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Exodus, 25

1. Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,

1. The LORD said to Moses,

2. 'Tell the Israelites to set aside a contribution for me; you will accept a contribution from everyone whose heart prompts him to give it.

2. "Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me an offering; from every man whose heart makes him willing you shall receive the offering for me.

3. And this is what you will accept from them: gold, silver and bronze;

3. And this is the offering which you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,

4. materials dyed violet-purple, red-purple and crimson, fine linen, goats' hair;

4. blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, goats' hair,

5. rams' skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood;

5. tanned rams' skins, goatskins, acacia wood,

6. oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and fragrant incense;

6. oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,

7. cornelian and other stones to be set in the ephod and breastplate.

7. onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

8. Make me a sanctuary so that I can reside among them.

8. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.

9. You will make it all according to the design for the Dwelling and the design for its furnishings which I shall now show you.

9. According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

10. 'You must make me an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide and one and a half cubits high.

10. "They shall make an ark of acacia wood; two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.

11. You will overlay it, inside and out, with pure gold and make a gold moulding all round it.

11. And you shall overlay it with pure gold, within and without shall you overlay it, and you shall make upon it a molding of gold round about.

12. You will cast four gold rings for it and fix them to its four supports: two rings on one side and two rings on the other.

12. And you shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.

13. You will also make shafts of acacia wood and overlay them with gold

13. You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.

14. and pass the shafts through the rings on the sides of the ark, by which to carry it.

14. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark by them.

15. The shafts will stay in the rings of the ark and not be withdrawn.

15. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.

16. Inside the ark you will put the Testimony which I am about to give you.

16. And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.

17. 'You will also make a mercy-seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide,

17. Then you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.

18. and you will model two great winged creatures of beaten gold, you will make them at the two ends of the mercy-seat.

18. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat.

19. Model one of the winged creatures at one end and the other winged creature at the other end; you will model the winged creatures of a piece with the mercy-seat at either end.

19. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end; of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends.

20. The winged creatures must have their wings spread upwards, protecting the mercy-seat with their wings and facing each other, their faces being towards the mercy-seat.

20. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.

21. You will put the mercy-seat on the top of the ark, and inside the ark you will put the Testimony which I am about to give you.

21. And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you.

22. There I shall come to meet you; from above the mercy-seat, from between the two winged creatures which are on the ark of the Testimony, I shall give you all my orders for the Israelites.

22. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you of all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

23. 'You must also make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high.

23. "And you shall make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.

24. You will overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold moulding all round it.

24. You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold around it.

25. You will fit it with struts of a hand's breadth and make a gold moulding round the struts.

25. And you shall make around it a frame a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the frame.

26. You will make four gold rings for it and fix the four rings at the four corners where the four legs are.

26. And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs.

27. The rings must lie close to the struts to hold the shafts for carrying the table.

27. Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table.

28. You must make the shafts of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. The table must be carried by these.

28. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these.

29. You must make dishes, cups, jars and libation bowls for it; you must make these of pure gold,

29. And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour libations; of pure gold you shall make them.

30. and on the table, in my presence, you will always put the loaves of permanent offering.

30. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me always.

31. 'You will also make a lamp-stand of pure gold; the lamp-stand must be of beaten gold, base and stem. Its cups, calyxes and petals, must be of a piece with it.

31. "And you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand shall be made of hammered work; its cups, its capitals, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it;

32. Six branches must spring from its sides: three of the lamp-stand's branches from one side, three of the lamp-stand's branches from the other.

32. and there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;

33. The first branch must carry three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyx and petals; the second branch, too, must carry three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyx and bud, and similarly for all six branches springing from the lampstand.

33. three cups made like almonds, each with capital and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almonds, each with capital and flower, on the other branch -- so for the six branches going out of the lampstand;

34. The lamp-stand itself must carry four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyx and bud:

34. and on the lampstand itself four cups made like almonds, with their capitals and flowers,

35. one calyx under the first two branches springing from the lamp-stand, one calyx under the next pair of branches and one calyx under the last pair of branches -- thus for all six branches springing from the lamp-stand.

35. and a capital of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand.

36. The calyxes and the branches will be of a piece with the lamp-stand, and the whole made from a single piece of pure gold, beaten out.

36. Their capitals and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it one piece of hammered work of pure gold.

37. You will also make seven lamps for it and mount the lamps in such a way that they light up the space in front of it.

37. And you shall make the seven lamps for it; and the lamps shall be set up so as to give light upon the space in front of it.

38. The snuffers and trays must be of pure gold.

38. Its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold.

39. You will use a talent of pure gold for the lamp-stand and all its accessories;

39. Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these utensils.

40. and see that you work to the design which was shown you on the mountain.'

40. And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.



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Footnotes:

25:1-9 - God instructs Moses to collect freewill offerings for the construction of the Tabernacle, the place where He will dwell among the people. The Tabernacle symbolizes God's continued presence among His people (see also 1 Kings 8:27 and John 1:14).

25:10-16 - The Ark of the Covenant, made of pure gold, is the first item described. It symbolizes God's presence and contains the testimonies of the covenant between God and Israel (see also Hebrews 9:3-4 and Deuteronomy 10:1-2).

25:17-22 - The mercy seat, overshadowed by the cherubim, is described as the place where God will meet with Moses. This points to the place of atonement and divine mercy (see also Leviticus 16:14-15 and Romans 3:25).

25:23-30 - The table of showbread, made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, is a symbol of God’s provision and ongoing fellowship with his people (see also Leviticus 24:5-9 and John 6:35).

25:31-40 - The pure gold lampstand with seven lamps is described in detail. It represents God's guiding light and divine perfection (see also Zechariah 4:2 and Revelation 1:12-13).

Verses related to Exodus, 25:

Exodus chapter 25 begins the instructions for the Tabernacle. What significance does this mobile sanctuary have? This detailed text describes the voluntary offering for the construction and specifications of the Ark of the Covenant, the table of bread, and the lampstand. The chapter introduces themes such as the presence of God, worship, and sacred symbolism. Exodus 25 reveals the divine desire to dwell among His people. Investigate with us five biblical passages that relate to the eternal principles of this symbolically rich chapter.

Hebrews 9:1-5: "Now, the first covenant had rules for worship and an earthly sanctuary. A tent was pitched. In its anterior part, called the Holy Place, were the candelabrum, the table and the bread of the Presence..." - The author of Hebrews describes the tabernacle, making direct reference to the instructions given in Exodus 25.

Revelation 11:19: "Then the sanctuary of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of his covenant was seen there. There were lightnings, voices, thunder, an earthquake and a huge hail storm." - John sees the ark of the heavenly covenant, which is the model for the ark described in Exodus 25:10-22.

John 1:14: "He who is the Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." - The idea of God dwelling among his people, symbolized by the tabernacle in Exodus 25, is fulfilled in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16: "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" - Paul applies the tabernacle concept of Exodus 25 to believers, who are now the temple of God.

Hebrews 8:5: "They serve in a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of the one in heaven. That's why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: 'Be careful to do everything according to the model shown to you on the mountain'." - This verse directly quotes Exodus 25:40, explaining the symbolic nature of the earthly tabernacle.

FAQ:

What did God ask Moses to do to build the Tabernacle?

God asked Moses to collect offerings from the Israelites for the construction of the Tabernacle, detailing the specifications of the materials and structure. (Exodus 25:1-9)

What was the function of the Ark of the Covenant?

The Ark of the Covenant, which was to be made of gold and wood, would serve as the place where God would meet His people and where the tablets of the law would be kept. (Exodus 25:10-22)

What should the golden lampstand in the Tabernacle look like?

The lampstand was to be of pure gold, with six branches and a central shaft, representing the divine light that would illuminate the Holy Place. (Exodus 25:31-40)

What was the "tabernacle cloth" and what should it look like?

The tabernacle cloth was a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, interwoven with gold thread and wood, separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. (Exodus 25:4-5)

How important are the offerings for the construction of the Tabernacle?

The offerings were essential to the construction of the Tabernacle, reflecting the people's contribution to worship and God's presence among them. (Exodus 25:1-2)


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