1) mercy-seat, place of atonement

1a) the golden plate of propitiation on which the High Priest sprinkled the seat 7 times on the Day of Atonement symbolically reconciling Jehovah and His chosen people

1a1) the slab of gold on top of the ark of the covenant which measured 2.5 by 1.5 cubits; on it and part of it were the two golden cherubim facing each other whose outstretched wings came together above and constituted the throne of God

Root √כפר: כפר כְּפַר כִּפֶר כִּפֶּר כִּפֶּר כַּפֵּר cover cover, hide wash away, rub off washing away, obliteration an expiation Arabic Syriac Arabic (of foll.; orig. mng. dub. but most prob. cf. Ar.; < RS who thinks ofAram. Pa. whence,ofof sin: NHAram.and deriv.; Ar.(see RS OTJC 438; 2. 321 Now Arch il. 192 Dr Dt 425 Schmoller St. Kr. 1891, 205ff. LagBN230ff.)).

כַּפֹּרֶת n propitiatory cover over sin cover lid . late techn. word: the older explan. has no justification in usage