English · KJV
H3727

כַּפֹּרֶת

kappôreth /kap-po'-reth/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom כָּפַר
Meaninga lid (used only of the cover of the sacred Ark)
KJV usagemercy seat.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kappôreth — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word kappôreth, represented by H3727, is the term for the mercy seat. Defined as a lid used only as the cover of the sacred Ark H727, the word comes from כָּפַר. It appears 27 times across 22 unique verses, highlighting its specific and vital function within the sanctuary.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The kappôreth H3727 was a specific object crafted from pure H2889 gold H2091 with precise dimensions (Exodus 25:17, Exodus 37:6). It was placed above H4605 upon the ark H727 of the testimony H5715 within the most holy H6944 place Exodus 26:34. It was distinguished by two H8147 golden cherubims H3742 whose outstretched wings H3671 covered H5526 the mercy seat Exodus 25:20. The LORD H3068 designated this spot as the place where He would meet H3259 and commune H1696 with Moses H4872 Exodus 25:22. It was also central to the Day of Atonement, where the blood H1818 of the sin offering H2403 was sprinkled upon it Leviticus 16:15.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words define the context and function of the mercy seat:

  • H727 'ârôwn (ark): Defined as a box or chest, this is the sacred vessel that the kappôreth H3727 covers. All instructions place the mercy seat directly upon the ark Exodus 40:20.
  • H3742 kᵉrûwb (cherub): These imaginary figures were integral to the mercy seat's design. Two cherubims of beaten work H4749 were made on the two ends H7098 of the mercy seat, with their wings H3671 sheltering it (Exodus 25:18, Exodus 25:20).
  • H1818 dâm (blood): The blood of sacrificial animals was essential to the rituals involving the mercy seat. It was sprinkled with a finger H676 upon and before the kappôreth H3727 to purify the holy place Leviticus 16:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3727 is centered on its function within the tabernacle.

  • The Center of Atonement: The kappôreth H3727 was the focal point of ritual purification. The blood H1818 of the sin offering H2403 for the people H5971 was sprinkled upon it, and the priest was required to cover H3680 it with a cloud H6051 of incense H7004 to avoid death (Leviticus 16:13, Leviticus 16:15).
  • The Site of Divine Communication: God designated the space above the mercy seat as the place where He would meet H3259 and speak H1696 to Israel's representative Exodus 25:22. Moses would hear H8085 the voice H6963 of God from this specific location, between the two cherubims H3742 Numbers 7:89.
  • Representation of the Divine Throne: As the place from which the LORD H3068 would appear H7200 and commune H1696, situated between the guarding cherubims H3742, the mercy seat functioned as the symbol of God's royal presence and authority over Israel H3478 Exodus 25:22.

Summary

In summary, kappôreth H3727 is far more than a simple lid. It is a highly sacred object of pure gold H2091, acting as the interface between the holy God and His people. As the place where blood H1818 was sprinkled for the sin offering H2403 and where the voice H6963 of God was heard, it uniquely combines the concepts of atonement and divine communication. Situated between the cherubims H3742, the mercy seat represents the locus of God's holy presence among His people.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 27 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • כַּפֹּרֶת
  • כַפֹּרֶת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H727 אָרוֹן or אָרֹן; from אָרָה (in the sense of gathering); a box; ark, chest, coffin. H2889 טָהוֹר or טָהֹר; from טָהֵר; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense); clean, fair, pure(-ness). H2091 זָהָב from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; g H4605 מַעַל from עָלָה; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.; abo H5715 עֵדוּת feminine of עֵד; testimony; testimony, witness. H6944 קֹדֶשׁ from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 22 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus (16 verses); never once in the other 35.

16
Exodus
4
Leviticus
1
Numbers
1
1 Chronicles

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.