Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageThe cherubim spread their wings upward, sheltering the mercy seat beneath the canopy of their wings — their faces turned toward one another, gazing down upon the mercy seat.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GThe keruvim spread their wings upward, overshadowing the Kapporet with their wings, their faces turned toward each other — looking down toward the Kapporet.
KJV
King James VersionAnd 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.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleAnd the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the mercy seat.
Footnotes
The word panim (פָּנִים, faces) appears twice in this verse, underscoring the keruvim's mutual orientation and their unified downward gaze — both directed toward the kapporet. The verb sokhekhim (סֹכְכִים) means to cover, shelter, or overshadow, and the F.O.G Message draws out the image of a protective canopy it implies. The keruvim gazing upon the very place where atonement-blood was applied arguably anticipates the angels seated at the empty tomb (John 20:12) — reverent witnesses to the place where death was undone.
