And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
Read it in contextInstructions for the Tabernacle and its Furnishings
Start reading at Exodus 25:1 (Exodus 25:1 to Exodus 31:18).
The instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings begin at Exodus 25:1 and continue through Exodus 31:18. This verse is the beginning of the specific instructions for the Ark of the Covenant.
25:1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
25:2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
25:3And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
25:4And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
25:5And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
25:6Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
25:7Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
25:8And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
25:9According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
25:10And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
25:11And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
25:12And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
25:13And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
25:14And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
25:15The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
25:16And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
25:17And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
25:18And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
25:19And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
25:20And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
25:21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
25:22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
25:23Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
25:24And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25:25And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
25:26And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
25:27Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
25:28And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
25:29And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
25:30And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.
25:31And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
25:32And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
25:33Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
25:34And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
25:35And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
25:36Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
25:37And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
25:38And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
25:39Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
25:40And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
26:1Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
26:2The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
26:3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
26:4And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
26:5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
26:6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
26:7And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
26:8The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
26:9And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
26:10And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
26:11And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
26:12And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
26:13And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
26:14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.
26:15And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
26:16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
26:17Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
26:18And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
26:19And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
26:20And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
26:21And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26:22And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
26:23And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
26:24And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
26:25And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26:26And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
26:27And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
26:28And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
26:29And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
26:30And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
26:31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
26:32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
26:33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
26:34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
26:35And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
26:36And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
26:37And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
27:1And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
27:2And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
27:3And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
27:4And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.
27:5And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.
27:6And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
27:7And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
27:8Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
27:9And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:
27:10And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
27:11And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.
27:12And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
27:13And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
27:14The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
27:15And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
27:16And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
27:17All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.
27:18The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.
27:19All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.
27:20And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
27:21In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional author. Exodus explicitly records him writing covenant words and other material; that supports his central role without identifying every stage in the book's final compilation. Biblical references: Exodus 17:14; Exodus 24:4; Exodus 34:27. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Exodus 25:1–31:18): The LORD instructs Moses about the sanctuary and its service for Israel. Aaron's priestly household and the named craftsmen are designated for particular duties; this is instruction rather than a public speech by every named person. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The Israelites delivered from Egypt, and succeeding generations of Israel who were to remember the deliverance and keep the covenant. Biblical references: Exodus 12:24; Exodus 12:26; Exodus 24:7. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is God giving detailed instructions for the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, as part of the larger command to build a sanctuary where He might dwell among the children of Israel.
What is God revealing? God is revealing the precise design, materials (shittim wood), and dimensions (two cubits and a half length, a cubit and a half breadth, and a cubit and a half height) for the Ark of the Covenant, which is to be a central piece of the Tabernacle.
What is the literary style? The literary style is narrative history and law, detailing divine commands and their historical context.
When
When was it written? The book of Exodus was written approximately 1440 to 1400 B.C.
When does the event take place? The events described in Exodus, including these instructions, occurred approximately 1500 to 1440 B.C.
Where
Where did it happen? The LORD gave these instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai, in the wilderness.
Where was the author located? Moses was located in the Wilderness of Sinai when he wrote the book of Exodus.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Instructions for the Tabernacle and its Furnishings (Exodus 25:1 to Exodus 31:18).
Start reading at Exodus 25:1. The instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings begin at Exodus 25:1 and continue through Exodus 31:18. This verse is the beginning of the specific instructions for the Ark of the Covenant.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage initiates the detailed divine instructions for constructing the Tabernacle and its furnishings, beginning with the Ark of the Covenant. This follows the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai and provides the means for God to dwell among His people and for them to worship Him according to His prescribed pattern.
How does it point to Christ? The Ark of the Covenant, particularly with the mercy seat (Exodus 25:17-22), serves as a profound type of Christ. It represents God's holy presence among His people and the place where atonement for sins was made. Christ is the ultimate dwelling place of God among men (John 1:14), the fulfillment of the law (which was placed within the Ark, Exodus 25:16), and the true 'mercy seat' or propitiation through His blood, by which God's righteous demands are met and reconciliation is achieved (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:11-12). interpretation
How do I apply it today? This passage reminds believers today of God's desire to dwell among His people and the importance of approaching Him according to His revealed will. Just as Israel was called to build a sanctuary with specific materials and dimensions, believers are called to be living temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and to offer themselves as willing sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2), honoring God's presence in their lives and communities. It also emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's detailed instructions and the value of willing offerings for His work (Exodus 25:2).
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Exodus 25
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Exodus follows the children of Israel from oppression in Egypt to covenant and tabernacle worship. The text records commands to Moses and Israel; instructions for that covenant must not be silently turned into identical commands to every later reader. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The sanctuary, priesthood, and associated work are specified as part of Israel's covenant worship.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The sanctuary, priesthood, and associated work are specified as part of Israel's covenant worship.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Exodus
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Exodus follows the children of Israel from oppression in Egypt to covenant and tabernacle worship. The text records commands to Moses and Israel; instructions for that covenant must not be silently turned into identical commands to every later reader.
Connection to the wholeThe plagues, Passover, departure, and crossing of the sea display the deliverance celebrated in the song that closes this movement.
Connection to the wholeGod addresses the delivered people, gives covenant commands, and the covenant is confirmed before instructions for the sanctuary begin.
Connection to the wholeIsrael's idolatry interrupts the sanctuary instructions. Moses intercedes, and renewed covenant words prepare the people to carry out the work.
Connection to the wholeThe people supply and construct the sanctuary according to the commands, and the book ends with the glory of the LORD filling it.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.