# mercy seat

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. The lid of the Ark of the Covenant, on which God is said to have been enthroned; taken to represent the throne in heaven.
2. Synonym of mourners' bench.

## Etymology
From mercy + seat, after German Gnadenstuhl, translating Hebrew כַּפֹּרֶת (kappóreth) (= Hellenistic Greek ἱλαστήριον (hilastḗrion) (Septuagint)/Latin propitiatorium (Vulgate)).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mercy-seat