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Aid to Bible Understanding
ad pp. 1349-1350

PROPITIATORY COVER

[Heb., kap·poʹreth, from a root verb meaning “to cover,” “to cover over (sin),” hence, “propitiatory”].

Bible translations render the term variously as “mercy seat” (AV, RS, Yg), “propitiatory” (AT, Dy), “cover” (Le), “ark-cover” (JP), or “cover”, “propitiatory cover” (NW).

As Jehovah instructed Moses, the craftsman Bezalel made a cover of pure gold for the sacred chest or ark of the covenant, two and one-half cubits (c. 44 inches; 111 centimeters) long and one and one-half cubits (c. 26 inches; 67 centimeters) wide. It was surmounted by two golden cherubs, one at each end of the cover, their wings spread upward, screening the cover. The cherubs’ faces were toward the cover. The Ark was placed in the Most Holy compartment of the Tabernacle.—Ex. 25:17-21; 37:1, 6-9.

On the day of atonement (yohm hak·kip·pu·rimʹ, meaning “day of the coverings or propitiations” [Lev. 23:27, 28]), the high priest entered the Most Holy and spattered some of the bull’s blood before the cover (at its front or east side), and then did the same with the blood of the goat. (Lev. 16:14, 15) Thus the gold cover of the Ark played a special role in the typical propitiation (or, covering) of sins.

JEHOVAH’S PRESENCE REPRESENTED

From between the cherubs on the propitiatory cover God spoke when he desired to communicate with Moses or with the high priest. (Ex. 25:22; Num. 7:89; compare Leviticus 10:8-10; Numbers 27:18-21.) Jehovah said that he would appear in a cloud over the cover of the Ark. This cloud apparently glowed or shone, lighting up the Most Holy compartment.—Lev. 16:2; compare Psalm 80:1.

“THE HOUSE OF THE PROPITIATORY COVER”

In 1 Chronicles 28:11 the Most Holy, the innermost compartment of the Temple, is referred to as “the house of the kap·poʹreth.” In this instance the Hebrew word is evidently not used simply as designating a lid or cover for a chest, but is employed with regard to the special function of the cover in the propitiation of sins. Accordingly, the expression is rendered “the house of the atonement” (Yg), “the house of propitiation” (AT), “the house of the propitiatory cover” (NW).

SYMBOLIC

At Hebrews 9:5 the Greek word hi·la·steʹri·os, “propitiatory,” is used for the cover of the Ark. In the type or pattern God’s presence was represented between the two cherubs over the propitiatory cover. (Lev. 16:2; Ex. 25:22) The writer of the book of Hebrews points out that these things were symbolic. As the high priest on the day of atonement entered the Most Holy with sacrificial blood, so Christ took the value of his sacrifice, not before a literal propitiatory cover, but before the very presence of Jehovah God in heaven.—Lev. 16:15; Heb. 9:11-14, 24-28.

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