Bible Encyclopedias
Mercy-Seat, the

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mûr´si - sēt ( כּפּרת , kappōreth ; New Testament ίλαστήριον , hilastḗrion , 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 kippēr , "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 , Hebrews 9:7 , Hebrews 9:11 , Hebrews 9:12 , etc.).