“Mercy-Seat” From Dictionary of Biblical Words:
The cover of the ark of the covenant in the holiest, from above which Jehovah communed with Moses (Ex. 25:17-22), atoning blood being sprinkled on and before it. Compare Heb. 9:5. Christ Jesus is said in Rom. 3:24, 25, to be set forth by God, a mercy-seat through faith in his blood. It was from this place that Jehovah in virtue of the atoning blood that covered it could show mercy to His stiffnecked and rebellious people. It was not, however, until the blood of His Son replaced that of bulls and goats that this mercy-seat, as in Rom. 3:28, also showed forth God’s righteousness.
“Propitiation” From Dictionary of Biblical Words:
This word is used in Rom. 3:25, and is the same as that in Heb. 9:5, translated “mercy seat.” In 1 John 2:2, and 4:10 we get a similar word (used in these two places only, and meaning simply a propitiatory victim). In both cases the sacrifice of Christ is regarded rather as meeting God’s holy claims, than my need (SUBSTITUTION). It is God’s side of the atonement, that which in vindicating His glory against sin, gives Him a righteous ground on which He can offer mercy to the vilest, thus answering to the goat in Lev. 16:15, and not the goat of substitution in verse 21. It is well clearly to understand the difference between propitiation—that which satisfies the claims of a holy God and substitution—that by which my needs are met. The atonement includes both.
Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
Lid of the ark
(Ex. 25:17-22); hence, covering, or atonement for sin (Heb. 9:5).
“Mercy Seat” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
This was made of pure gold and covered the ark. Two cherubim were also made of pure gold and were of one piece with the mercy seat. The faces were inwards, towards the covenant that was contained in the ark. God said to Moses, “I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony.” The place for the mediator to receive divine communications from God, and for the high priest to approach with the blood of atonement, was the mercy seat. It is typical of Christ, the same word being used in the New Testament for the mercy seat in the tabernacle and for the Lord Himself, “whom God hath set forth to be a mercy seat,” ἱλαστήριον (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:5).
Blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat once a year on the day of atonement. This Aaron “suffered for himself, and for the errors of the people:” typical of Christ entering into heaven, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:7,12). The veil of the temple being rent, God has come out in grace, and man in the person of Christ has gone in, and the Christian is exhorted to come at all times boldly to the throne of grace that he may find grace to help in time of need (Ex. 25:17-22; Ex. 26:34; Ex. 30:6; Ex. 31:7; Ex. 35:12; Ex. 37:6-9; Ex. 39:35; Ex. 40:20; Lev. 16:2-15; Num. 7:89; 1 Chron. 28:11).
“Propitiation” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
The word ἱλασμός is from the verb “to be propitious.” Propitiation represents in scripture that aspect of the death of Christ in which has been vindicated the holy and righteous character of God, and in virtue of which He is enabled to be propitious, or merciful, to the whole world (1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10). A kindred word (the verb) occurs in Hebrews 2:17, where, instead of “to make reconciliation,” should be read “‘to make propitiation’ for the sins of the people.” In Romans 3:25, “propitiation” (ἱλαστήριον) should be “mercy seat,” as the same word is, and must be, translated in Hebrews 9:5. See ATONEMENT.
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Transliteration:
hilasterion
Phonic:
hil-as-tay’-ree-on
Meaning:
neuter of a derivative of 2433; an expiatory (place or thing), i.e. (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specially) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple)
KJV Usage:
mercyseat, propitiation