Exodus 25:17

“You shall make a cover of expiation of pure gold: two cubits and a half its length and a cubit and a half its width.”
Exodus 25:17 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

You shall makeוְעָשִׂיתָa cover of expiationכַפֹּרֶתof pureטָהוֹרgold:זָהָבtwo cubitsאַמָּתַיִםand a halfוָחֵצִיits lengthאָרְכָּהּand a cubitוְאַמָּהand a halfוָחֵצִיits width.רָחְבָּהּ

Theme · Hebrews 9:5

Go to Hebrews 9:5

Hebrews 9:5 names the cover of expiation and the cherubim that Exodus 25:17-18 commands to be made of gold.

The same term appears in both passages.

כַפֹּרֶתjaporetH3727ἱλαστήριονhilastērionG2435“cover of expiation”
כְּרֻבִיםkeruvimH3742ΧερουβὶνCheroubinG5502“cherub”

Cover of expiationכַּפֹּרֶת / ἱλαστήριονכפרת hilastērion

The gold lid of the ark, with two cherubim on top (Exodus 25:17-22). From there YHWH spoke with Moses, and on it the high priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Expiation (Leviticus 16:14-15).

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Cherubכְּרוּב / Χερούβכרוב Cheroub

A winged being that the Bible places beside the presence of God. Cherubim guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24); two of gold covered the cover of expiation with their wings (Exodus 25:18-20); Ezekiel describes them with four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 10:14, 20-21).

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Thread: Cover of expiation · 1 of 6

כַּפֹּרֶת / ἱλαστήριον

YHWH commands that the cover of expiation be made of pure gold, for the ark.

Exodus 25:22

Exodus 25:17, word by word

You shall makeעָשִׂיתָasita

make

To build or create something.

Where else “asita” appears

a cover of expiationכַפֹּרֶתchaporet

cover of expiation

The gold lid of the ark, with the two cherubim. Its name comes from the verb "make expiation" (cover sin), because there the blood was sprinkled on the day of expiation (Leviticus 16:14-15).

Where else “chaporet” appears

of pureטָהוֹרtahor

pure

Without a mixture of anything else, like gold with no alloy.

Where else “tahor” appears

goldזָהָבzahav

gold

Gold.

Where else “zahav” appears

two cubitsאַמָּתַיִםamatayim

cubit

About 45 centimeters: from the bent arm to the fingertips.

Where else “amatayim” appears

and a halfחֵצִיchetsi

half

One of two equal parts of something.

Where else “chetsi” appears

its lengthאָרְכָּarka

length

Length: "the length and the breadth".

Where else “arka” appears

its widthרָחְבָּrachba

width

Width, breadth.

Where else “rachba” appears

Translation note

The “cover of expiation” (kapporet) is the gold lid of the ark; its name comes from the verb “make expiation, cover.”

The context

16You shall put into the ark the testimony that I will give you.

17 · This verse (above)

18You shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them, at the two ends of the cover of expiation.

Read all of Exodus 25

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