PROPITIATORY (Heb. Happōreth, Septuagint Ἐναστήρων). - A gold plate that covered the upper part of the Ark of the Covenant (v.). Of unspecified thickness, it measured two and a half cubits (= approx. 1.31 m) in length and one and a half (= 0.78 m) in width (Ex. 25:17; cf. 26:34; 30:6; 31:7; 37:6).

At the two side ends were placed two cherubim of beaten gold, perhaps kneeling, facing each other, with wings spread over the propitiatory and their gaze lowered toward its central part (ibid. 25:18 ff.; 37:7 ff.), where the majesty of Yahweh was conceived as present (Num. 7:89).

Much has been discussed concerning the meaning and function of the propitiatory, often conceived as a simple covering of the ark. It appears, however, that the name happōreth was derived by the object from the expiatory practice performed upon it on the day of hippūr or expiation (hipper = to expiate = "to purify"); whence the Septuagint would have translated substantially well with ἱλαστήριον (instrument, means of expiation or propitiation), which the ancient Latin versions rendered with propitiatorium. The Septuagint, which in Ex. 25:17 brings out the adjectival force of ἱλαστήριον (ἱλαστήριον ἐπίθεμα), then habitually uses it as a neuter noun (ibid. 25:18-24; 31:7; 35:12; 38:5-8; Lev. 16:2, 13 ff.; Num. 7:89 etc.).

On the day of expiation the high priest sprinkled the propitiatory first with the blood of a young bull, then with that of a goat (Lev. 16:11-15). The importance attached to the propitiatory is also suggested by the expression bēth hākhappōreth ("house of the propitiatory"; I Chron. 28:11), to indicate the Holy of Holies. The Epistle to the Hebrews (v.) too, in describing the Tabernacle (Hebr. 9:1-5), makes everything converge toward the propitiatory, foreshadowed by the cherubim (9:5).

The meaning of the rites performed on the propitiatory, as it were a point or means of contact between sinful humanity and God, explains why St. Paul (Rom. 3:25) expresses with ἱλαστήριον the mediating and expiatory function of Christ. The Vulgate, with propitiatio, has caused the probable allusion to the propitiatory of the Mosaic tabernacle to disappear.

Bibliography8 works

BIBL.: H. Lesêtre, Propitiatoire, in DB, V, col. 748 ff.; G. A. Deissmann, Mercy seat, in Encyclopædia Biblica, III, coll. 3027-35; A. Deissmann, ἱλαστήριον und ἱλαστήριον. Eine lexikalische Studie, in Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, 4 (1903), pp. 193-212; A. Miedebiel, Expiation, in DB, III, col. 51 ff.; J. Herrmann, ἱλαστήριον, in G. Kittel, Theologisches Wörterbuch zum neuen Text, III, Stuttgart 1930, p. 319 ff.; F. Büchel, ἱλαστήριον, ibid., pp. 321-324; P. Heinisch, Das Buch Exodus, Bonn 1934, p. 201 ff.; A. Clamer, Le Lévitique (La Ste Bible) by L. Pirot - A. Clamer, 2, Paris 1940, p. 50 ff.

Teodorico da Castel San Pietro

@incollection{ec10_propiziatorio_ebr_happoreth_se, author = {Teodorico da Castel S. Pietro}, title = {Propiziatorio (Ebr. HappŌReth, settanta ἐναστήρων)}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {X}, pages = {134}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1953}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/propiziatorio-ebr-happoreth-settanta-enasteron} }

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Propitiatory

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