English Standard Version
Hebrews 9:5
5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Hebrews 9:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
- New International Version (NIV)Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
- New King James Version (NKJV)and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now.
Context of Hebrews 9:5
3Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.
Read all of Hebrews 9Hebrews 9:5 word by word
ὑπεράνω δὲ αὐτῆς Χερουβὶν δόξης κατασκιάζοντα τὸ ἱλαστήριον, περὶ ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν νῦν λέγειν κατὰ μέρος.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- overὑπεράνωhuperanō · aboveG5231
- itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- the cherubimsχερουβίμcheroubim · CherubG5502
- of gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
- shadowingκατασκιάζωkataskiazō · to overshadowG2683
- the mercyseatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the mercyseatἱλαστήριοςhilastērion · propitiationG2435
- ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- we cannotοὐou · noG3756
- we cannotεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
- speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- ·κατάkata · according toG2596
- particularlyμέροςmeros · partG3313
Cross-references for Hebrews 9:5
- Exodus 25:17"You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.
- Exodus 37:6And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.
- Leviticus 16:2and the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
- Numbers 7:89And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.
- 1 Samuel 4:4So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
- 1 Kings 8:6Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.
- 2 Kings 19:15And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: "O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
- Psalms 80:1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
- Psalms 99:1The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
- Ephesians 3:10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
- 1 Peter 1:12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
- Hebrews 4:16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- 1 Chronicles 28:11Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat;
Commentaries on Hebrews 9:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5And over it the cherubims of glory - Cherubim is the plural of cherub, and it is absurd to add our plural termination (s) to the plural termination of the Hebrew. The glory here signifies the shechinah or symbol of the Divine presence. Shadowing the mercy-seat - One at each end of the ark, with their faces turned toward each other, but looking down on the cover or propitiatory, ̔, here called the mercy-seat. Of which we cannot now speak particularly - The…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5And over it - That is, over the ark. The cherubim of glory - A Hebrew mode of expression, meaning “the glorious cherubim.” The word “cherubim” is the Hebrew form of the plural, of which cherub is the singular. The word “glory” used here in connection with “cherubim,” refers to the splendor, or magnificence of the image, as being carved with great skill, and covered with gold. There were two cherubim on the ark, placed on the lid in such a manner that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5The cherubim of divine glory were angel statues on the cover of the ark. These angels are closely linked to God's glorious presence (Genesis 3:24; Psalms 80:1; 99:1; Isaiah 37:16). The ark's cover was the atonement place, where they sprinkled blood from the Day of Atonement sacrifice (Leviticus 16:14–16). we cannot discuss these things in detail now: The main topic is the offering of sacrifices under the old covenant (Hebrews 9:6–10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. over it--over "the ark of the covenant." cherubim--representing the ruling powers by which God acts in the moral and natural world. (See on Eze 1:6; Eze 10:1). Hence sometimes they answer to the ministering angels; but mostly to the elect redeemed, by whom God shall hereafter rule the world and set forth His manifold wisdom: redeemed humanity, combining in, and with itself, the highest forms of subordinate creaturely life; not angels. They stand on the…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 9:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries