About that little Greek word hilasterion

[I]t should now be generally agreed that any concept of hilasterion in the sense of placating, appeasing, deflecting the anger of, or satisfying the wrath of, is inadmissible.

The more important, and truly radical, reason for firmly rejecting this understanding of propitiation is that it envisions God as the object, whereas in the Scriptures, God is the acting subject. This is especially noticeable in Romans 3, the context for Paul’s single use of hilasterion.—Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion, 280 (emphasis original)