Lexical Summary kataskiazó: To overshadow, to cast a shadow upon Original Word: κατασκιάζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to overshadowFrom kata and a derivative of skia; to overshade, i.e. Cover -- shadow. see GREEK kata see GREEK skia NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and skiazó (to overshadow, shade); from skia Definition to overshadow NASB Translation overshadowing (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2683: κατασκιάζωκατασκιάζω; to overshadow, cover with shade (see κατά, III. 3): τί, Hebrews 9:5. (Hesiod, Euripides, Plato, others; κατασκιάω, Homer, Odyssey 12, 436.) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek number 2683 is used once in the inspired text to describe the cherubim “overshadowing the mercy seat” (Hebrews 9:5). The term evokes the image of protective, enveloping shade that both conceals and reveals the glory of God. Although rare in the New Testament, the idea of divine overshadowing is woven throughout Scripture, binding together themes of covenant, atonement, and God’s nearness to His people. New Testament Occurrence (Hebrews 9:5) Hebrews 9 surveys the furnishings of the earthly tabernacle to demonstrate how each element prefigures the finished work of Christ. Over the ark of the covenant are “the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now” (Hebrews 9:5). The writer mentions the cherubim only briefly, yet their overshadowing posture underlines the entire argument: true access to God is granted not through repeated ritual but through the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, our eternal High Priest. Old Testament Background The language of Hebrews 9:5 echoes Exodus 25:20, where the cherubim’s wings are to be “spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat”. In the wilderness tabernacle—and later in Solomon’s temple—these figures guard the throne of God, signaling both His holiness and His willingness to dwell among His covenant people. The cloud that filled the Most Holy Place (Exodus 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11) supplied a living illustration of the same concept: God covers what He consecrates. Second-Temple literature retained this imagery. The Book of Sirach (a non-canonical but historically informative text) describes God “covering” Israel with His presence in the temple. By the first century, Jewish worshipers would have associated the cherubim’s overshadowing wings with both protection and awe. The Mercy Seat and the Presence of God The mercy seat (kapporet) served as the lid of the ark and the meeting point between a holy God and a sinful people. Once a year the high priest sprinkled atoning blood there (Leviticus 16). The overshadowing cherubim form a living canopy, much like the glory-cloud, testifying that mercy is never separated from majesty. Their posture also anticipates the resurrection scene where angels flank the place where Jesus’ body had lain (John 20:12), silently proclaiming that the true mercy seat is now the risen Christ Himself. Christological Fulfillment Hebrews unfolds three strands of fulfillment: 1. The overshadowing cherubim hint at the incarnation, where “the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:35). The same God who once dwelt above the ark now takes on flesh. Wider Biblical Theology of Divine Overshadowing • Shelter and Protection: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). God’s shadow provides refuge in every age. Historical Interpretation Early church fathers saw the overshadowing cherubim as a type of both the incarnation and the church. Medieval commentators emphasized the balance of justice and mercy, noting that the cherubim gaze upon the mercy seat rather than upon sinners. Reformation writers underscored the once-for-all sufficiency of Christ’s atonement, contrasting the perpetual shadow of the Old Covenant with the full light of the New. Practical Ministry Application 1. Worship: God’s holiness invites reverence, yet His mercy invites confidence. Public worship should reflect both. Conclusion Though rare in vocabulary, the image behind Strong’s 2683 saturates the biblical storyline. From Sinai’s tabernacle to the empty tomb, God overshadows His people, drawing near while shielding them from consuming glory. In Jesus the protective shadow becomes an open invitation: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). Forms and Transliterations κατασκιαζοντα κατασκιάζοντα κατάσκιον κατασκίου κατασκίων kataskiazonta kataskiázontaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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