Exodus Chapter 25 — Instructions for the Sanctuary
God instructs Moses to gather voluntary offerings from the Israelites to build a sanctuary, providing detailed designs for the Ark, the table, and the lampstand.
1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
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,*or, fine leather 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,†A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters. 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.
19Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. You shall make the cherubim on its two ends of one piece with 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.
26You shall make four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet.
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.
32There shall be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lamp stand out of its one side, and three branches of the lamp stand out of its other side;
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;
34and in the lamp stand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
35and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, 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.
39It shall be made of a talent‡A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces of pure gold, with all these accessories.
40See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Exodus 25:8
“Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”
This verse establishes the primary purpose of the Tabernacle as the physical dwelling place for God's presence among His people.
Exodus 25:22
“There 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.”
It defines the mercy seat as the specific location where God communicates His commands and meets with Moses.
Chapter Summary
In Exodus 25, the Lord speaks to Moses on Mount Sinai, commanding the Israelites to bring offerings of precious metals, fine fabrics, and wood. These gifts must come from those with a willing heart. God reveals the blueprint for a sanctuary where He will dwell among His people. The instructions begin with the Ark of the Covenant, made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, designed to hold the tablets of the law. Above it sits the mercy seat, flanked by two golden cherubim with wings spread upward. The chapter also details the construction of a golden table for the 'bread of the presence' and a magnificent seven-branched lampstand of pure hammered gold decorated with almond blossom patterns. Each item follows a specific divine pattern shown to Moses on the mountain, ensuring the sacred space reflects God's exact requirements for holiness and worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
God requested gold, silver, bronze, colorful fabrics like blue and scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, animal skins, acacia wood, oil, spices, and precious stones. These were to be taken only from those whose hearts made them willing to give.
The Ark was a chest made of acacia wood and gold intended to house the covenant which God would give to Moses. It served as a sacred vessel and was topped by the mercy seat, where God promised to meet with His people.
The bread of the presence consisted of loaves kept perpetually on a gold-overlaid table within the sanctuary. It symbolized God's constant presence and provision for the children of Israel.
Study Note
The 'cubit' mentioned throughout the chapter is an ancient unit of measurement based on the length of a man's forearm, approximately 18 inches or 46 centimeters.
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