Exodus 26:34 kjv
And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
Exodus 26:34 nkjv
You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy.
Exodus 26:34 niv
Put the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law in the Most Holy Place.
Exodus 26:34 esv
You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.
Exodus 26:34 nlt
"Then put the Ark's cover ? the place of atonement ? on top of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Most Holy Place.
Exodus 26 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 25:17-22 | "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold... There I will meet with you..." | Details on the mercy seat; God's meeting place |
| Exo 26:33 | "...The veil shall make a distinction for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place." | Separation of the sacred spaces |
| Lev 16:2 | "...tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Most Holy Place inside the veil..." | Restricted access to the Most Holy Place |
| Lev 16:13-16 | "He shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord... sprinkle it with his finger seven times..." | Mercy seat's role on Day of Atonement |
| Lev 16:30 | "For on this day atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you..." | Purpose of Day of Atonement for cleansing |
| Num 7:89 | "Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting... he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat..." | God speaking from above the mercy seat |
| Deut 10:1-5 | "At that time the Lord said to me, 'Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones...'" | Tablets of the Law placed in the Ark |
| 1 Kgs 8:6-8 | "...the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place..." | Ark's placement in Solomon's Temple |
| Psa 99:1, 5 | "The Lord reigns... Exalt the Lord our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He!" | God enthroned on cherubim/ark (footstool) |
| Psa 80:1 | "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!" | God dwelling between the cherubim |
| Isa 6:1-3 | "...I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up... 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!'" | God's supreme holiness, heavenly throne |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy..." | Access to God's "throne of grace" through Christ |
| Heb 9:1-5 | "...Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Most Holy Place... and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat..." | Descriptions of Tabernacle/Temple layout |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest... He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood..." | Christ's superior entrance into true sanctuary |
| Heb 9:23-24 | "...heavenly things themselves be purified with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands... but into heaven itself..." | Christ entering the heavenly sanctuary |
| Heb 10:19-20 | "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus... through the curtain, that is, through His flesh..." | Veil torn; new and living way to God |
| Rom 3:25 | "whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith." | Christ as the ultimate "mercy seat" (propitiation) |
| Eph 2:13-18 | "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near... broken down the wall of separation..." | Christ bridging the gap; bringing near |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone... in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | Believers as God's spiritual dwelling |
| Rev 11:19 | "Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple..." | Ark reappears in Heavenly Temple |
Exodus 26 verses
Exodus 26 34 Meaning
Exodus 26:34 outlines a critical detail in the construction of the Tabernacle, specifically designating the placement of the mercy seat (kapporet) upon the ark of the testimony within the Most Holy Place. This instruction signifies the focal point of God's manifest presence among His people, the seat from which He would communicate, and the central location for atonement for Israel's sins. It underscores the unparalleled holiness and separateness of God's dwelling.
Exodus 26 34 Context
Exodus chapter 26 is dedicated entirely to the detailed architectural plans for the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God would dwell among the Israelites in the wilderness. Specifically, it describes the construction of the dwelling place (the inner tent structure), including the ten curtains of fine linen and colored yarns, the goats' hair coverings, the frames, bars, and sockets that form the walls, and crucial to this verse, the dividing veil. Exodus 26:34 serves as the culminating instruction for the innermost part of this sanctuary, stipulating the precise placement of the ark and its mercy seat behind the veil, within the Most Holy Place. This divine directive ensured that the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, accurately reflected God's holy and separated nature, setting it apart from pagan temples and their deities. Historically, this sanctuary allowed for a sacred space for the newly covenanted nation of Israel to encounter their Holy God in a regulated manner, providing for His dwelling in their midst without consuming them in His consuming holiness.
Exodus 26 34 Word analysis
- You shall put: This phrase signifies a direct divine command from God to Moses, indicating the non-negotiable and precise nature of the Tabernacle's construction. Obedience to these details was paramount for maintaining the sanctity of the dwelling.
- the mercy seat: The Hebrew word is kapporet (כַּפֹּרֶת), often translated as "mercy seat" or "atoning cover." It was a slab of pure gold placed atop the Ark of the Covenant, with two cherubim fashioned from the same piece of gold, facing each other with outstretched wings covering the kapporet. The word kapporet is derived from the root kaphar (כפר), meaning "to cover," "to make atonement," or "to purge." It was the specific place where the blood of the sin offering was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), thereby providing "covering" for the sins of the people and enabling God's presence to remain among them despite their sinfulness. It symbolically served as God's "throne" or meeting place, as described in Ex 25:22 and Num 7:89.
- on the ark: The "ark" here refers to the Ark of the Testimony or Ark of the Covenant (aron (אֲרוֹן) in Hebrew). This gilded wooden chest was the central piece of furniture in the Tabernacle. It contained the two tablets of the covenant (the Ten Commandments), a pot of manna, and Aaron's staff that budded (Heb 9:4). The Ark symbolized God's presence, His covenant with Israel, and His moral law. Placing the kapporet on the Ark indicated that atonement was necessary for humanity to approach God's righteous law and presence.
- of the testimony: The Hebrew term ha-edut (הָעֵדוּת) refers to the "testimony," which specifically denotes the tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments (Exo 31:18, 34:29). These tablets were "God's testimony" to His covenant and His holy requirements for His people. The ark holding these tablets was thus called "the ark of the testimony."
- in the Most Holy Place: This refers to the innermost sanctuary of the Tabernacle, known as Kodesh HaKodashim (קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים) in Hebrew, meaning "Holy of Holies" or "Most Holy Place." This area was separated from the Holy Place by a thick, embroidered veil (Exo 26:33). Access to the Most Holy Place was strictly restricted to the High Priest, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. Its extreme sacredness emphasized God's awesome holiness and His utter separateness from sinful humanity. It was the earthly dwelling place where God's glorious presence (Shekinah) manifested among His people.
Exodus 26 34 Bonus section
The precise ordering of elements within the Most Holy Place – the Ark containing the Law, surmounted by the mercy seat with the cherubim, within the innermost sanctuary – creates a theological tapestry. The Ark holding the Tablets of the Law emphasizes God's perfect righteousness and His unchangeable demands. Directly above this symbol of righteous requirement sat the mercy seat, underscoring that a holy God, whose presence was imminent in the Most Holy Place, would deal with sin not through immediate wrath but through a provision for "covering" or "atonement." The cherubim, guarding the way to the tree of life after the fall (Gen 3:24), here faced each other over the mercy seat, perhaps indicating a watchful guardian presence over this ultimate symbol of reconciliation or witnessing the atonement made. This entire arrangement served as a constant reminder that humanity’s problem was sin against God’s holy law, and God’s solution was gracious provision through substitutionary atonement. This entire arrangement points forward to the new covenant reality where access to God's presence is not based on the keeping of the law but through the mercy seat, Christ, who fulfilled the law and provided perfect propitiation.
Exodus 26 34 Commentary
Exodus 26:34 provides the climax of the Tabernacle's construction, pinpointing the very center of divine encounter and atonement. The placement of the kapporet, the "mercy seat," upon the Ark of the Testimony within the absolute sanctity of the Most Holy Place, establishes it as the focal point of God's interaction with humanity under the Old Covenant. It illustrates God's paradoxical nature: immensely holy and separate, yet willing to dwell among a sinful people. The presence of the law (testimony) in the ark below the mercy seat highlights humanity's failure to meet God's perfect standard, while the mercy seat above signifies God's provision for covering sin. The High Priest's yearly entrance to sprinkle blood upon this very mercy seat demonstrated that access to God, though limited and ritualistic, was only possible through sacrifice and atonement. This arrangement profoundly foreshadowed Jesus Christ, who became the ultimate "propitiation" (Rom 3:25), our true Mercy Seat. His sacrifice on the cross rent the symbolic veil (Matt 27:51), granting direct and permanent access for all believers into the presence of God through His own blood (Heb 10:19-20). The Most Holy Place, once physically inaccessible, now spiritually becomes our present reality through Christ. This verse thus teaches profound reverence for God's holiness and gratitude for His gracious provision for redemption.