Exodus 25:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

Overlay it with pure gold, and put a molding of gold around the top of it.

Berean Standard Bible:

Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it.

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And thou shalt overlay{H6823} it with pure{H2889} gold{H2091}, and make{H6213} thereto a crown{H2213} of gold{H2091} round about{H5439}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Exodus 25:11

  • And 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.

1 Kings 6:20

  • And the oracle in the forepart [was] twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and [so] covered the altar [which was of] cedar.

1 Kings 6:22

  • And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that [was] by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Exodus 25:24

1. **Themes**:
- **Divine Presence**: The instruction to overlay the item with pure gold and create a crown of gold reflects the theme of God's holy and majestic presence. Gold is often associated with divinity and purity in the Bible.
- **Worship and Reverence**: The use of precious materials in the construction of sacred objects emphasizes the importance of worshiping God with the best one has to offer, showing reverence and honor.
- **Attention to Detail**: The specificity of the command indicates God's concern for details in worship and the construction of sacred space, suggesting that the manner of worship is as important as the act itself.
- **Holiness and Separation**: The gold overlay and crown symbolize the separation of the holy from the profane, marking the sacred objects as distinct and set apart for God's service.

2. **Historical Context**:
- **The Exodus Era**: Exodus 25:24 is part of the instructions given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai following the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. This occurred around the 13th century BCE.
- **Tabernacle Construction**: The verse is situated within a series of detailed instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that would serve as God's dwelling place among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings.
- **Cultic Worship**: The gold-overlayed objects with crowns of gold were part of the furniture of the Tabernacle, which included the Ark of the Covenant, the table for the showbread, the altar of incense, and the lampstand, among other items. These were central to the religious life and rituals of the Israelites.
- **Cultural Practices**: The use of gold in religious contexts was common in the ancient Near East, signifying the sacred and the divine. The Israelite practices would have been understood within this broader cultural milieu, yet with unique significance attached to the worship of Yahweh.

In summary, Exodus 25:24 reflects themes of divine presence, worship, attention to detail, and holiness, situated within the historical context of the construction of the Tabernacle during the period of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The verse underscores the sanctity of worship spaces and objects in ancient Israelite religion.

*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: 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.
  2. Strong's Number: H2889
    There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: טָהוֹר
    Transliteration: ṭâhôwr
    Pronunciation: taw-hore'
    Description: or טָהֹר; from טָהֵר; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense); clean, fair, pure(-ness).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Strong's Number: H2213
    There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זֵר
    Transliteration: zêr
    Pronunciation: zare
    Description: from זָרַר (in the sense of scattering); a chaplet (as spread around the top), i.e. (specifically) a border moulding; crown.
  6. Strong's Number: H5439
    There are 282 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: סָבִיב
    Transliteration: çâbîyb
    Pronunciation: saw-beeb'
    Description: or (feminine) סְבִיבָה; from סָבַב; (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around; (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side.