Exodus 37:6
New International Version
He made the atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

New Living Translation
Then he made the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—from pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.

English Standard Version
And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.

Berean Standard Bible
He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

King James Bible
And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

New King James Version
He also made the mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits was its length and a cubit and a half its width.

New American Standard Bible
He also made an atoning cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

NASB 1995
He made a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

NASB 1977
And he made a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide.

Legacy Standard Bible
He made a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

Amplified Bible
Bezalel made the mercy seat of pure gold; it was two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide.

Christian Standard Bible
He made a mercy seat of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He made a mercy seat of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.

American Standard Version
And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

Contemporary English Version
The entire lid of the chest, which was made of pure gold, was the place of mercy.

English Revised Version
And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He made the throne of mercy out of pure gold 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.

Good News Translation
He made a lid of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.

International Standard Version
He made a Mercy Seat of pure gold two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

Majority Standard Bible
He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

NET Bible
He made an atonement lid of pure gold; its length was three feet nine inches, and its width was two feet three inches.

New Heart English Bible
He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was four feet four inches, and two feet seven inches, its breadth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he made the mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and one cubit and a half the breadth of it.

World English Bible
He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he makes a propitiatory covering of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth;

Young's Literal Translation
And he maketh a mercy-seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will make the cover of pure gold: two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He made also the propitiatory, that is, the oracle, of the purest gold, two cubits and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in breadth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He also made the propitiatory, that is, the oracle, from the finest gold, two and one half cubits in length, and one and one half cubits in width,

New American Bible
The cover was made of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

New Revised Standard Version
He made a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its width.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he made the mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half was its length and one cubit and a half its breadth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he made the Mercy Seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its width.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he made an ark-cover of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he made the propitiatory over the ark of pure gold,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Constructing the Ark
5He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it. 6He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 7He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,…

Cross References
Exodus 25:17
And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

Hebrews 9:5
Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

Numbers 7:89
When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony. Thus the LORD spoke to him.

1 Kings 8:6-7
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. / For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles.

1 Chronicles 28:11
Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storehouses, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat.

2 Chronicles 5:7-8
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. / For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles.

Psalm 80:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

Psalm 99:1
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Romans 3:25
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

1 John 2:2
He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10
And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Exodus 26:34
Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

Exodus 40:20
Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark.

Leviticus 16:13-15
He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die. / And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. / Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.


Treasury of Scripture

And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

Exodus 25:17-22
And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof…

Leviticus 16:12-15
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: …

1 Chronicles 28:11
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,

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Ark-Cover Atonement Breadth Cover Cubit Cubits Gold Half Length Maketh Mercy Mercy-Seat Pure Seat Thereof Wide
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Ark-Cover Atonement Breadth Cover Cubit Cubits Gold Half Length Maketh Mercy Mercy-Seat Pure Seat Thereof Wide
Exodus 37
1. The ark and mercy seat with cherubim made
10. The table of showbread with its vessels
17. The candlestick with its lamps and instruments
25. The altar of incense
29. The anointing oil and sweet incense














He made
The phrase "He made" refers to Bezalel, the skilled craftsman chosen by God to construct the Tabernacle and its furnishings. This highlights the importance of divine calling and human obedience in fulfilling God's plans. The Hebrew root for "made" is עָשָׂה (asah), which implies not just creation but also careful and purposeful craftsmanship. This reminds us that our work, when done in obedience to God, is an act of worship.

a mercy seat
The "mercy seat" is the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, where God's presence would dwell and where He would meet with Moses. The Hebrew term is כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporet), derived from the root כָּפַר (kaphar), meaning "to cover" or "to atone." This signifies the mercy seat as a place of atonement, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate sacrifice for our sins. It is a powerful symbol of God's grace and forgiveness.

of pure gold
"Pure gold" indicates the highest quality and value, symbolizing the holiness and majesty of God. Gold, in biblical times, was a symbol of purity and divinity. The use of pure gold for the mercy seat underscores the sacredness of the place where God would manifest His presence. It reminds us of the purity required to approach a holy God, fulfilled in Christ, who is our righteousness.

two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide
The specific dimensions, "two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide," reflect the precision and orderliness of God's instructions. A cubit, approximately 18 inches, was a common unit of measurement in ancient times. These dimensions emphasize that God is a God of order and detail, and His instructions are to be followed precisely. This precision also points to the intentionality of God's design, both in the Tabernacle and in our lives.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He constructed
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

a mercy seat
כַּפֹּ֖רֶת (kap·pō·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3727: Propitiatory

of pure
טָה֑וֹר (ṭā·hō·wr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2889: Clean, pure

gold,
זָהָ֣ב (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

two
אַמָּתַ֤יִם (’am·mā·ṯa·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

and a half cubits
וָחֵ֙צִי֙ (wā·ḥê·ṣî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2677: The half, middle

long
אָרְכָּ֔הּ (’ā·rə·kāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 753: Length

and a cubit
וְאַמָּ֥ה (wə·’am·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

and a half
וָחֵ֖צִי (wā·ḥê·ṣî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2677: The half, middle

wide.
רָחְבָּֽהּ׃ (rā·ḥə·bāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7341: Breadth, width


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OT Law: Exodus 37:6 He made a mercy seat of pure (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 37:5
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