Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author highlights the cherubim "of glory," emphasizing that their purpose was to display God's radiant presence, not just to be decorative figures. This detail corrects a common misunderstanding that these were mere artistic embellishments; they were active participants in revealing God's majesty.
Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author has just described the outer chamber of the tabernacle and its furnishings, and now turns to the inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies. This sacred space contained the Ark of the Covenant, upon which rested the "mercy seat" and the glorious presence of God. The author mentions the cherubim that covered the mercy seat, hinting at their deep significance and the divine glory associated with them, before moving on to discuss the rituals performed in this inner sanctum.
Imagine stepping into the holiest place. What guarded the very presence of God? The Ark of the Covenant was topped by incredible beings: the cherubim.
The cherubim, made of pure gold and positioned over the Ark's cover (the mercy seat), were no ordinary decorations. They were described as 'cherubim of glory,' signifying they were radiant with God's own splendor or perhaps bearers of His glorious presence.
Their Design and Purpose
The 'mercy seat' was the most sacred spot in ancient Israel. But what did it really represent, and why is it so crucial to our faith?
The Hebrew word for 'mercy seat' (kapporeth) literally means 'covering.' In the New Testament, it's translated with a Greek word that signifies 'propitiation' or 'expiation.' This double meaning is key:
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A Place of Atonement
The author of Hebrews mentions the incredible details of the Tabernacle's inner sanctuary, then suddenly stops. Why the abrupt silence?
The author writes, 'Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.' This isn't a dismissal of the Ark's furniture, but a strategic choice driven by his main argument.
Why the Pause?
Understand the original words
cheroubim · Greek Noun
Angelic beings associated with the throne of God; their presence symbolizes the holiness of God and the protection of His glory.
hilastērion · Greek Noun
The cover of the Ark of the Covenant where the blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement; it signifies the place where God's wrath is satisfied and mercy is extended.
The Ark of the Covenant, with its cherubim and Mercy Seat, was a central symbol of God's presence and covenant with Israel. Its description here in Hebrews evokes a tangible image, even as the writer pivots to the spiritual reality that supersedes the physical sanctuary.
c. 1445 BC
Tabernacle construction
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites were instructed by God to construct a portable sanctuary, the Tabernacle, as a place for His presence to dwell among them.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat created
God gave Moses detailed instructions for crafting the Ark of the Covenant and its golden cover, the Mercy Seat, upon which two golden cherubim were to be fashioned, facing each other and overshadowing the Mercy Seat.
c. 960 BC
Temple of Solomon dedicated
King Solomon completed and dedicated the First Temple in Jerusalem, a permanent structure that housed the Ark of the Covenant within its Most Holy Place.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon's Temple, and exiled many of the Judean population. The Ark of the Covenant was lost at this time.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple dedicated
Following their return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people rebuilt and rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem, though it lacked the Ark of the Covenant and the visible manifestation of God's glory.
This passage describes the original instructions for crafting the Ark of the Covenant, including the two cherubim of gold facing each other with outstretched wings overshadowing the mercy seat. It provides the foundational blueprint for what the author of Hebrews is referencing.
1 Samuel 4:4This verse shows God's glory manifest 'between the cherubim' when the Ark of the Covenant was present, directly linking the cherubim to the divine presence and glory that the author of Hebrews mentions.
Ezekiel 10:18-19Ezekiel's vision describes the cherubim as leaving the temple, with the glory of the Lord departing with them, highlighting their role as carriers of God's presence and glory, which is echoed in Hebrews 9:5.
Romans 3:25Paul describes Jesus as a 'propitiation' (the same Greek word used for mercy seat in Hebrews) through faith in his blood, connecting the Old Testament mercy seat and its atonement function to Christ's atoning sacrifice.
1 Peter 1:12Peter states that the angels themselves long to look into the mysteries of salvation, which the author of Hebrews suggests were hinted at in the glorious cherubim and mercy seat. This shows the profound, even angelic, interest in these divine truths.
ellicottHebrews 9:5: "And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly."
(5) Cherubims of glory. —See Exodus 25:18-22 ; Exodus 29:43 ; Numbers 7:89 ; Ezekiel 10:19-20 . As these passages will show, the reference is to the glory which appeared above the mercy seat. (See Note on Hebrews 1:3 .) This is the only express mention of the cherubim in the New Testament; but see the Notes on Revelation 4:6 , et seq. The mercy seat (literally, the propitiatory)…
pooleHebrews 9:5: "And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly."
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; on the cover of the ark at each end was a cherub of beaten gold; these and the cover of the ark were all of one piece, they had their feet on the ledge of the cover, or its crown, at each end; their faces looked towards each other, and their wings touched each other in the extreme part of them, and so on the cover form…
The author highlights the cherubim "of glory," emphasizing that their purpose was to display God's radiant presence, not just to be decorative figures. This detail corrects a common misunderstanding that these were mere artistic embellishments; they were active participants in revealing God's majesty.
The author has just described the outer chamber of the tabernacle and its furnishings, and now turns to the inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies. This sacred space contained the Ark of the Covenant, upon which rested the "mercy seat" and the glorious presence of God. The author mentions the cherubim that covered the mercy seat, hinting at their deep significance and the divine glory associated with them, before moving on to discuss the rituals performed in this inner sanctum.
The author has just described the outer chamber of the tabernacle and its furnishings, and now turns to the inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies. This sacred space contained the Ark of the Covenant, upon which rested the "mercy seat" and the glorious presence of God. The author mentions the cherubim that covered the mercy seat, hinting at their deep significance and the divine glory associated with them, before moving on to discuss the rituals performed in this inner sanctum.
"Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail." — The author highlights the cherubim "of glory," emphasizing that their purpose was to display God's radiant presence, not just to be decorative figures. This detail corrects a common misunderstanding…
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Last reviewed October 2026