Exodus 25:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,

Complete Jewish Bible:

tanned ram skins and fine leather; acacia-wood;

Berean Standard Bible:

ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood;

American Standard Version:

and rams’ skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And rams^{H352}' skins^{H5785} dyed red^{H119}, and badgers^{H8476}' skins^{H5785}, and shittim^{H7848} wood^{H6086},

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 25:5

Exodus 25:5 is part of the instructions given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai for the construction of the Tabernacle, which was the portable dwelling place for God's presence among the Israelites during their wilderness journey after the Exodus from Egypt. The verse specifies materials to be used in the Tabernacle's construction, highlighting the following themes:

1. **Holiness and Sacrifice**: The rams' skins dyed red likely symbolize sacrifice and atonement, as red is often associated with blood and life in the Bible. The use of sacrificial animal skins underscores the sanctity of the space.

2. **Precious Resources**: Badgers' skins and shittim (acacia) wood were valuable materials in the ancient Near East. Badger skins were known for their durability and quality, while shittim wood was hard, dense, and resistant to decay, indicating the importance and permanence of the Tabernacle's structure.

3. **Divine Detail**: The specificity of the materials points to God's attention to detail and the meticulous care that was to be taken in creating a space for divine worship. It also reflects the order and structure that God mandates for approach to the divine.

4. **Cultural Context**: The materials listed were appropriate to the nomadic lifestyle of the Israelites and the environment of the Sinai Peninsula. Shittim trees were native to the region and readily available, while the other materials would have been accessible through trade or the spoils of the Exodus.

5. **Symbolism**: The Tabernacle itself was a symbol of God's dwelling with His people, and the materials used were part of the larger typology that would later find fulfillment in Christ, who is the true dwelling place of God with humanity (John 1:14).

In summary, Exodus 25:5 reflects the themes of divine presence, holiness, sacrifice, and the careful use of resources within the historical context of the Israelites' journey in the wilderness, while also foreshadowing the greater spiritual realities to be revealed in the New Testament.

*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: H352
   There are 256 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַיִל
   Transliteration: ʼayil
   Pronunciation: ah'-yil
   Description: from the same as אוּל; properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree; mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5785
   There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוֹר
   Transliteration: ʻôwr
   Pronunciation: ore
   Description: from עוּר; skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather; hide, leather, skin.
   
3. Strong's Number: H119
   There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָדַם
   Transliteration: ʼâdam
   Pronunciation: aw-dam'
   Description: to show blood (in the face), i.e.; flush or turn rosy; be (dyed, made) red (ruddy).
   
4. Strong's Number: H8476
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תַּחַשׁ
   Transliteration: tachash
   Pronunciation: takh'-ash
   Description: probably of foreign derivation; a (clean) animal with fur, probably a species of antelope; badger.
   
5. 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.
   
6. 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.