Bible Strands
Exodus 25:18
Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God issues this command to Moses during the tabernacle construction sequence, specifying the exact placement of figures on the ark’s cover.
The words — The Hebrew כְּרוּבִים (keruvim) identifies the figures as cherubim, while מִקְשָׁה (miqshah) defines the required technique as hammered metalwork.
The thread — Cherubim reappear as living creatures near the divine throne in Ezekiel 10:20, as overshadowing figures above the ark in Hebrews 9:5, and as installed in Solomon’s temple in 1 Kings 8:6.
Why it lands — The text states that two gold cherubim must be fashioned from hammered material and placed at the mercy seat’s ends. It requires the reader to note the precise material, method, and spatial arrangement demanded for the sanctuary’s focal object.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 10:20 These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.
- Hebrews 9:5 Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
- 1 Kings 8:6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.
- 1 Chronicles 28:18 the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense; and the plans for the chariot of the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
- Ezekiel 10:2 And 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.
- Genesis 3:24 So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.
- Exodus 37:7 He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
- 1 Samuel 4:4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
- 1 Kings 6:23 In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim, each ten cubits high, out of olive wood.
- Ezekiel 41:18 were alternating carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherub had two faces: