ἱλαϛήριον, _propitiatory_. This word is properly an
adjective, agreeing with ἐπίθεμα, _a lid_, understood, which is
expressed by the LXX, Exod. xxv, 17. In that version, ἱλαϛήριον
generally answers to the Hebrew כפרת, from the verb כפר, _to cover_,
_expiate_, and was the _lid_ or _covering_ of the ark of the covenant,
made of pure gold, on and before which the high priest was to sprinkle
the blood of the expiatory sacrifices on the great day of atonement, and
where God promised to meet his people, Exod. xxv, 17, 22; xxix, 42; xxx,
36; Lev. xvi, 2, 14. St. Paul, by applying this name to Christ, Rom.
iii, 25, assures us that he is the true mercy seat, the reality of what
the כפרת represented to the ancient believers; by him our sins are
covered or expiated, and through him God communes with us in mercy. The
mercy seat also represents our approach to God through Christ; we come
to the throne of grace;” which is only a variation of the term mercy
seat.”
adjective, agreeing with ἐπίθεμα, _a lid_, understood, which is
expressed by the LXX, Exod. xxv, 17. In that version, ἱλαϛήριον
generally answers to the Hebrew כפרת, from the verb כפר, _to cover_,
_expiate_, and was the _lid_ or _covering_ of the ark of the covenant,
made of pure gold, on and before which the high priest was to sprinkle
the blood of the expiatory sacrifices on the great day of atonement, and
where God promised to meet his people, Exod. xxv, 17, 22; xxix, 42; xxx,
36; Lev. xvi, 2, 14. St. Paul, by applying this name to Christ, Rom.
iii, 25, assures us that he is the true mercy seat, the reality of what
the כפרת represented to the ancient believers; by him our sins are
covered or expiated, and through him God communes with us in mercy. The
mercy seat also represents our approach to God through Christ; we come
to the throne of grace;” which is only a variation of the term mercy
seat.”