Moses, typically associated with law-giving and obedience, here uniquely emphasizes voluntary generosity as the foundation for divine dwelling, appearing with "willing heart" language found nowhere else in his speeches.
Exodus 25
Offerings for the Sanctuary
1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2“Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.
3This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, bronze,
4blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
5rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
6oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
7onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.
8Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
9According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it.
The Ark of the Covenant
10“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height.
11You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it.
12You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.
13You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
14You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
15The poles shall be in the rings of the ark. They shall not be taken from it.
16You shall put the covenant which I shall give you into the ark.
17You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width.
18You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.
19Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. You shall make the cherubim on its two ends of one piece with the mercy seat.
20The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.
21You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I will give you.
22There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the covenant, all that I command you for the children of Israel.
The Table of Showbread
23“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a half cubits.
24You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.
25You shall make a rim of a hand width around it. You shall make a golden molding on its rim around it.
26You shall make four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet.
27The rings shall be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table.
28You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
29You shall make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls with which to pour out offerings. You shall make them of pure gold.
30You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always.
The Golden Lampstand
31“You shall make a lamp stand of pure gold. The lamp stand shall be made of hammered work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.
32There shall be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side;
33three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lamp stand;
34and in the lamp stand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
35and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the lamp stand.
36Their buds and their branches shall be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold.
37You shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it.
38Its snuffers and its snuff dishes shall be of pure gold.
39It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these accessories.
40See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.
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Theme
God instructs Moses to collect voluntary offerings from the Israelites to build a sanctuary where He will dwell among them. The chapter provides detailed specifications for constructing three sacred objects: the Ark of the Covenant with its golden mercy seat and cherubim, the table for showbread, and the golden lampstand. These furnishings form the core of Israel's worship system, with the ark serving as God's earthly throne and meeting place with His people.
Context
Following the covenant ratification in chapter 24, God now begins revealing the detailed plans for Israel's worship system that will dominate the remainder of Exodus.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-9 Offerings for the Sanctuary God commands Moses to collect voluntary offerings of precious materials to build a sanctuary according to the divine pattern.
- 10-22 The Ark of the Covenant Detailed instructions for constructing the gold-covered ark with its mercy seat and cherubim, where God will meet with Moses.
- 23-30 The Table of Showbread Specifications for the gold-overlaid acacia table that will hold the bread of the Presence before the Lord.
- 31-40 The Golden Lampstand Instructions for crafting the pure gold menorah with seven lamps to provide light in the sanctuary.
Offerings for the Sanctuary
25:1–25:9 law instruction solemn
God instructs Moses to collect voluntary offerings from the Israelites to build a sanctuary where God will dwell among them. The passage emphasizes willing hearts and lists specific materials needed for construction.
person_contrast
Moses, typically associated with law-giving and obedience, here uniquely emphasizes voluntary generosity as the foundation for divine dwelling, appearing with "willing heart" language found nowhere else in his speeches.
The Ark of the Covenant
25:10–25:22 law instruction solemn
God provides detailed instructions for constructing the Ark of the Covenant with its mercy seat and cherubim. This sacred object will house the covenant tablets and serve as the place where God meets with Moses.
person_contrast
Moses transforms from lawgiver to covenant mediator as God promises to "meet with you there" above the mercy seat, marking his unique role as divine intermediary.
The Table of Showbread
25:23–25:30 law instruction solemn
Instructions for building the table of showbread from acacia wood overlaid with gold. The table will hold the bread of presence that must always remain before God.
structural
The Hebrew phrase "lechem panim" (bread of faces) uniquely positions this table as the only sanctuary furniture explicitly designed for God's perpetual "face-to-face" encounter with sustenance.
The Golden Lampstand
25:31–25:40 law instruction solemn
Detailed specifications for crafting the golden lampstand with seven lamps, made from hammered gold with almond blossom decorations. The lampstand will provide light in the tabernacle according to the divine pattern shown on the mountain.
theme_rarity
The lampstand's almond blossom motifs echo Aaron's budding rod (Numbers 17:8), linking priestly authority with the sanctuary's perpetual light through shared botanical imagery.
Insights
Moses transforms from lawgiver to covenant mediator as God promises to "meet with you there" above the mercy seat, marking his unique role as divine intermediary.
The Hebrew phrase "lechem panim" (bread of faces) uniquely positions this table as the only sanctuary furniture explicitly designed for God's perpetual "face-to-face" encounter with sustenance.
The lampstand's almond blossom motifs echo Aaron's budding rod (Numbers 17:8), linking priestly authority with the sanctuary's perpetual light through shared botanical imagery.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Exodus 25:3 3 references
Lexicals 3
Exodus 35:5 Lexical
‘Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD’s offering: go…
Exodus 35:24 Lexical
Everyone who offered an offering of silver and bronze brought the LORD’s offering; and everyone with whom was found acac…
Ezra 8:25 Lexical
and weighed to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, h…
Exodus 25:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 35:23 Lexical
Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, br…
Exodus 35:6 Lexical
blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
Exodus 28:6 Lexical
“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exodus 26:1 Lexical
“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with…
Exodus 27:16 Lexical
For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, t…
Exodus 25:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 35:7 Lexical
rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
Exodus 26:14 Lexical
You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
Exodus 39:34 Lexical
the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
Exodus 35:23 Lexical
Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, br…
Exodus 36:19 Lexical
He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
Exodus 25:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 35:8 Lexical
oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
Exodus 35:28 Lexical
with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
Numbers 4:16 Lexical
“The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal o…
Exodus 35:15 Lexical
and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of t…
Exodus 37:29 Lexical
He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.
Exodus 25:7 3 references
Lexicals 3
Exodus 35:9 Lexical
onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.
Exodus 35:27 Lexical
The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate;
1 Chronicles 29:2 Lexical
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things…
Exodus 25:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:1 Lexical
Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit…
Exodus 37:10 Lexical
He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a…
Exodus 37:25 Lexical
He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height wa…
Exodus 38:1 Lexical
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits…
Exodus 27:1 Lexical
“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height…
Exodus 25:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:2 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it.
Exodus 30:3 Lexical
You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding arou…
Exodus 37:26 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it.
Exodus 37:11 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it.
Exodus 37:12 Lexical
He made a border of a hand’s width around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it.
Exodus 25:12 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:3 Lexical
He cast four rings of gold for it in its four feet—two rings on its one side, and two rings on its other side.
Exodus 37:13 Lexical
He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet.
Exodus 30:4 Lexical
You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and the…
Exodus 37:27 Lexical
He made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with wh…
Exodus 38:5 Lexical
He cast four rings for the four corners of bronze grating, to be places for the poles.
Exodus 25:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:28 Lexical
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
Exodus 37:4 Lexical
He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
Exodus 37:15 Lexical
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.
Exodus 30:5 Lexical
You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
Exodus 38:6 Lexical
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze.
Exodus 25:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:5 Lexical
He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
Exodus 38:7 Lexical
He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
Exodus 30:4 Lexical
You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and the…
Exodus 27:7 Lexical
Its poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when carrying it.
Exodus 37:27 Lexical
He made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with wh…
Exodus 25:15 1 reference
Exodus 25:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:6 Lexical
He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width.
2 Chronicles 3:4 Lexical
The porch that was in front, its length, across the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred tw…
Ezekiel 43:17 Lexical
The ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides; and the border about it shall be half a cubi…
Exodus 26:16 Lexical
Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
Exodus 37:1 Lexical
Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit…
Exodus 25:18 2 references
Exodus 25:19 2 references
Exodus 25:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:9 Lexical
The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another…
1 Kings 8:7 Lexical
For the cherubim spread their wings out over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
2 Chronicles 5:8 Lexical
For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
1 Chronicles 28:18 Lexical
and for the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; and gold for the plans for the chariot, and the cherubim that spre…
2 Chronicles 3:13 Lexical
The wings of these cherubim spread themselves out twenty cubits. They stood on their feet, and their faces were toward t…
Exodus 25:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 40:20 Lexical
He took and put the covenant into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
Exodus 39:35 Lexical
the ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat,
Exodus 30:6 Lexical
You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, wh…
Exodus 31:7 Lexical
the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
Numbers 7:89 Lexical
When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy…
Exodus 25:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 7:89 Lexical
When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy…
Exodus 30:6 Lexical
You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, wh…
Exodus 40:20 Lexical
He took and put the covenant into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
Exodus 26:34 Lexical
You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.
Exodus 39:35 Lexical
the ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat,
Exodus 25:23 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:10 Lexical
He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a…
Exodus 37:1 Lexical
Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit…
Exodus 37:25 Lexical
He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height wa…
Exodus 38:1 Lexical
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits…
Exodus 27:1 Lexical
“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height…
Exodus 25:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:26 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it.
Exodus 37:2 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it.
Exodus 37:11 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it.
Exodus 30:3 Lexical
You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding arou…
Exodus 37:12 Lexical
He made a border of a hand’s width around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it.
Exodus 25:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:12 Lexical
He made a border of a hand’s width around it, and made a golden molding on its border around it.
Exodus 37:26 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it.
Exodus 37:11 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it.
Exodus 37:2 Lexical
He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold for it around it.
Exodus 30:3 Lexical
You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding arou…
Exodus 25:26 2 references
Exodus 25:27 1 reference
Exodus 25:28 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:15 Lexical
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.
Exodus 30:5 Lexical
You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
Exodus 37:28 Lexical
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
Exodus 37:4 Lexical
He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
Exodus 38:6 Lexical
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze.
Exodus 25:29 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:16 Lexical
He made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers with which to pour out,…
Numbers 4:7 Lexical
“On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cup…
1 Chronicles 28:17 Lexical
and the forks, the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the si…
Jeremiah 52:19 Lexical
The captain of the guard took away the cups, the fire pans, the basins, the pots, the lamp stands, the spoons, and the b…
Numbers 7:84 Lexical
This was the dedication offering of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver…
Exodus 25:30 3 references
Lexicals 3
Numbers 4:7 Lexical
“On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cup…
2 Samuel 9:10 Lexical
Till the land for him—you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to…
2 Samuel 9:7 Lexical
David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will resto…
Exodus 25:31 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:17 Lexical
He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and…
Exodus 37:19 Lexical
three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the…
Numbers 8:4 Lexical
This was the workmanship of the lamp stand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work. He ma…
Exodus 37:22 Lexical
Their buds and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole thing was one beaten work of pure gold.
Exodus 37:20 Lexical
In the lamp stand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
Exodus 25:32 2 references
Exodus 25:33 5 references
Lexicals 5
Exodus 37:19 Lexical
three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the…
Exodus 37:20 Lexical
In the lamp stand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
Exodus 37:17 Lexical
He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and…
Exodus 37:18 Lexical
There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches…
Exodus 37:21 Lexical
and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under tw…
Exodus 25:34 3 references
Lexicals 3
Exodus 37:20 Lexical
In the lamp stand were four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
Exodus 37:19 Lexical
three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the…
Exodus 37:17 Lexical
He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and…
Exodus 25:35 4 references
Lexicals 4
Exodus 37:19 Lexical
three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the…
Exodus 37:17 Lexical
He made the lamp stand of pure gold. He made the lamp stand of beaten work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and…
Exodus 37:21 Lexical
and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under tw…
Exodus 37:18 Lexical
There were six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches…
Exodus 25:36 2 references
Exodus 25:37 1 reference
Exodus 25:38 2 references
Exodus 25:39 3 references
Lexicals 3
Exodus 37:24 Lexical
He made it of a talent of pure gold, with all its vessels.
Ezra 8:26 Lexical
I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, one hundred talents of silver vessels, one hundred talent…
Exodus 37:16 Lexical
He made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers with which to pour out,…
Interlinear
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Translation Notes
Key Passages