Exodus 26:34

And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy [place].

And thou shalt put {H5414} the mercy seat {H3727} upon the ark {H727} of the testimony {H5715} in the most {H6944} holy {H6944} place.

You are to put the ark-cover on the ark for the testimony in the Especially Holy Place.

Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

Commentary

Context

Exodus 26:34 describes a crucial step in the construction of the Tabernacle, God's portable dwelling place among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. This verse specifically details the placement of the mercy seat onto the Ark of the Testimony, which was to be situated within the Most Holy Place (also known as the Holy of Holies).

The Tabernacle was meticulously designed according to divine instructions, serving as a physical representation of God's presence and a system for His people to approach Him. The Ark of the Testimony, containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments, was the central piece of furniture, and the mercy seat was its lid, symbolizing the very throne of God.

Key Themes

  • Divine Presence and Accessibility: The mercy seat was where God promised to commune with Moses (Exodus 25:22). Its placement in the Most Holy Place, veiled from common access, underscored the absolute holiness of God and the reverence required to approach Him.
  • Atonement and Mercy: The "mercy seat" was not merely a lid but the place where atonement was made. On the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the High Priest would sprinkle blood upon it to make atonement for the sins of the people, demonstrating God's provision for forgiveness through sacrifice.
  • Holiness and Separation: The "most holy place" (Hebrew: qodesh haqqodashim) was the most sacred area, emphasizing the profound separation between a holy God and sinful humanity, a barrier that only God's prescribed means of atonement could bridge.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "mercy seat" is kapporet, which is derived from the verb *kaphar*, meaning "to cover," "to atone," or "to purge." This linguistic connection highlights that the primary function of the mercy seat was not just a physical cover for the Ark, but a spiritual covering for sin, a place of propitiation where God's righteous demands were met through sacrificial blood, allowing mercy to be extended.

Significance and Application

The Old Testament arrangement of the Tabernacle, with its veiled access to God through the mercy seat, powerfully foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Christ Himself is presented as our ultimate 'propitiation' or 'mercy seat' (Romans 3:25). Through His perfect sacrifice on the cross, He fulfilled the need for repeated animal sacrifices, opening a new and living way into God's presence.

Today, believers do not need a physical Tabernacle or a human high priest to approach God. Because Christ has entered the heavenly sanctuary as our High Priest, we can now come with bold access to the throne of grace, finding mercy and grace in our time of need. Exodus 26:34, therefore, points us to the profound and complete work of Christ, who is our true and eternal mercy seat.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 25:21 (5 votes)

    And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

  • Exodus 40:20 (5 votes)

    And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

  • Hebrews 9:5 (3 votes)

    And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.