Exodus 25: A Sanctuary for God
God invites willing offerings and gives the pattern for the ark, table, and lampstand, so that he may dwell among his people.
Exodus 25 (WEB)
1 Yahweh 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.
3 This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, brass,
4 blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
5 rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
6 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
7 onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate.
8 Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
9 According 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 breadth a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height.
11 You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it.
12 You 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.
13 You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
15 The poles shall be in the rings of the ark. They shall not be taken from it.
16 You shall put the testimony which I shall give you into the ark.
17 You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.
18 You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 Make 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.
20 The 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.
21 You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I will give you.
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 testimony, all that I command you for the children of Israel.
23 “You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth, and one and a half cubits its height.
24 You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.
25 You shall make a rim of a hand breadth around it. You shall make a golden molding on its rim around it.
26 You shall make four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet.
27 the rings shall be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table.
28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
29 You shall make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls to pour out offerings with. You shall make them of pure gold.
30 You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always.
31 “You shall make a lamp stand of pure gold. Of hammered work shall the lamp stand be made, even its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it.
32 There 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;
33 three 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;
34 and in the lamp stand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers;
35 and 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.
36 Their buds and their branches shall be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold.
37 You shall make its lamps seven, and they shall light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it.
38 Its snuffers and its snuff dishes shall be of pure gold.
39 It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these accessories.
40 See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.
Exodus 25 (KJV)
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,
6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
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.
11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.
13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.
15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
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.
21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
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.
24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
27 Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
Exodus 25 (ASV)
1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for me an offering: of every man whose heart maketh him willing ye shall take my offering.
3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold, and silver, and brass,
4 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
5 and rams’ skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood,
6 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
7 onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
9 According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall ye make it.
10 And they shall make an ark of acacia 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.
11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four feet thereof; and two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.
13 And thou shalt make staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, wherewith to bear the ark.
15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
17 And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
18 And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat.
19 And make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end: of one piece with the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof.
20 And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.
21 And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
23 And thou shalt make a table of acacia wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of a handbreadth round about; and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
27 Close by the border shall the rings be, for places for the staves to bear the table.
28 And thou shalt make the staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and the spoons thereof, and the flagons thereof, and the bowls thereof, wherewith to pour out: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
30 And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway.
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it:
32 and there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:
33 three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower: so for the six branches going out of the candlestick:
34 and in the candlestick four cups made like almond-blossoms, the knops thereof, and the flowers thereof;
35 and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the candlestick.
36 Their knops and their branches shall be of one piece with it; the whole of it one beaten work of pure gold.
37 And thou shalt make the lamps thereof, seven: and they shall light the lamps thereof, to give light over against it.
38 And the snuffers thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
39 Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these vessels.
40 And see that thou make them after their pattern, which hath been showed thee in the mount.
Summary
Yahweh begins his instructions for the tabernacle by inviting freewill offerings from everyone whose heart moves them—gold, silver, bronze, fine fabrics, oil, spices, and precious stones. The purpose is breathtaking: “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Everything is to be built according to the pattern God shows Moses on the mountain. First comes the ark of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, holding the Testimony, topped by the mercy seat of pure gold with two cherubim facing one another. From above the mercy seat, between the cherubim, God will meet with Moses and give his commands—the place where a holy God and his people draw near. Next is the table of acacia wood overlaid with gold, on which the bread of the Presence is to be set before the LORD always. Then the lampstand of pure hammered gold, made of one piece with its branches shaped like almond blossoms and its seven lamps giving light. Every detail is to follow the heavenly pattern, for this dwelling is not a human invention but a place designed by God himself so that he might live among his redeemed people.
Key Themes
- The freewill offering — The materials given willingly by those whose hearts move them, the means by which the people share in building God's dwelling.
- The ark and mercy seat — The gold-covered chest holding the Testimony, with its cherubim, where God promises to meet his people above the mercy seat.
- The table and lampstand — The table bearing the bread of the Presence and the golden lampstand of seven lamps, furnishings of the holy place before the LORD.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who desires to dwell among his people and gives the exact heavenly pattern for the sanctuary where heaven and earth meet.
Key Verse
Exodus 25:8 (WEB)
Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
Lessons Learned
- God's great desire is to dwell among his people; the tabernacle is a gift of his nearness.
- Giving to God flows from a willing heart, not compulsion.
- Worship is to follow God's design, not human preference; he shows the pattern.
- The mercy seat is where God meets his people, a place of atonement and communion.
- The tabernacle anticipates Christ, in whom God dwells with us, and the promise that God will dwell with his people forever.
- God desires to dwell with us. “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8, WEB). The whole project flows from God's longing to be present with his people.
- True giving is willing. Take the offering “from everyone whose heart makes him willing” (Exodus 25:2, WEB). God delights in gifts freely given, not extracted by pressure.
- Worship follows God's pattern. Make it “according to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle” (Exodus 25:9, WEB). We approach God on his terms, not by our own inventions.
- God meets us at the mercy seat. “There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat” (Exodus 25:22, WEB). Atonement is the meeting place between a holy God and his people.
- What does it tell us about God that he wants a sanctuary so he may dwell among his people?
- Why does God want offerings only from those whose hearts make them willing?
- Why is it important that everything be made according to the pattern God shows?
- What is the significance of God meeting his people at the mercy seat above the ark?
- How does the longing of God to dwell among his people stir your own desire for his presence?
- God's purpose for all the gold and craftsmanship is simply this: “that I may dwell among them” (25:8). The God who could need nothing desires nearness to his people. The tabernacle reveals a God whose heart is to be present, anticipating Immanuel, God with us.
- The offering is to come from willing hearts (25:2). God does not coerce gifts; he invites generosity that flows from love. This sets the tone for all giving—joyful, free, and from the heart, because the giver delights in the God to whom he gives.
- Moses is told repeatedly to follow the pattern shown on the mountain (25:9, 40). The sanctuary is God's design, reflecting heavenly realities (Hebrews 8:5). We do not approach God however we please; acceptable worship is shaped by his revelation, not our preference.
- Above the mercy seat, between the cherubim, God promises to meet Moses and speak (25:22). It is the place where atoning blood would later be applied—where holiness and mercy meet. God draws near to sinners not by ignoring sin but by covering it.
- This is a personal-application question. The whole chapter pulses with God's desire to dwell among his people, fulfilled in Christ (John 1:14) and consummated when God dwells with us forever (Revelation 21:3). Invite members to cultivate a deeper hunger for God's presence.