of the ark, indicated very plainly the prevalence among the Israelites at this time of a belief in national deities--whose influence was local, and whose interest was especially exerted in behalf of the people who adored them.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 4:4→

    Verse page →Original language →