Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 9:5

"and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally." — Hebrews 9:5 (ASV)

Above the ark were “the cherubim of the Glory.” The exact form of these is not known, but most interpreters hold that they had bodies of animals; they were certainly winged (Exodus 25:18–20; Exodus 37:7–9). Moreover, they were especially associated with the presence of God (Psalms 80:1; Psalms 99:1), which is why they are here called the cherubim “of the Glory.” They overshadowed the lid of the ark, which is here called “the place of atonement.” The justification for this translation is that on the Day of Atonement this object was sprinkled with the blood of the sin offering, whereby sins were atoned for. Doubtless the writer would have been glad to dwell on the significance of all these objects. He points out, however, that it is not the time for him to do this. His argument proceeds on other lines.