Exodus 25:22 kjv
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Exodus 25:22 nkjv
And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
Exodus 25:22 niv
There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
Exodus 25:22 esv
There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.
Exodus 25:22 nlt
I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel.
Exodus 25 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 29:43 | "There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory." | God's promised dwelling among Israel. |
| Num 7:89 | "When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus he spoke to him." | Direct confirmation of this verse's fulfillment regarding God's communication with Moses. |
| Lev 16:2 | "...for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat." | God's visible presence manifested over the mercy seat. |
| Lev 16:13-16 | Details of sprinkling blood on/before the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement. | Links the mercy seat to atonement and covering for sin, signifying its core purpose. |
| 1 Kgs 8:6-7 | "Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant... into the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim..." | Ark and cherubim in the Solomonic Temple, continuing the Tabernacle pattern. |
| Psa 80:1 | "Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth!" | God's kingship and presence depicted as being "enthroned upon the cherubim." |
| Psa 99:1 | "The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!" | Reinforces God's sovereign reign and power from between the cherubim. |
| Heb 9:3-5 | "Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar... and the ark of the covenant... Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat." | New Testament summary of the Tabernacle's most sacred elements, highlighting their significance. |
| Rom 3:25 | "whom God put forward as a propitiation (hilasterion) by his blood, to be received by faith." | Christ as the ultimate "mercy seat" (hilasterion in Greek), where atonement for sin is provided through His blood. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." | Heavenly fulfillment and New Covenant access to God's presence, analogous to the earthly mercy seat. |
| Heb 12:24 | "...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." | Connection to Christ as the Mediator, providing superior atonement and a more direct path to God. |
| Gen 3:24 | "He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword... to guard the way to the tree of life." | Cherubim first appear as guardians of God's holy presence and prohibited access. |
| Ezek 10:1-22 | Detailed vision of cherubim carrying God's mobile throne and glory away from the Temple. | Cherubim intrinsically linked with God's presence, glory, and throne. |
| Deut 4:12 | "Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice." | Describes God's unique auditory communication with Moses at Sinai. |
| Deut 5:5 | "standing between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord, for you were afraid..." | Moses' role as a mediator between God and Israel, receiving and transmitting God's commands. |
| Amos 3:7 | "For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." | Principle of divine revelation through chosen individuals, reinforcing Moses' prophetic role. |
| Jn 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory..." | Fulfillment of God "tabernacling" among His people through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. |
| Rev 11:19 | "Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple." | Heavenly reality mirroring the earthly Ark, symbolizing God's continued presence and covenant faithfulness. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." | The ultimate fulfillment of God's desire to eternally dwell with His redeemed people. |
| Isa 6:1-2 | "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim." | Vision of God's glorious throne room, indicating heavenly beings serving God in His presence. |
Exodus 25 verses
Exodus 25 22 Meaning
Here God reveals His designated place for communication with Moses regarding the governance of Israel. This specific location, "from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant," emphasizes both the holiness of His presence and His willingness to interact directly with His chosen mediator. It underscores the divine origin and authority of the commands given to the people of Israel.
Exodus 25 22 Context
Exodus 25 initiates God's detailed instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle, His designated dwelling place among the Israelites. Following the giving of the Ten Commandments and covenant laws at Mount Sinai, this chapter signifies God's desire to transition from a distant, mountain-top presence to an intimate, indwelling presence within His chosen people's camp. The Ark of the Covenant, along with its Mercy Seat and Cherubim, is the first and most sacred item described, underscoring its pivotal role as the throne of God's presence and the primary locus of divine communication and atonement within the Tabernacle structure. Historically, this countered contemporary Ancient Near Eastern pagan worship practices of fixed, human-made idols or deities confined to temples, by presenting God as a dynamic, sovereign deity who condescends to meet with His people on His holy terms within a movable sanctuary.
Exodus 25 22 Word analysis
- There (שָׁם, sham): Refers directly to the Most Holy Place, the innermost sanctuary of the Tabernacle, specifically atop the Mercy Seat. This indicates a very particular and sacred location appointed for unique divine communication.
- I will meet with you (אֶוָּעֵד לְךָ, 'eva'ed lekha): The verb comes from ya'ad (יָעַד), meaning "to appoint," "to meet by appointment." It conveys a scheduled, intentional encounter, emphasizing the pre-arranged nature of divine communication with Moses. It also carries connotations of testifying or giving witness, highlighting the authoritative nature of the encounter.
- from above the mercy seat (מֵעַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת, me'al hakKapporet):
- me'al: "from above," signifying elevation, transcendence, and the divine origin of the communication.
- Kapporet (כַּפֹּרֶת): Translated as "mercy seat," "atoning cover," or "propitiatory." Derived from the root kaphar (כָּפַר), "to cover," "to atone," or "to purge." It is more than just a lid; it is the sacred place where expiation for sin occurred on the annual Day of Atonement through the sprinkling of blood (Lev 16). It represents the nexus where God's holiness and His mercy converge.
- from between the two cherubim (מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרֻבִים, miBein shnei haKeruvim):
- Cherubim (כְּרוּבִים, keruvim): These are heavenly beings often depicted as guardians of God's holiness and glory (Gen 3:24, guarding Eden's entrance; Ezek 1, associated with God's throne-chariot). Here, their outstretched wings overshadow the mercy seat, forming a symbolic "throne" or presence chamber for the Almighty, underscoring His majesty and sacredness.
- that are on the ark of the covenant (אֲשֶׁר עַל אֲרוֹן הָעֵדֻת, asher al 'Aron ha'Edut):
- Ark of the Covenant ('Aron ha'Edut): Also known as the "Ark of the Testimony." It housed the stone tablets of the Law, symbolizing God's covenant with Israel. God's communication emanates directly from the place where His holy covenant law is preserved, emphasizing that His mercy and His commands are intrinsically linked to His righteous character and covenant relationship with His people.
- I will speak with you (וְדִבַּרְתִּי אִתְּךָ, veDibbarti ittékha): Highlights direct, audible, and authoritative communication from God to Moses. This stresses Moses' unparalleled position as God's personal spokesman and the divinely inspired source of the coming commandments.
- concerning all that I command you for the people of Israel:
- command (atsavveh): From tsavah (צָוָה), meaning "to command," "to ordain." This term signifies divine authority and the binding nature of the instructions.
- This entire phrase delineates the precise purpose and scope of the communication: not private revelations for Moses, but comprehensive divine statutes, ordinances, and judgments intended for the corporate life and governance of the entire nation, emphasizing the communal aspect of the covenant and the Law.
Exodus 25 22 Bonus section
The concept of God's dwelling place (often termed the Shekinah, representing God's manifest presence) unfolds throughout biblical history in a progressive manner. This journey began in the Garden of Eden where He walked with Adam, advanced to the portable Tabernacle as depicted in this passage, then continued into the permanent Temple in Jerusalem, culminated powerfully in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ (Jn 1:14, where "dwelt among us" literally means "tabernacled among us"), progresses through the Church as His spiritual temple, and finds its ultimate, eternal reality in the New Jerusalem where He will fully dwell with His redeemed people (Rev 21:3). This verse in Exodus represents a pivotal and foundational stage in this overarching narrative of God's relentless desire for intimate communion with humanity. The intricate design and sacred components of the Ark and Mercy Seat are not mere architectural details; they are rich with profound theological symbolism, functioning as crucial typological foreshadowings of Christ's perfect mediatorial role and His definitive atoning work. These elements ultimately pave the way for a deeper, more personal, and eternal connection between a holy God and His redeemed people.
Exodus 25 22 Commentary
Exodus 25:22 articulates the very core of God's purpose for the Tabernacle: facilitating divine communion and revelation. Though transcendent, God chooses to establish a precise and holy point of contact within the Israelite camp – the mercy seat upon the Ark of the Covenant. This locus is concurrently the throne of God's majestic, veiled presence, guarded by heavenly cherubim, and the sacred space where His perfect holiness and abounding mercy converge through the appointed act of atonement. The fact that God's authoritative directives for His people originate from this specific and profound location underscores that His righteous rule is rooted in His holy character and His redemptive, covenantal purposes. This verse not only highlights Moses' singular role as mediator for the old covenant but also powerfully foreshadows Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate "mercy seat" (Romans 3:25). Through Christ, believers now have confident, direct access to God's "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16) and receive life-giving spiritual guidance. It offers a profound assurance of God's accessibility and His desire to commune with His people, provided they approach Him according to His holy and gracious terms, which find ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.