Objects & worship
Mercy Seat
The pure gold cover of the ark, on which blood was sprinkled during the Day of Atonement rites.
Also called · atonement cover · cover of the ark
What it means
Exodus 25 directs that the cover be made of pure gold with two cherubim, winged figures, at its ends. It is placed on top of the ark.
In Leviticus 16, the high priest covers the mercy seat with incense smoke and brings the blood of the bull and goat to sprinkle on and before it. This is part of the annual Day of Atonement rites.
How it appears in the Bible
God tells Moses that he will meet him above the cover, between the two cherubim, and give him the commands to pass on to Israel.
Translation note
The selected edition uses mercy seat in Exodus 25:17 and Hebrews 9:5. The name refers to the ark’s cover; atonement cover is another way to describe it.