Exodus 37:25

37:24 Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.

And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.

KJV

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He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were of one piece with it.

And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.

37:26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.

What does Exodus 37:25 mean?

Exodus 37:25 is a verse in the book of Exodus, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh), קְטֹרֶת (qᵉṭôreth), מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbêach). It connects to 13 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

madeעָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

the

incenseקְטֹרֶתqᵉṭôreth/ket-o'-reth/H7004a fumigation

altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach/miz-bay'-akh/H4196an altar

shittimשִׁטָּהshiṭṭâh/shit-taw'/H7848the acacia (from its scourging thorns)

wood:עֵץʻêts/ates/H6086a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

the

lengthאֹרֶךְʼôrek/o'rek'/H753length

was

cubit,אַמָּהʼammâh/am-maw'/H520properly, 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)

and

the

breadthרֹחַבrôchab/ro'-khab/H7341width (literally or figuratively)

cubit;אַמָּהʼammâh/am-maw'/H520properly, 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)

was

foursquare;רָבַעrâbaʻ/raw-bah'/H7251to be quadrate

and

two

cubitsאַמָּהʼammâh/am-maw'/H520properly, 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)

was

the

heightקוֹמָהqôwmâh/ko-maw'/H6967height

it;

the

hornsקֶרֶןqeren/keh'-ren/H7161a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e. ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a mountain), a ray (of light); figuratively, power

thereof

were

the

same.

Commentary on Exodus 37:25

CLARKE · whole chapter

17. When the Egyptian women went to the temples, they always carried their mirrors with them. The Israelitish women probably did the same, and Dr. Shaw states that the Arabian women carry them constantly hung at their breasts. It is worthy of remark, that at first these women freely gave up their ornaments for this important service, and now give their very mirrors, probably as being of little farther service, seeing they had already given up the principal decorations of their persons. Woman has been invidiously defined by Aristotle, an animal fond of dress, (though this belongs to the whole human race, and not exclusively to woman). Had this been true of the Israelitish women, in the present case we must say they nobly sacrificed their incentives to pride to the service of their God. Woman, go thou and do likewise. Of the women - which assembled at the door - What the employment of these women was at the door of the tabernacle, is not easily known. Some think they assembled there for purposes of devotion. Others, that they kept watch there during the night; and this is the most probable opinion, for they appear to have been in the same employment as those who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in the days of Samuel, who were abused by the sons of the high priest Eli, 1Sam 2:22 . Among the ancients women were generally employed in the office of porters or doorkeepers. Such were employed about the house of the high priest in our Lord's time; for a woman is actually represented as keeping the door of the palace of the high priest, Joh 18:17 : Then saith the Damsel that Kept The Door unto Peter; see also Mat 26:69 . In 2Sam 4:6 , both the Septuagint and Vulgate make a woman porter or doorkeeper to Ishbosheth. Aristophanes mentions them in the same office, and calls them Σηκις, Sekis, which seems to signify a common maid-servant. Aristoph, in Vespis, ver. 768: - Ὁτι την θυραν ανεῳξεν ἡ Σηκις λαθρα. Homer, Odyss., ψ, ver. 225-229, mentions Actoris, Penelope's maid, whose office it was to keep the door of her chamber: - Ακτορις - - - Ἡ νωΐν ειρυτο θυρας πυκινου θαλαμοιο. And Euripides, in Troad., ver. 197, brings in Hecuba, complaining that she who was wont to sit upon a throne is now reduced to the miserable necessity of becoming a doorkeeper or a nurse, in order to get a morsel of bread. - - - η ταν Παρα προθυροις φυλα

WESLEY · Exodus 37:25

The incense burnt on this altar daily, signified both the prayers of saints, and the intercession of Christ, to which is owing the acceptableness of them.

HENRY_FULL · Exodus 37:25–29

a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about. 27 And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal. 28 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary. Here is, 1. The making of the golden altar, on which incense was to be burnt daily, which signified both the prayers of saints and the intercession of Christ, to which are owing the acceptableness and success of those prayers. The rings and staves, and all the appurtenances of this altar, were overlaid with gold, as all the vessels of the table and candlestick were of gold, for these were used in the holy place. God is the best, and we must serve him with the best we have; but the best we can serve him with in his courts on earth is but as brass, compared with the gold, the sinless and spotless perfection, with which his saints shall serve him in his holy place above. 2. The preparing of the incense which was to be burnt upon this altar, and with it the holy anointing oil ( v. 29 ), according to the dispensatory, ch. xxx. 22 , &c. God taught Bezaleel this art also; so that though he was not before acquainted with it yet he made up these things according to the work of the apothecary, as dexterously and exactly as if he had been bred up to the trade. Where God gives wisdom and grace, it will make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work. Here is an a

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 30:1

And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

Exodus 40:5

And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:26

And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:

Exodus 40:27

And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.

2 Chronicles 26:16

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

Matthew 23:19

Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

Luke 1:9

According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

Luke 1:10

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

Hebrews 7:25

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. to the: or, evermore

Hebrews 13:10

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

1 Peter 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. are: or, be ye

Revelation 8:3

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. offer: or, add it to the prayers

Revelation 8:4

And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Topics

Altar Altar of Incense

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Exodus 37:25.

Exodus 27:1

And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.

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 25:23

Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

Exodus 30:1

And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

Exodus 37:1

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:

Exodus 37:10

And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof:

Exodus 38:1

And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

Genesis 6:15

And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

Frequently asked questions

What does Exodus 37:25 say?

Exodus 37:25 (King James Version) reads: "And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same."

Is Exodus 37:25 in the Old or New Testament?

Exodus 37:25 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Exodus.

Reflect

As you read Exodus 37:25, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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