Exode 25:20

20 Et les chérubins étendront les ailes en haut, couvrant de leurs ailes le propitiatoire, et leurs faces seront vis-à-vis l'une de l'autre. La face des chérubins sera dirigée vers le propitiatoire.

Exode 25:20 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 25:20

And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high
From whence it appears they were in the form of winged creatures, as the seraphim in Isaiah's vision, and the living creatures in those of Ezekiel and John; and their wings did not hang down by them, or on the side of them, but were stretched out upwards towards the heaven above their heads; denoting the readiness, agility, and swiftness of the ministers of the word to do the work and will of Christ, as well as their expectation of all the supplies of gifts and grace from him to enable them to do it:

covering the mercy seat with their wings;
which reached each other; though, as Jarchi F17 says, between them and the mercy seat there was a hollow of ten hands' breadth; so high were they stretched upwards, though they met each other:

and their faces shall look one to another;
and which is expressive of the harmony, concord, and agreement of the true and faithful ministers of Christ one with another; who all agree in preaching Christ, and him crucified, and in the several momentous and important doctrines of the Gospel:

towards the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be;
as before observed, it may denote their directing souls to Christ as the only way of salvation, keeping always in all their ministrations this great truth in view, atonement and satisfaction by the blood and sacrifice of Christ, and salvation alone by him; which they make the rule of their ministry, and from which they never swerve, taking care not to deliver anything contrary to it, or which may serve to cast a veil over it.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Succah, fol. 5. 2. Vid. Gloss. in ib.

Exode 25:20 In-Context

18 Et tu feras deux chérubins d'or; tu les feras au marteau, aux deux bouts du propitiatoire.
19 Fais donc un chérubin à ce bout, et un chérubin à l'autre bout. Vous ferez les chérubins sortant du propitiatoire à ses deux bouts.
20 Et les chérubins étendront les ailes en haut, couvrant de leurs ailes le propitiatoire, et leurs faces seront vis-à-vis l'une de l'autre. La face des chérubins sera dirigée vers le propitiatoire.
21 Et tu poseras le propitiatoire en haut sur l'arche, et tu mettras dans l'arche le Témoignage que je te donnerai.
22 Et je me rencontrerai là avec toi, et je te dirai, de dessus le propitiatoire, d'entre les deux chérubins qui seront sur l'arche du Témoignage, tout ce que je te commanderai pour les enfants d'Israël.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.