Exodus 25:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

Make poles of acacia-wood, and overlay them with gold.

Berean Standard Bible:

And make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

American Standard Version:

And thou shalt make staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And thou shalt make^{H6213} staves^{H905} of shittim^{H7848} wood^{H6086}, and overlay^{H6823} them with gold^{H2091}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Exodus 25:13

Exodus 25:13 is a verse from the Old Testament of the Bible, which is part of the Torah in Jewish tradition. This verse is situated within the detailed instructions given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai for the construction of the Tabernacle, which was to serve as a portable sanctuary for the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.

In this specific verse, God commands Moses to create carrying poles, or staves, made from shittim wood—also known as acacia wood—for the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred object in the Tabernacle. These staves were to be permanently attached to the Ark, which was a gold-covered wooden chest that housed the tablets of the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron's rod. The overlaying of the staves with gold not only symbolized the sanctity and preciousness of the object they were to carry but also ensured that the wood would be protected from the elements and would last throughout the Israelites' wanderings.

The themes present in this verse include holiness, divine instruction, and the importance of craftsmanship in service to God. The historical context reflects the period after the Exodus from Egypt when the Israelites were forming their identity as a people and establishing their religious practices and rituals. The meticulous attention to detail in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings underscores the significance of the sacred space where God would dwell among His people and where atonement for sin would be made through the priestly sacrifices. The use of valuable materials like gold also highlights the reverence and honor accorded to the worship of God in ancient Israelite society.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
2. Strong's Number: H905
   There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּד
   Transliteration: bad
   Pronunciation: bad
   Description: from בָּדַד; properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of atree, bar forcarrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an adverb, apart, only, besides; alone, apart, bar, besides, branch, by self, of each alike, except, only, part, staff, strength.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7848
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שִׁטָּה
   Transliteration: shiṭṭâh
   Pronunciation: shit-taw'
   Description: feminine of a derivative (only in the plural שִׁטִּים; meaning the sticks of wood) from the same as שֹׁטֵט; the acacia (from its scourging thorns); shittah, shittim. See also בֵּית הַשִּׁטָּה.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6086
   There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵץ
   Transliteration: ʻêts
   Pronunciation: ates
   Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6823
   There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָפָה
   Transliteration: tsâphâh
   Pronunciation: tsaw-faw'
   Description: a primitive root (probably identical with צָפָה through the idea of expansion in outlook, transferring to action); to sheet over (especially with metal); cover, overlay.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2091
   There are 336 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָהָב
   Transliteration: zâhâb
   Pronunciation: zaw-hawb'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather.