{ "entry_id": "TSP-ENT-000340", "slug": "mercy-seat", "url_path": "/types-symbols/mercy-seat/", "canonical_name": "Mercy Seat", "entry_classifications": [ "ORDINARY_DESCRIPTION", "MOTIF", "ANALOGY" ], "modules": [ "TABERNACLE_TEMPLE", "SACRIFICES", "CHRISTOLOGICAL_TYPES" ], "aliases": [], "legacy_present": true, "legacy_raw_wording_public": false, "senses": [ { "sense_id": "TSP-SNS-000785", "label": "Mercy seat as meeting and atonement locus", "classification": "ORDINARY_DESCRIPTION", "definition": "The mercy seat is the sanctuary cover where God promises to meet/speak and where atoning blood is applied on the Day of Atonement.", "not_always": "These are explicit cultic functions; do not turn every material/detail into an independent symbolic code.", "scope_note": "These are explicit cultic functions; do not turn every material/detail into an independent symbolic code.", "claims": [ { "claim_id": "TSP-CLM-000785", "statement": "Exodus 25:22 explicitly appoints the mercy seat as the place where God meets with Moses and speaks, while Leviticus 16 places sacrificial blood on and before it in the Day-of-Atonement rite; the legacy meeting/atonement functions are textually established.", "asserted_classifications": [ "ORDINARY_DESCRIPTION", "MOTIF" ], "type_kinds": [], "evidence_grade": 1, "grade_basis": "G1_EXPLICIT_BIBLICAL_INTERPRETATION", "status": "ESTABLISHED", "public_wording_class": "SCRIPTURE_EXPLICITLY_IDENTIFIES", "scope_limitation": "The object’s instituted cultic functions are certain; proposed later Christological correspondences must be assessed separately.", "strongest_alternative_explanation": null, "residual_uncertainty": "No material residual uncertainty beyond the stated scope limitation.", "theological_intersections": [ "COVENANT", "ATONEMENT" ], "scripture_references": [ { "passage_ref_id": "TSP-PAS-000335", "osis_start": "Exod.25.22", "osis_end": null, "display_label": "Exodus 25:22", "versification_system": "ENGLISH_STANDARD" }, { "passage_ref_id": "TSP-PAS-001188", "osis_start": "Lev.16.14", "osis_end": "Lev.16.16", "display_label": "Leviticus 16:14–16", "versification_system": "ENGLISH_STANDARD" } ], "source_citations": [ { "source_id": "TSP-SRC-000001", "author_editor": null, "title": "Canonical Scripture: MT/LXX/NA28 with NET/ESV comparison", "publication_data": "Text loci verified for TSP-S0F Batch 1", "locator": null, "verification_level": "V4_QUOTATION_VERIFIED", "source_function": [ "CANONICAL_AUTHORITY", "TEXT_ESTABLISHMENT" ], "locator_targets": [] }, { "source_id": "TSP-SRC-000251", "author_editor": "BibleHub lexical/verse reference", "title": "Hebrew kapporeth (mercy seat)", "publication_data": "Accessed/verified 2026-09-20", "locator": "https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3727.htm", "verification_level": "V3_CLAIM_VERIFIED", "source_function": [ "TEXT_ESTABLISHMENT" ], "locator_targets": [ { "kind": "EXTERNAL_URL", "target": "https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3727.htm" } ] } ], "s8_wording_provenance": null } ] }, { "sense_id": "TSP-SNS-000786", "label": "Hilasterion Christological atonement correspondence", "classification": "ANALOGY", "definition": "Hebrews uses hilastērion for the mercy seat and Romans 3:25 uses the same Greek term of Christ in his blood, creating a strong atonement correspondence.", "not_always": "Romans 3:25 is translated and interpreted as propitiation/propitiatory sacrifice or mercy-seat imagery; the lexical correspondence is strong, but a formal type formula should not be asserted beyond the text.", "scope_note": "Romans 3:25 is translated and interpreted as propitiation/propitiatory sacrifice or mercy-seat imagery; the lexical correspondence is strong, but a formal type formula should not be asserted beyond the text.", "claims": [ { "claim_id": "TSP-CLM-000786", "statement": "Hebrews 9:5 uses ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion) for the mercy seat, and Romans 3:25 uses the same term of Christ in connection with his blood; this creates a strong canonical atonement correspondence, while the exact “mercy seat” versus “propitiation” force in Romans 3:25 remains interpretively disputed.", "asserted_classifications": [ "ANALOGY", "MOTIF" ], "type_kinds": [], "evidence_grade": 4, "grade_basis": "G4_RECURRENT_CANONICAL_MOTIF_OR_STRONG_THEMATIC_PATTERN", "status": "STRONGLY_SUPPORTED", "public_wording_class": "CANONICAL_MOTIF", "scope_limitation": "The lexical/canonical correspondence supports Christological atonement theology but does not by itself authorize an unqualified formal-type label for every mercy-seat detail.", "strongest_alternative_explanation": null, "residual_uncertainty": "No material residual uncertainty beyond the stated scope limitation.", "theological_intersections": [ "CHRISTOLOGY", "ATONEMENT" ], "scripture_references": [ { "passage_ref_id": "TSP-PAS-000337", "osis_start": "Heb.9.4", "osis_end": "Heb.9.5", "display_label": "Hebrews 9:4-5", "versification_system": "ENGLISH_STANDARD" }, { "passage_ref_id": "TSP-PAS-000369", "osis_start": "Rom.3.25", "osis_end": null, "display_label": "Romans 3:25-26", "versification_system": "ENGLISH_STANDARD" } ], "source_citations": [ { "source_id": "TSP-SRC-000001", "author_editor": null, "title": "Canonical Scripture: MT/LXX/NA28 with NET/ESV comparison", "publication_data": "Text loci verified for TSP-S0F Batch 1", "locator": null, "verification_level": "V4_QUOTATION_VERIFIED", "source_function": [ "CANONICAL_AUTHORITY", "TEXT_ESTABLISHMENT" ], "locator_targets": [] }, { "source_id": "TSP-SRC-000252", "author_editor": "BibleHub lexical/verse reference", "title": "Greek hilasterion (propitiation / mercy seat)", "publication_data": "Accessed/verified 2026-09-20", "locator": "https://biblehub.com/greek/2435.htm", "verification_level": "V3_CLAIM_VERIFIED", "source_function": [ "TEXT_ESTABLISHMENT" ], "locator_targets": [ { "kind": "EXTERNAL_URL", "target": "https://biblehub.com/greek/2435.htm" } ] } ], "s8_wording_provenance": null } ] } ], "lexeme_mappings": [ { "lexeme_link_id": "TSP-LEX-000200", "language": "HEBREW", "lemma_unicode": "כַּפֹּרֶת", "transliteration": "kapporeth", "strongs_id": "H3727", "owner_tier": "TSP_MAPPING_ONLY", "semantic_domain_ids": [] }, { "lexeme_link_id": "TSP-LEX-000201", "language": "GREEK", "lemma_unicode": "ἱλαστήριον", "transliteration": "hilastērion", "strongs_id": "G2435", "owner_tier": "TSP_MAPPING_ONLY", "semantic_domain_ids": [] } ], "canonical_relationships": [], "negative_guardrails": [] }