Exodus 25:1-9

Contributions for the Sanctuary

1 The Lord said to Moses,

2 ¹“Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From ²every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.

3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,

4 ³blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair,

5 tanned ⁴rams’ skins, goatskins, ^[a] acacia wood,

6 ⁵oil for the lamps, ⁶spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,

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

8 And let them make me a ⁸sanctuary, that ⁹I may dwell in their midst.

9 ¹⁰Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the ¹¹tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Exodus 25:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 25

In this chapter an order is given for a freewill offering towards various things for the worship and service of God, and the materials to be offered, which would be useful and acceptable, are mentioned particularly, Ex 25:1-7, as also another order to build a sanctuary for God, after a model that he would give, Ex 25:8,9, and, an ark to put in the law on tables of stone, the fashion of which, and the various things belonging to it, are described, Ex 25:10-16, and a mercy seat with cherubim on it to be set over the ark, where the Lord promises to meet Moses and commune with him, Ex 25:17-22 and a table with various appurtenances to it to place the shewbread on, Ex 25:23-30 and a candlestick of gold, whose parts are described, and all the instruments relative to it, Ex 25:31-40.

Cross References

• 1. 25:2 For ver. 1-7, see ch. 35:4-9
• 2. 25:2 ch. 35:5, 21, 29; 36:2; Judg. 5:2; 1 Chr. 29:5; [Ezra 1:6; 2:68; 3:5; 7:16]; Neh. 11:2; [2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7]
• 3. 25:4 ch. 26:1, 31, 36
• 4. 25:5 ch. 26:14
• 5. 25:6 ch. 27:20
• 6. 25:6 ch. 30:7, 23, 34; 31:11
• 7. 25:7 ch. 28:4, 15
• 8. 25:8 Heb. 9:1, 2; See ch. 36:1-4
• 9. 25:8 ch. 29:45; 1 Kgs. 6:13; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 21:3
• 10. 25:9 ver. 40
• 11. 25:9 ch. 26:1

Footnotes

• [a] 25:5 Uncertain; possibly 'dolphin skins', or 'dugong skins'; compare 26:14