Exodus 25:23

The Table

23 “Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.[a]

Exodus 25:23 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
23 "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.
New Living Translation (NLT)
23 “Then make a table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
The Message Bible (MSG)
23 "Next make a Table from acacia wood. Make it three feet long, one and one-half feet wide and two and one-quarter feet high.
American Standard Version (ASV)
23 And thou shalt make a table of acacia wood: two cubits [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
23 "Make a table of acacia wood 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
23 "You are to construct a table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
23 "Make a table out of acacia wood. Make it three feet long, one foot six inches wide and two feet three inches high.

Exodus 25:23 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 25:23

Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood
As the sanctuary or tabernacle was an house for God to dwell in, he would have the proper furniture of an house, as a table, candlestick This table was to be in the same place with the ark and mercy seat; they were set in the holy of holies, where there were nothing else; but this in the holy place, on the north side of it, ( Exodus 26:35 ) ( 40:22 ) its principal use was to set the shewbread on, as after mentioned, and was typical of Christ, and communion with him, both in this life, and that to come. There is the table of the Lord, to which his people are now admitted, where he sits down with them, and they with him, to have fellowship with him in the ministration of the word and ordinances, of which he is the sum and substance; and this is very desirable and delightful, and an instance of his condescending grace, ( Song of Solomon 1:12 ) , and he will have a table in his kingdom hereafter, where his saints shall eat and drink with him, in which their chief happiness will consist, ( Luke 22:30 ) This table may be considered as typical of Christ himself, for he is both table and provisions and everything to his people; and of him in both his natures; in his human nature, it being made of shittim wood, incorruptible; for though Christ died in, that nature, yet he saw no corruption, he rose again and lives for evermore; in his divine nature, by the gold it was covered with:

two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth
thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof;
it was two Jewish square cubits in length, which are about six English square feet and above half, viz. ninety four inches, according to Bishop Cumberland {t}. It was neither so long nor so broad as the ark by half a cubit, but was of the same height with it, being about thirty two inches high and three quarters, according to the Jewish and Egyptian cubit, which was about twenty one inches and more and was a proper height for a table; and this measure, no doubt, takes in the thickness of the table, and the height of the seat, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 Ut supra. (Of Scripture Weights and Measures, ch. 2. p. 34, 36.)

Exodus 25:23 In-Context

21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you.
22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
23 “Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.
24 Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it.
25 Also make around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.

Cross References 1

  • 1. ver 30; Exodus 26:35; Exodus 40:4,22; Leviticus 24:6; Numbers 3:31; 1 Kings 7:48; 1 Chronicles 28:16; 2 Chronicles 4:8,19; Ezekiel 41:22; Ezekiel 44:16; Hebrews 9:2

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, about 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide and 2 1/4 feet high or about 90 centimeters long, 45 centimeters wide and 68 centimeters high
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