Exodus25
New International Version
1The Lord said to Moses,
2“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.
3These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze;
4blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair;
5ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood;
6olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
7and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
8“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
9Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
10“Have them make an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
11Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it.
12Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other.
13Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
14Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.
15The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.
16Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.
17“Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
18And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover.
19Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends.
20The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover.
21Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you.
22There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
23“Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.
24Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it.
25Also make around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.
26Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are.
27The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table.
28Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them.
29And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings.
30Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.
31“Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them.
32Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other.
33Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand.
34And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.
35One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all.
36The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
37“Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.
38Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold.
39A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories.
40See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 25.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: What the Israelites were to offer for making the tabernacle. (1–9). The ark. (10–22). The table, with its furniture. (23–30). The candlestick. (31–40).
vv1-9
God chose the people of Israel to be a peculiar people to himself, above all people, and he himself would be their King. He ordered a royal palace to be set up among them for himself, called a sanctuary, or holy place, or habitation. There he showed his presence among them. And because in the wilderness they dwelt in tents, this royal palace was ordered to be a tabernacle, that it might move with them. The people were to furnish Moses with the materials, by their own free will. The best use we can make of our worldly wealth, is to honour God with it in works of piety and charity. We should ask, not only, What must we do? but, What may we do for God? Whatever they gave, they must give it cheerfully, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver, 2Co 9:7. What is laid out in the service of God, we must reckon well bestowed; and whatsoever is done in God's service, must be done by his direction. (Ex 25:10-22)
vv10-22
The ark was a chest, overlaid with gold, in which the two tables of the law were to be kept. These tables are called the testimony; God in them testified his will. This law was a testimony to the Israelites, to direct them in their duty, and would be a testimony against them, if they transgressed. This ark was placed in the holy of holies; the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled, and the incense burned, before it, by the high priest; and above it appeared the visible glory, which was the symbol of the Divine presence. This was a type of Christ in his sinless nature, which saw no corruption, in personal union with his Divine nature, atoning for our sins against it, by his death. The cherubim of gold looked one towards another, and both looked downward toward the ark. It denotes the angels' attendance on the Redeemer, their readiness to do his will, their presence in the assemblies of saints, and their desire to look into the mysteries of the gospel. It was covered with a covering of gold, called the mercy-seat. God is said to dwell, or sit between the cherubim, on the mercy-seat. There he would give his law, and hear supplicants, as a prince on his throne.
vv23-30
A table was to be made of wood, overlaid with gold, to stand in the outer tabernacle, to be always furnished with the shew-bread. This table, with the articles on it, and its use, seems to typify the communion which the Lord holds with his redeemed people in his ordinances, the provisions of his house, the feasts they are favoured with. Also the food for their souls, which they always find when they hunger after it; and the delight he takes in their persons and services, as presented before him in Christ.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
תְּרוּמָה: a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
נָדַב: to impel; hence, to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously
זָהָב: gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky
Cross References
Exodus 25Explicitly cites God's command to Moses to make the tabernacle according to the pattern shown on the mount.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Directly quotes verse 40 regarding making all things according to the pattern shown on the mount.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Directly links giving 'willingly with his heart' to God loving a cheerful giver.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament description of the ark of the covenant, its construction, and the golden contents.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Identifies Christ as the true 'propitiatory' (hilasterion), fulfilling the type of the golden mercy seat.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Mentions the cherubims of glory overshadowing the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Explains the contents of the Ark of the Covenant, including the tables of the covenant.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Fulfillment of God speaking to Moses from between the two cherubims above the mercy seat.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament description of the Tabernacle's first room containing the table, showbread, and candlestick.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical execution of this command, where willing-hearted Israelites bring these exact materials.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
The ultimate fulfillment of God's desire to dwell ('tabernacle') among His people.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Historical confirmation that nothing was in the ark except the two tables of stone (the testimony).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes the cherubims looking down by describing angels desiring to look into the mysteries of salvation.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The actual fabrication of the table of showbread and its golden vessels by Bezaleel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prescribes the setting of the twelve cakes of showbread upon the pure table before Jehovah.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The historical execution of Bezaleel making the golden candlestick and its bowls, knops, and flowers.
Supported by Matthew Henry
David receives a similar divinely revealed pattern by the Spirit for the construction of the temple.
Supported by John Calvin
The parallel passage detailing the actual construction of the ark of shittim wood by Bezaleel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Describes Moses hearing God's voice speaking to him from between the two cherubims over the mercy seat.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
An earlier command in this chapter to place the Testimony inside the Ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole, Calvin
Poetic address to God who 'dwellest between the cherubims,' based on this verse's promise.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus references David eating the showbread, which was not lawful but for the priests.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Zechariah's prophetic vision of a golden candlestick with seven lamps, reflecting the Tabernacle design.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Repeats the command to rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion shown in the mount.
Supported by Calvin
Mentions badgers' skin (tachash) used for luxury leather, illuminating the material used for the tabernacle covering.
Supported by JFB
Shows the fulfillment of the command regarding the permanent placement of the ark's carrying staves.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Warns Aaron not to enter the Holy Place at all times, where God appears over the mercy seat.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Historical account of the priest giving David the hallowed showbread taken from before the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the candlestick was made according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mount.
Supported by Matthew Poole