King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And Bezaleel made the ark [of] shittim wood: two cubits and a half [was] the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
Complete Jewish Bible:
B'tzal'el made the ark of acacia-wood three-and-three-quarters feet long, two-and-a-quarter feet wide and two-and-a-quarter feet high.
Berean Standard Bible:
Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
American Standard Version:
And Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Bezaleel{H1212} made{H6213} the ark{H727} of shittim{H7848} wood{H6086}: two cubits{H520} and a half{H2677} was the length{H753} of it, and a cubit{H520} and a half{H2677} the breadth{H7341} of it, and a cubit{H520} and a half{H2677} the height{H6967} of it:
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 10:33
- And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.
Numbers 10:36
- And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.
Exodus 26:33
- And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy [place] and the most holy.
Exodus 25:10
- ¶ And they shall make an ark [of] shittim wood: two cubits and a half [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
Exodus 25:20
- And the cherubims shall stretch forth [their] wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces [shall look] one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
Exodus 40:3
- And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
Exodus 40:20
- And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 37:1
1. Themes:
- Skilled Craftsmanship: The verse highlights the skill of Bezaleel, who was chosen by God to lead the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, including the Ark of the Covenant.
- Divine Instruction: Bezaleel's work follows the detailed instructions given by God to Moses, emphasizing obedience and precision in worship.
- Sacred Objects: The Ark of the Covenant is a central object in the Tabernacle, representing God's presence among the Israelites.
2. Historical Context:
- Exodus 37:1 is set after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, during the construction of the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary that would serve as the dwelling place for God among His people.
- The Ark of the Covenant, made of acacia wood (shittim wood) and overlaid with gold, was the most sacred object in the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's covenant with Israel and His guidance.
- The meticulous dimensions of the Ark (2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide, and 1.5 cubits high) reflect the importance of adherence to divine blueprints for the sacred space and objects.
- The construction took place in the wilderness, where the Israelites were wandering after their departure from Egypt, on their way to the Promised Land.
- Bezaleel was chosen by name by God (Exodus 31:2) and filled with the Spirit of God to carry out this work, along with other skilled artisans.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1212
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּצַלְאֵל
Transliteration: Bᵉtsalʼêl
Pronunciation: bets-al-ale'
Description: probably from צֵל and אֵל with a prepositional prefix; in (the) shadow (i.e. protection) of God; Betsalel, the name of two Israelites; Bezaleel. - 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. - Strong's Number: H727
There are 467 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָרוֹן
Transliteration: ʼârôwn
Pronunciation: aw-rone'
Description: or אָרֹן; from אָרָה (in the sense of gathering); a box; ark, chest, coffin. - 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. - 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. - Strong's Number: H520
There are 240 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַמָּה
Transliteration: ʼammâh
Pronunciation: am-maw'
Description: prolonged from אֵם; properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance); cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for מֵאָה), measure, post. - Strong's Number: H2677
There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֵצִי
Transliteration: chêtsîy
Pronunciation: khay-tsee'
Description: from חָצָהlemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה; the half or middle; half, middle, mid(-night), midst, part, two parts. - Strong's Number: H753
There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹרֶךְ
Transliteration: ʼôrek
Pronunciation: o'rek'
Description: from אָרַךְ; length; [phrase] forever, length, long. - Strong's Number: H7341
There are 89 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹחַב
Transliteration: rôchab
Pronunciation: ro'-khab
Description: from רָחַב; width (literally or figuratively); breadth, broad, largeness, thickness, wideness. - Strong's Number: H6967
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קוֹמָה
Transliteration: qôwmâh
Pronunciation: ko-maw'
Description: from קוּם; height; [idiom] along, height, high, stature, tall.