New King James Version
Hebrews 9:5
5and above 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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
3and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;
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 and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width.
- Exodus 37:6He also made the mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits was its length and a cubit and a half its width.
- Leviticus 16:2and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
- Numbers 7:89Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.
- 1 Samuel 4:4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who dwells between 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 in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim.
- 2 Kings 19:15Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: “O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are 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 dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
- Psalms 99:1The Lord reigns; Let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; Let the earth be moved!
- Ephesians 3:10to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
- 1 Peter 1:12To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
- Hebrews 4:16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- 1 Chronicles 28:11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries