Hilastḗrion — G2435

Definition

neuter noun

an expiatory (place or thing), i.e. (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specially) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple)

1. the well-known cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins were expiated)
2. an expiatory sacrifice

Usually translated as

propitiation, mercyseat

Origin

neuter of a derivative of G2433

• hiláskomai (G2433)

Occurrences

Hilastḗrion occurs 2 times in the King James.

Distribution of the word across the Bible: Romans (1), Hebrews (1)

• Romans 3:25 — Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (ἱλαστήριον) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
• Hebrews 9:5 — And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat (ἱλαστήριον); of which we cannot now speak particularly.