Hebrews 9:5

“and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the cover of expiation; about these things it is not the time now to speak in detail.”
Hebrews 9:5 · direct translation from the Greek

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With the Greek beneath

andδὲaboveὑπεράνωitαὐτῆςwerethe cherubimΧερουβὶνof gloryδόξηςovershadowingκατασκιάζονταthe cover of expiation;τὸ ἱλαστήριονaboutπερὶthese thingsὧνit is notοὐκ ἔστινthe timenowνῦνto speakλέγεινin detail.κατὰ μέρος

Theme · Exodus 25:17-18

Go to Exodus 25:17-18

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.

ἱλαστήριονhilastērionG2435כַפֹּרֶתjaporetH3727“cover of expiation”
ΧερουβὶνCheroubinG5502כְּרֻבִיםkeruvimH3742“cherubim”

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).

See it in the glossary

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 · 5 of 6

כַּפֹּרֶת / ἱλαστήριον

Hebrews describes the ark with the cherubim that overshadowed the cover of expiation (hilastērion).

Leviticus 16:14 Romans 3:25

Hebrews 9:5, word by word

aboveὑπεράνωhyperanō

far above

Far above.

Where else “hyperanō” appears

the cherubimΧερουβὶνCheroubin

cherubim

Cherubim: heavenly beings, represented above the ark.

Where else “Cheroubin” appears

of gloryδόξηςdoxēs

glory

The greatness and splendor of God.

Where else “doxēs” appears

overshadowingκατασκιάζονταkataskiazonta

overshadow

Overshadow, cover with its shadow.

Where else “kataskiazonta” appears

the cover of expiationἱλαστήριονhilastērion

cover of expiation

Cover of expiation: the lid of the ark where the blood of atonement was sprinkled; a means of expiation.

Where else “hilastērion” appears

it is notἔστινestin

To be: says who or what something is.

Where else “estin” appears

to speakλέγεινlegein

say

To express something in words to others.

Where else “legein” appears

in detailμέροςmeros

part

A piece of a whole, or what falls to each one.

Where else “meros” appears

Translation note

“Cover of expiation”: the lid of the ark (Exodus 25:17-22), with the same name as in the Old Testament; in Greek, hilastērion.

The context

4having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which were a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

5 · This verse (above)

6With these things thus prepared, the priests go continually into the first tent performing the acts of worship;

Read all of Hebrews 9

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