Exodus 25

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 25

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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.

3And this [is] the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,

4And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' [hair],

5And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,

6Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

7Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

8And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

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].

10¶ 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.

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.

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.

13And thou shalt make staves [of] shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

14And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.

15The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

16And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.

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.

18And thou shalt make two cherubims [of] gold, [of] beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

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.

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.

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.

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.

23¶ Thou 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.

24And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.

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.

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.

27Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.

28And thou shalt make the staves [of] shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.

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.

30And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.

31¶ And 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.

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:

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.

34And in the candlestick [shall be] four bowls made like unto almonds, [with] their knops and their flowers.

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.

36Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it [shall be] one beaten work [of] pure gold.

37And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

38And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, [shall be of] pure gold.

39[Of] a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.

40And look that thou make [them] after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD commands Moses to instruct the Israelites to bring willing offerings of various precious materials for the construction of a sanctuary, so that He may dwell among them. Detailed instructions are then given for the construction of the Ark of the Covenant with its mercy seat and cherubims, the Table of Shewbread, and the golden Candlestick, all to be made precisely according to the divine pattern shown on Mount Sinai.

Medium Summary

Exodus 25 begins with the LORD instructing Moses to solicit free-will offerings from the children of Israel, specifying a wide array of materials including gold, silver, brass, fine linens, precious stones, and various woods and oils. These contributions are for the purpose of constructing a sanctuary, a tabernacle where God intends to dwell among His people. The chapter then provides meticulous blueprints for the first three principal furnishings of this sacred dwelling. First, the Ark of the Covenant is described, to be made of shittim wood overlaid with pure gold, designed to contain the testimony. Above the Ark, the Mercy Seat with two golden cherubims is detailed, from which the LORD promises to commune with Moses. Next, instructions are given for the Table of Shewbread, also of shittim wood overlaid with gold, complete with its various golden vessels for the shewbread. Finally, the chapter outlines the elaborate design of the pure gold Candlestick, specifying its shaft, branches, bowls, knops, and flowers, along with its seven lamps, all to be crafted from a single talent of gold. Throughout, the emphasis is on strict adherence to the divine pattern revealed on the mount.

Long Summary

Exodus 25 opens with the LORD's directive to Moses, commanding him to speak to the children of Israel regarding a special offering. This offering is to be given willingly from the heart and comprises a diverse list of materials, including gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, and scarlet threads, fine linen, goats' hair, dyed rams' skins, badgers' skins, shittim wood, oil, spices, and precious onyx stones for the ephod and breastplate. The ultimate purpose of gathering these materials is for the construction of a sanctuary, a sacred dwelling place, so that the LORD may dwell among His people. A crucial instruction is given that all elements of this tabernacle and its instruments must be made precisely according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mount. Following this general command, the chapter delves into the specific architectural and furnishing details. First, the Ark of the Covenant is described, to be constructed of shittim wood overlaid with pure gold, both within and without, and adorned with a golden crown. Four golden rings are to be cast for its corners, through which gold-overlaid shittim wood staves are to be placed for carrying, never to be removed. The Ark's primary function is to contain the testimony that God will give. Above the Ark, the Mercy Seat is specified, made of pure gold, with two beaten gold cherubims at its ends. These cherubims are to face each other, with wings outstretched covering the mercy seat, signifying the place where the LORD will meet and commune with Moses concerning His commandments for Israel. Next, the Table of Shewbread is detailed, also made of shittim wood overlaid with pure gold, with a golden crown and a border. Like the Ark, it is to have four golden rings and staves for portability. Various golden vessels—dishes, spoons, covers, and bowls—are to be made for the table, which is to perpetually hold the shewbread before the LORD. Lastly, the chapter describes the elaborate Candlestick, to be fashioned from a single talent of pure gold through beaten work. Its design includes a central shaft, six branches, decorative bowls shaped like almonds, knops, and flowers. Seven lamps are to be made for it, along with golden tongs and snuffdishes, all designed to provide light within the sanctuary. The chapter concludes by reiterating the absolute necessity of making all these items strictly according to the divine pattern revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Core Concepts

  • Willing OfferingsThe command for the Israelites to bring materials for the sanctuary from a heart that gives willingly, emphasizing the voluntary and sincere nature of their contribution.
  • The Sanctuary/TabernacleThe designated sacred dwelling place to be built by the Israelites, signifying God's desire to dwell among His people and be accessible to them.
  • Divine PatternThe strict instruction that all components of the tabernacle and its furnishings must be constructed precisely according to the detailed design shown by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, underscoring divine authority and precision.
  • Ark of the CovenantThe most sacred furnishing, a gold-overlaid wooden chest designed to contain the testimony, symbolizing God's covenant with Israel and His law.
  • Mercy SeatThe pure gold lid of the Ark, flanked by two cherubims, serving as the specific place where God would meet and commune with Moses, signifying divine presence and the means of communication.
  • Table of ShewbreadA golden table within the tabernacle upon which twelve loaves of shewbread were perpetually displayed, symbolizing God's provision and covenant fellowship with the twelve tribes of Israel.
  • Golden Candlestick (Menorah)A pure gold, elaborately designed lampstand with seven lamps, providing light within the holy place and symbolizing divine illumination and the perpetual presence of God.