Hebrew word · H3727

כַּפֹּרֶת

khaporet

mercy seat

Used only for the golden slab on top of the ark (about 27 times, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, plus 1 Chr 28:11 'the house of the kapporet' for the inner sanctuary). It is built from the root k-p-r, whose main verb form (kipper) means to make atonement: to purge or wipe away impurity, or to ransom.

Appears 27 times in 22 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) mercy-seat, place of atonement

1a) the golden plate of propitiation on which the High Priest sprinkled the seat 7 times on the Day of Atonement symbolically reconciling Jehovah and His chosen people

1a1) the slab of gold on top of the ark of the covenant which measured 2.5 by 1.5 cubits; on it and part of it were the two golden cherubim facing each other whose outstretched wings came together above and constituted the throne of God

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Exodus 25:18

Range of meaning

Used only for the golden slab on top of the ark (about 27 times, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, plus 1 Chr 28:11 'the house of the kapporet' for the inner sanctuary). It is built from the root k-p-r, whose main verb form (kipper) means to make atonement: to purge or wipe away impurity, or to ransom. Whether the noun means simply 'cover/lid' (from a supposed sense 'to cover') or 'place/instrument of atonement' is debated; many recent scholars favor the atonement sense, since the object's whole function is tied to the Day of Atonement (Lev 16), the day named from the same root (Yom Kippur).

Against the English

'Mercy seat' (KJV, ESV, NASB, BSB, WEB, YLT) suggests a chair and an emotion (mercy). 'Atonement cover' (NIV, NLT) keeps both the physical lid and the ritual function. 'Cover' alone loses the atonement link; 'mercy seat' loses the lid and imports a seat.

How it drifted

William Tyndale coined 'mercy seat' (1530) from Luther's German Gnadenstuhl ('throne/seat of grace'). Luther in turn drew on the theological reading of the Greek hilastērion and Latin propitiatorium. The phrase stuck through the KJV.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Septuagint renders it hilastērion epithema, 'propitiatory cover,' in 25:17, then hilastērion alone; the Latin Vulgate has propitiatorium. The New Testament uses hilastērion for it at Hebrews 9:5 ('the cherubim of glory overshadowing the hilastērion') and, on many readings, at Romans 3:25. Leviticus 16:14–15 has the high priest sprinkle blood 'on the face of the kapporet and before the kapporet.'

From the study of Exodus 25:22

Range of meaning

Used only for the gold slab over the ark (27 times, all in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, plus 1 Chr 28:11 'house of the kapporet'). The form looks like a noun built from kipper, 'to make atonement, purge, wipe clean, ransom', so the meaning would be 'place or instrument of atonement'. An older view links it to 'cover' (kaphar = to cover), making it simply the 'lid'.

Against the English

KJV, ESV and BSB have 'mercy seat'. NIV and NLT have 'atonement cover'. Some versions have 'lid' or 'cover'. 'Mercy seat' brings in a chair and the abstract idea of mercy, and neither is in the word.

How it drifted

Tyndale (1530) coined 'mercy seat' after Luther's German 'Gnadenstuhl' ('throne/seat of grace'). Luther was working from the Greek hilastērion and Latin propitiatorium ('place or means of propitiation'). The coinage became fixed in the King James tradition.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint renders it hilastērion, 'place or means of propitiation/atonement', and the Vulgate propitiatorium. Paul uses hilastērion in Rom 3:25, and Hebrews 9:5 uses it of this object. In Lev 16:2, 13–15 the kapporet is where God appears in the cloud and where blood is sprinkled on the Day of Atonement. 1 Chr 28:11 calls the inner shrine 'the house of the kapporet', showing that the object defined the room.

From the study of 1 Chronicles 28:11

Range of meaning

The solid gold slab laid on top of the ark of the covenant, with two cherubim of one piece with it (Exodus 25:17–22). It was where God promised to meet Moses and speak 'from between the cherubim' (Exodus 25:22; Numbers 7:89). On the Day of Atonement the high priest sprinkled blood on it and before it (Leviticus 16:14–15). The noun is linked to the verb kipper, which means to purge, wipe clean, ransom or make atonement. Some scholars also hear a basic sense of 'cover'.

Against the English

KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV and NASB say 'mercy seat'. YLT says 'the atonement'. NIV says 'place of atonement'. Others use 'atonement cover'. 'Mercy seat' makes modern readers picture a chair. The kapporet was not a seat, and the Hebrew word does not contain 'mercy'.

How it drifted

Tyndale coined 'mercy seat' in 1530, following Luther's Gnadenstuhl ('throne of grace'). Luther was drawing on the Greek hilastērion and Latin propitiatorium. The phrase captures a real idea: God met his people there, enthroned above the cherubim, and sin was dealt with there. But it turns 'place or object of purging' into 'a seat of mercy'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Outside the Pentateuch (the first five books), the word appears only in this verse, 27 times in all. The Septuagint usually renders it hilastērion ('place or means of atonement'), and in Exodus 25:17 hilastērion epithema ('atoning cover'). The New Testament uses hilastērion for it in Hebrews 9:5 and probably alludes to it in Romans 3:25. Egyptian art shows similar winged guardians protecting sacred chests, which helps explain the cherubim image.

Where it appears

Exodus · 18

  1. Exodus 25:17 כַפֹּ֖רֶת an atonement cover

    And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

  2. Exodus 25:18 הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ the atonement cover

    Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,

    Here: The slab of pure gold laid on top of the ark (25:17, 21). Its name comes from the root used for atonement and purging; it is the spot where the high priest sprinkled blood on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:14–15). It is a lid and the site of atonement, not a chair.

  3. Exodus 25:19 הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת the atonement cover

    one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.

  4. Exodus 25:20 הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת the atonement cover

    And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

  5. Exodus 25:21 הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת the atonement cover

    Set the mercy seat atop the ark and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.

  6. Exodus 25:22 הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת the atonement cover

    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.

    Here: The solid gold slab laid over the ark, cast in one piece with the cherubim (25:17–20). Its name is almost certainly linked to kipper, the verb used for atonement and purging. In Leviticus 16 blood is sprinkled on it on the Day of Atonement.

  7. Exodus 26:34 הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת the atonement cover

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

  8. Exodus 30:6 הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת the atonement cover

    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.

  9. Exodus 31:7 הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת the atonement cover

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

  10. Exodus 35:12 הַכַּפֹּ֑רֶת the atonement cover

    the ark with its poles and mercy seat, and the veil to shield it;

  11. Exodus 37:6 כַּפֹּ֖רֶת an atonement cover of

    He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

  12. Exodus 37:7 הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ the atonement cover

    He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,

  13. Exodus 37:8 הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת the atonement cover

    one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.

  14. Exodus 37:9 הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת the atonement cover

    And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

  15. Exodus 39:35 הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ the atonement cover

    the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the mercy seat;

  16. Exodus 40:20 הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת the atonement cover

    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.

    Here: The slab of solid gold that fits on top of the chest, with two cherubim (winged guardian figures) hammered out of the same piece (Exodus 25:17–22). God would meet Moses and speak 'from above' it, and on the Day of Atonement blood would be sprinkled on it (Leviticus 16:14–15). The word is linked to kipper, 'to make atonement, purge'.

Leviticus · 7

  1. Leviticus 16:2 הַכַּפֹּ֜רֶת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ the atonement cover

    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.

    Here: The solid gold slab on top of the ark, with two cherubim rising from it. It was the exact point where God promised to meet Moses (Exod 25:22) and the place where blood would be sprinkled on this day (vv. 14–15).

  2. Leviticus 16:13 הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת the atonement cover

    He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die.

  3. Leviticus 16:14 הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת the atonement cover

    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.

    Here: The solid gold slab on top of the ark, with the two cherubim (16:2; Exod 25:17–22). Its name comes from the same root as kipper, "to make atonement / purge," so it is the place where atonement is made. Above it God appears in the cloud.

  4. Leviticus 16:15 הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ the atonement cover

    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.

    Here: The solid gold slab on top of the ark, with two cherubim on it. Beneath YHWH's invisible throne, it was the place of meeting (Exod 25:22). It was also the focus of the whole Day of Atonement rite.

Numbers · 1

  1. Numbers 7:89 הַכַּפֹּ֙רֶת֙ the atonement cover

    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.

    Here: The solid gold slab on top of the ark, with the cherubim made as one piece with it (Exodus 25:17–20). On the Day of Atonement blood was sprinkled on and before it (Leviticus 16:14–15). It is the point where God's presence meets Israel's need for cleansing.

1 Chronicles · 1

  1. 1 Chronicles 28:11 הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ the atonement cover

    Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storehouses, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat.

    Here: The gold lid of the ark with its cherubim, the place where blood was applied on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Calling the Most Holy Place 'the house of the kapporet' is unique to this verse. It names the innermost room after the object where Israel's sins were purged and where God was enthroned.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.