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Exodus 37:7 — Word Study

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WLCוַיַּ֛עַשׂ שְׁנֵ֥י כְרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב מִקְשָׁה֙ עָשָׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם מִשְּׁנֵ֖י קְצ֥וֹת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃

BSAHe madeʻâsâh [created, brought into being] twoshᵉnayim [a pair, a duality] cherubimkᵉrûwb [angelic beings, guardians of God's throne] of hammeredmiqshâh [made from, crafted with, beaten, molded] goldzâhâb [a valuable, brilliant metal] [at the]shᵉnayim [on the two] endsqâtsâh [corners, edges] of the mercy seatkappôreth [a golden lid]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 37
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 7 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ha.ka.Po.ret) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 37:7quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes the creation of two cherubim made of hammered gold for the mercy seat.
Who is speakingThe narrative is from the perspective of the author of Exodus, detailing the construction of the Tabernacle.
Where we areThis verse is part of the instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle, specifically the mercy seat.
The hard wordכְרֻבִ֖ים
Take awayThe cherubim represent divine guardianship, crafted with care and skill.
4 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them › clause verbוְ The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Exodus 37:7

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Construction of the Mercy Seatgenerated

6He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
7He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
8one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.
9And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

Exodus 37:7 describes the making of two cherubim from hammered gold, which were placed at the ends of the mercy seat. This construction was part of the detailed instructions given to Moses for the Tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of divine presence and protection. The cherubim served as symbolic guardians of the sacred space, reflecting God's holiness and the seriousness of worship.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Kings 6:23–29In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood.
2Psalm 80:1Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
3Psalm 104:4He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.
4Ezekiel 10:2And the LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;1 Kings 6:23–29 Psalm 80:1 Psalm 104:4 Ezekiel 10:2

The Key Word כְרֻבִ֖ים, khe.ru.Vimgenerated

The word כְרֻב (kerub) refers to angelic beings, often depicted in the Bible as guardians of sacred spaces, such as the Garden of Eden and the Ark of the Covenant. The plural form cherubim indicates a pair, highlighting their role as protectors.

In this verse, the cherubim are crafted from hammered gold, signifying their value and the skill involved in their creation. Their presence on the mercy seat emphasizes the connection between God's throne and His people, as they oversee the atonement rituals performed by the High Priest.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וַיַּ֛עַשׂ (and he made) governs the entire verse, with several noun phrases and prepositional phrases hanging off it. The structure indicates a sequential action, emphasizing the act of creation.

The phrase שְׁנֵ֥י כְרֻבִ֖ים (two cherubim) serves as the direct object of the verb, while the prepositional phrase מִקְשָׁה (of hammered work) describes the material used, indicating the craftsmanship involved.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates כְרֻבִ֖ים as ξερουβιμ (cherubim), maintaining the same term for these angelic beings. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of their role across both the Hebrew and Greek texts.

The use of the same term in the Septuagint suggests a shared cultural and religious significance of the cherubim in the ancient context.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 37:7 tells us that two cherubim were made of hammered gold and placed at the ends of the mercy seat. This was part of the instructions for building the Tabernacle, highlighting the importance of these angelic beings in the worship of God.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the cherubim?

The cherubim symbolize God's presence and protection, serving as guardians of the sacred space above the mercy seat.

Why were the cherubim made of hammered gold?

The use of hammered gold emphasizes the value and skill involved in their creation, reflecting the holiness of the items used in the Tabernacle.

What does the mercy seat represent?

The mercy seat represents the place of atonement where the High Priest would meet with God, symbolizing reconciliation between God and His people.

How do the cherubim relate to the overall structure of the Tabernacle?

The cherubim, positioned on the mercy seat, signify the divine presence in the Holy of Holies, which is the innermost part of the Tabernacle.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What do the cherubim teach us about God's presence in our worship?
  2. How does the craftsmanship of the Tabernacle items reflect our dedication to God?
  3. In what ways can we recognize God's protection in our lives today?
  4. What does the mercy seat reveal about the concept of atonement in our relationship with God?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 37:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. Made the mercyseat of pure gold.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 37 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Beaten out of one piece.—Rather, of beaten work, as the word is translated in Exodus 26:18.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 37 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. beaten work] see on Exodus 26:18. 10–16 (Exodus 25:23-29). The table of the Presence-bread (see on Exodus 25:30). Exodus 25:30 (on the Presence-bread itself) is not repeated.

Read Cambridge on Exodus 37 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

THE ARK OF THE , Exodus 39:1-9. See notes on Exodus 25:10-22. THE TABLE OF , Exodus 39:10-16. See notes on Exodus 25:23-30. THE GOLDEN , Exodus 39:17-24. See notes on Exodus 25:31-40. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE, Exodus 39:25-28.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 37 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He made two cherubim of gold. He made them of beaten work, at the two ends of the mercy seat:

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,

NETBNew English Translation2006

He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid,

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And he made two cherubim of gold; of beaten work made he them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;

RVARevised Version, American1894

And he made two cherubim of gold; of beaten work made he them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And he made two cherubim of gold, beaten out of one piece he made them, on the two ends of the mercy-seat;

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And he made two Cherubims of gold, vpon the two endes of the Merciseate: euen of worke beaten with the hammer made he them.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he made two cherubim of gold; of beaten work did he make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and he maketh two cherubs of gold, of beaten work he hath made them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and he makes two cherubim of gold; he has made them of beaten work at the two ends of the propitiatory covering—

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And he made two cherubim of gold, of beaten work made he them, on the two ends of the cover;

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Bezalel made two cherubim of hammered gold for the two ends of the atonement lid.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Two cherubims also of beaten gold, which he set on the two sides of the propitiatory:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He made two cherubim of hammered gold for the ends of the atonement cover,

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And he made two winged ones, hammered out of one bit of gold, for the two ends of the cover;

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיַּ֛עַשׂhe.madenoun phrase · objectשְׁנֵ֥יtwoכְרֻבִ֖יםcherubimadverbialזָהָ֑בgoldclauseadverbialמִקְשָׁה֙hammered.workverbעָשָׂ֣הhe.madenoun phrase · objectאֹתָ֔םthemprepositional phrase · prepositionalמִfromnoun phraseשְּׁנֵ֖יthe.twonoun phraseקְצ֥וֹתthe.endsnoun phraseהַofכַּפֹּֽרֶתthe.atonement.cover

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in this verse, with a word-for-word correspondence. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly by using כרובים (cherub) instead of כְרֻבִ֖ים, but the overall meaning remains consistent.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיַּ֛עַשׂ שְׁנֵ֥י כְרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב מִקְשָׁה֙ עָשָׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם מִשְּׁנֵ֖י קְצ֥וֹת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיַּ֛עַשׂκαὶשְׁנֵ֥יδύοכְרֻבִ֖יםξερουβιμזָהָ֑בξρυσοῦςמִקְשָׁה֙’’עָשָׂ֣ה’’אֹתָ֔ם’’מִשְּׁנֵ֖י’’קְצ֥וֹת’’הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃’’

10 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ויעשׂ שׁני כרובים זהב מקשׁה עשׂה אתם משׁני קצות הכפרת

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: כרובים (cherub)

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Exodus 37:7עָשָׂהand he madeand he madeעָשָׂהשְׁנַ֫יִםtwotwoשְׁנַ֫יִםכְּרוּבcherubimcherubimכְּרוּבזָהָבgoldgoldזָהָבמִקְשָׁהhammered wohammered workמִקְשָׁהעָשָׂהhe madehe madeעָשָׂהאֵתthe object the object markאֵתשְׁנַ֫יִםfrom [the] from [the] twoשְׁנַ֫יִםקָצָה[the] ends [the] ends ofקָצָהכַּפֹּרֶתthe atonemethe atonement cכַּפֹּרֶתשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִיאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתקָצֶהendendקָצֶהכִּפֶּרto atoneto atoneכִּפֶּרמִקְשֶׁהhairstylehairstyleמִקְשֶׁהמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלתִּמֹרָהpalmpalmתִּמֹרָהאוֹפַןwheelwheelאוֹפַןצָפָהto overlayto overlayצָפָהכֶּ֫סֶףsilver: mosilver: moneyכֶּ֫סֶףמְנוֹרָהlampstandlampstandמְנוֹרָהיָרֵךְthighthighיָרֵךְמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁחֹ֫שֶׁןbreastpiecbreastpieceחֹ֫שֶׁןכְּרוּבcherubcherubכְּרוּב
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Exodus 37:7

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
וַיַּ֛עַשׂvai.Ya.'as and he made H6213 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Amplified meaning
created, brought into being
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
שְׁנֵ֥יshe.Nei two H8147 Adj
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Amplified meaning
a pair, a duality
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcbdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
כְרֻבִ֖יםkhe.ru.Vim cherubim H3742 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
91× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A cherub is an angelic being in the Bible, often depicted as guarding important places like Eden or God's throne. They're also shown as images on the Ark of the Covenant. The KJV translates this word as cherub or cherubims.
Amplified meaning
angelic beings, guardians of God's throne
Tyndale gloss
cherub
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כְּרוּב (kerub) refers to a cherub, an angelic being associated with guarding the Garden of Eden, flanking God's throne, and appearing as an image over the Ark of the Covenant. The term is of uncertain derivation and is used in both singular and plural forms (cherubim). Various texts, including Ezekiel, describe their roles and appearances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כְּרוּב 91 n.m. cherub

the living chariot of the theophanic God

as guards of the garden of Eden

as the throne of Yahweh Sabaoth

P gives an account

K and Ch describe the cherubim of the temple

Ezekiel describes the cherubim

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3742 כְּרוּב cherub

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3742 kruwb ker-oob'

of uncertain derivation; a cherub or imaginary

figure:--cherub, (plural) cherubims.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כְּרוּב (ke.ruv) — cherub.

1) cherub, cherubim (pl)

1a) an angelic being

1a1) as guardians of Eden

1a2) as flanking God's throne

1a3) as an image form hovering over the Ark of the Covenant

1a4) as the chariot of Jehovah (fig.)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ Eastward of the garden of Eden Ge 3:24

→ In the tabernacle Ex 25:18-20; 37:7-9

→ The ark of the covenant rested beneath the wings of 1Ki 8:6,7; 2Ch 5:7,8; Heb 9:5

→ Figures of, embroidered

On the walls of the tabernacle Ex 26:1; 36:8

And on the curtain Ex 26:31; 36:35

→ In the temple 1Ki 6:23-29; 2Ch 3:10-13

→ Figures of

On the curtain 2Ch 3:14

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- Form and appearance of

Eze 1:5-11,13,14

- Animated by the Spirit of God

Eze 1:12,20

- Engaged in accomplishing the purposes of God

Eze 1:15,21; 10:9-11,16,17

- The glory of God exhibited upon

Eze 1:22,26-28; 10:4,18,20

- Sound of their wings was as the voice of God

Eze 1:24; 10:5

- Placed at the entrance of Eden

Ge 3:24

- OF GOLD

. Formed out of, and at each end of the mercy seat

Ex 25:18-20

. Placed over the ark of the covenant

Thompson Chain Reference topics

(1) Angelic

Ge 3:24; Eze 10:5,20; 11:22

(2) Images of

Ex 25:18; 37:9; Nu 7:89; 1Sa 4:4; 1Ki 6:35; 2Ch 3:11

and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
זָהָ֑בza.Hav gold H2091 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
389× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Gold is a valuable metal, also used to describe something yellow or brilliant, like oil or a clear sky. It is often mentioned in the Bible as a precious resource.
Amplified meaning
a valuable, brilliant metal
Tyndale gloss
gold
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זָהָב 385 n.m. gold

= gold-ore, gold in raw state

gold as wealth

gold as spoil of war

gold as merchandise

gold as costly gift

gold as material

gold described by its source

gold defined by var. adj. and pts.

as measure of weight and value

= golden oil, from colour

often named with

the chief vbs. used

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2091 זָהָב gold

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2091 zahab zaw-hawb'

from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,

something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--

gold(-en), fair weather.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.

1) gold

1a) as precious metal

1b) as a measure of weight

1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gold (zahabh; chrusos):

1. Terms:

No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).

Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;

Gold

(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).

(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).

(3.) Heb. paz, native or pure gold (Job 28:17; Ps. 19:10; 21:3, etc.).

(4.) Heb. betzer, “ore of gold or silver” as dug out of the mine (Job 36:19, where it means simply riches).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…

and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
מִקְשָׁה֙mik.Shah hammered work H4749 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This term describes a rounded or molded object, often created by hammering or beating. In the Bible, it is used to describe finely decorated cultic objects made of gold or silver, as seen in KJV translations. The word emphasizes the skill and craftsmanship involved in creating such objects.
Amplified meaning
made from, crafted with, beaten, molded
Tyndale gloss
beating
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִקְשָׁה (miqshah) refers to hammered work, specifically in metals, and is associated with finely decorated cultic objects. It is derived from a related term meaning rounded work or moulded by hammering. The entries suggest a focus on the craftsmanship involved in creating these items.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִקְשָׁה n.f. perhaps hammered work, only of metals (orig. turner’s work?)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4749 מִקְשָׁה perhaps hammered work, only of metals (orig. turner’s work?)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4749 miqshah mik-shaw'

feminine of 4748; rounded work, i.e. moulded by hammering

(repousse):--beaten (out of one piece, work), upright, whole

piece.

see HEBREW for 04748

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִקְשָׁה (miq.shah) — beating.

hammered work, finely decorated cultic objects of gold or silver

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ See INDUSTRY

→ See LABOR

and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
עָשָׂ֣ה'a.Sah he made H6213 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
אֹתָ֔ם'o.Tam the object marker them H853 Particle · suffix
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo/Sp3mp — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
מִשְּׁנֵ֖יmi.she.Nei from [the] two H8147 Preposition
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Amplified meaning
on the two
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adj — Preposition
HR/Acbdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
קְצ֥וֹתke.Tzot [the] ends of H7098 Noun common · feminine plural construct
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the book of Isaiah, this word means the end or termination of something. It can also refer to a corner or edge of a territory. This word is used to describe the limits of God's creation.
Amplified meaning
corners, edges
Tyndale gloss
end
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קָצָה (qatsah) refers to an end or extremity, indicating a termination point. It can denote a coast, corner, or edge, and is derived from the related word קָצָה (qatsah), which shares similar meanings. The entries collectively emphasize its use in describing boundaries or limits.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קָצָה n.f. et (pl.) m. end

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7098 קָצָה end

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7098 qatsah kaw-tsaw'

feminine of 7097; a termination (used like 7097):--coast,

corner, (selv-)edge, lowest, (uttermost) participle

see HEBREW for 07097

see HEBREW for 07097

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָצָה (qa.tsah) — end.

1) end, extremity

1a) end

1b) from the whole of, from among (of what is included between extremities)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cp — Noun common · feminine plural construct
HNcfpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he made two cherubim gold hammered work he made the object marker them from [the] two [the] ends of the atonement cover
הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ha.ka.Po.ret the atonement cover H3727 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The mercy seat was a golden lid on the Ark of the Covenant, where the High Priest would sprinkle blood to symbolize reconciliation with God. It was a crucial part of the Day of Atonement rituals, representing God's mercy and forgiveness.
Amplified meaning
a golden lid
Tyndale gloss
mercy seat
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporeth) refers to the 'mercy seat,' a term used specifically for the cover of the Ark of the Covenant. It is described as a place of atonement where the High Priest would sprinkle blood on the Day of Atonement, symbolizing reconciliation between God and His people. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to cover,' but some lexicons dispute the appropriateness of this derivation.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כַּפֹּרֶת n. propitiatory, late techn. word cover over sin: the older explan. cover, lid has no justification in usage

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3727 כַּפֹּרֶת propitiatory, late techn. word cover over sin: the older explan. cover, lid has no justification in usage

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3727 kapporeth kap-po'-reth

from 3722; a lid (used only of the cover of the sacred

Ark):--mercy seat.

see HEBREW for 03722

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כַּפֹּרֶת (kap.po.ret) — mercy seat.

1) mercy-seat, place of atonement

1a) the golden plate of propitiation on which the High Priest sprinkled the seat 7 times on the Day of Atonement symbolically reconciling Jehovah and His chosen people

1a1) the slab of gold on top of the ark of the covenant which measured 2.5 by 1.5 cubits; on it and part of it were the two golden cherubim facing each other whose outstretched wings came together above and constituted the throne of God

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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