Exodus 37:9
7 He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
8 one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.
And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.
10 He also made the table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.
11 He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.
- KJV
- And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.
- WEB
- The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.
- ASV
- And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy-seat were the faces of the cherubim.
- DARBY
- And the cherubim spread out [their] wings over it, covering over with their wings the mercy-seat; and their faces were opposite to one another: the faces of the cherubim were [turned] toward the mercy-seat.
- BLB
- And the cherubim spread out the wings upward, covering over the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces each toward his brother; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.
- ÅB
- Kjerubene holdt vingene utbredt og oppløftet, så de dekket over nådestolen med sine vinger, og deres ansikter vendte mot hverandre; mot nådestolen vendte kjerubene sitt ansikt.
- OTB
- Kjerubene hadde vingene sine utstrakt oppover, og dekket soningslokket med dem. De vendte mot hverandre, med ansiktene mot lokket.
- B1930
- Kjerubene holdt vingene utbredt og opløftet, så de dekket over nådestolen med sine vinger, og deres ansikter vendte mot hverandre; mot nådestolen vendte kjerubene sitt ansikt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Read in contextIsaiah 6:2
Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
Read in contextEphesians 3:10
His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Read in contextHebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Read in context1 Peter 1:12
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Read in contextEzekiel 10:1–22
And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire.
Read in context1 Timothy 3:16
By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
Read in contextJohn 1:51
Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Read in context