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Exodus 25

God provides the pattern for a sanctuary where he will dwell among Israel and speak his commands to Moses.

YHWH tells Moses to gather offerings from willing Israelites for a sanctuary where he will dwell among them. He names the materials, then gives instructions for the ark and its gold mercy seat, the table for the bread of the presence, and the seven-lamp stand. Measurements, carrying poles, and hammered gold work receive close attention. Moses must follow the pattern God has shown him on the mountain.

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2“Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.
3This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, bronze,
4blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
5rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
6oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
7onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.
8Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
9According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it.
10“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height.
11You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it.
12You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.
13You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
14You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
15The poles shall be in the rings of the ark. They shall not be taken from it.
16You shall put the covenant which I shall give you into the ark.
17You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width.
18You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.
20The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.
21You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I will give you.
22There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the covenant, all that I command you for the children of Israel.
23“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a half cubits.
24You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.
25You shall make a rim of a hand width around it. You shall make a golden molding on its rim around it.
27The rings shall be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table.
28You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
29You shall make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls with which to pour out offerings. You shall make them of pure gold.
30You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always.
31“You shall make a lamp stand of pure gold. The lamp stand shall be made of hammered work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.
33three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lamp stand;
36Their buds and their branches shall be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold.
37You shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it.
38Its snuffers and its snuff dishes shall be of pure gold.
40See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Exodus 25:8God names the purpose behind the offerings and construction: a sanctuary where he will dwell among his people.
Exodus 25:22The mercy seat marks the place where God promises to meet Moses and give commands for Israel.
Exodus 25:40The closing command returns to the revealed pattern, placing every detail of the furnishings under God's direction.
Where this chapter reaches

Numbers records God speaking to Moses from above the mercy seat, while 1 Kings describes temple furnishings that share the ark, cherubim, and gold work found here. Hebrews quotes the command to follow the mountain pattern and relates the earthly sanctuary to heavenly realities.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What do the detailed instructions reveal about the kind of dwelling God establishes among Israel?

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How do willing offerings and God's fixed pattern shape your understanding of worship?

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Questions people ask about Exodus 25

What is the mercy seat in Exodus 25?

The mercy seat is the pure gold cover placed on top of the ark, with two gold cherubim at its ends. Their wings spread over it, and their faces turn toward it. God promises to meet Moses and speak to him from above this cover, between the cherubim.

Why did Moses have to follow a pattern for the tabernacle?

God tells Moses to make the tabernacle and its furnishings according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain. This places the sanctuary's design under God's authority. The chapter gives detailed instructions, though it does not explain the symbolic meaning of every measurement, material, or decorative feature.

Were the offerings for the tabernacle voluntary?

God directs Moses to receive offerings from everyone whose heart makes him willing. The materials are specified, including precious metals, textiles, wood, oil, and stones, but this chapter sets no required amount for each person. The gifts supply the sanctuary that God commands Israel to build.

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What the Bible says about worship →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).