Exodus chapter 37
English Standard Version
1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. 3And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. 4And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold 5and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. 6And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 7And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat, 8one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. 9The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.
10He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it. 12And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim. 13He cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 14Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.
17He also made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work. Its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were of one piece with it. 18And there were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 19three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch — so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 20And on the lampstand itself were four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, 21and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out of it. 22Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it. The whole of it was a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. 23And he made its seven lamps and its tongs and its trays of pure gold. 24He made it and all its utensils out of a talent of pure gold.
25He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit, and its breadth was a cubit. It was square, and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26He overlaid it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And he made a molding of gold around it, 27and made two rings of gold on it under its molding, on two opposite sides of it, as holders for the poles with which to carry it. 28And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
New International Version
1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. 2He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.
6He made the atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 7Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 8He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. 9The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.
10They made the table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. 11Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. 12They also made around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. 13They cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners, where the four legs were. 14The rings were put close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. 15The poles for carrying the table were made of acacia wood and were overlaid with gold. 16And they made from pure gold the articles for the table—its plates and dishes and bowls and its pitchers for the pouring out of drink offerings.
17They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out its base and shaft, and made its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 18Six branches extended from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 19Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 20And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 21One bud was under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 22The buds and the branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
23They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold. 24They made the lampstand and all its accessories from one talent of pure gold.
25They made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long and a cubit wide and two cubits high —its horns of one piece with it. 26They overlaid the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and made a gold molding around it. 27They made two gold rings below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 28They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
New American Standard Bible
1Now Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was two and a half cubits, its width one and a half cubits, and its height one and a half cubits; 2and he overlaid it with pure gold inside and out, and made a gold molding for it all around. 3He cast four rings of gold for it on its four feet; two rings on one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 4And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry it. 6He also made an atoning cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. 7And he made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the atoning cover: 8one cherub at the one end and one cherub at the other end; he made the cherubim of one piece with the atoning cover at the two ends. 9And the cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the atoning cover with their wings, with their faces toward each other; the faces of the cherubim were toward the atoning cover.
10Then he made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long, a cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high. 11He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a gold molding for it all around. 12And he made a rim for it of a hand width all around, and made a gold molding for its rim all around. 13He also cast four gold rings for it and put the rings on the four corners that were on its four legs. 14Close by the rim were the rings, the holders for the poles to carry the table. 15And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table. 16He also made the utensils which were on the table, its dishes, its pans, its libation bowls, and its jars, with which to pour out drink offerings, of pure gold.
17Then he made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs, and its flowers were of one piece with it. 18There were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it; 19three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a bulb and a flower on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 20And on the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, its bulbs and its flowers; 21and a bulb was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a bulb under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. 22Their bulbs and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was a single hammered work of pure gold. 23And he made its seven lamps with its tongs and its trays of pure gold. 24He made it and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.
25Then he made the altar of incense of acacia wood: a cubit long and a cubit wide, square, and two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it. 26And he overlaid it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made a gold molding for it all around. 27He also made two golden rings for it under its molding, on its two sides—on opposite sides—as holders for poles with which to carry it. 28And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 29Then he made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer.
Christian Standard Bible
1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. 2He overlaid it with pure gold inside and out and made a gold molding all around it. 3He cast four gold rings for it, for its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 4He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark for carrying the ark.
6He made a mercy seat of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide. 7He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat, 8one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end. At each end, he made a cherub of one piece with the mercy seat. 9They had wings spread out. They faced each other and covered the mercy seat with their wings. The faces of the cherubim were looking toward the mercy seat.
10He constructed the table of acacia wood, thirty-six inches long, eighteen inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. 11He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding all around it. 12He made a three-inch frame all around it and made a gold molding all around its frame. 13He cast four gold rings for it and attached the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 14The rings were next to the frame as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15He made the poles for carrying the table from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 16He also made the utensils that would be on the table out of pure gold: its plates and cups, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.
17Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold. He made it all of one piece: its base and shaft, its ornamental cups, and its buds and petals. 18Six branches extended from its sides, three branches of the lampstand from one side and three branches of the lampstand from the other side. 19There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with a bud and petals, on the next branch. It was this way for the six branches that extended from the lampstand. 20There were four cups shaped like almond blossoms on the lampstand shaft along with its buds and petals. 21For the six branches that extended from it, a bud was under the first pair of branches from it, a bud under the second pair of branches from it, and a bud under the third pair of branches from it. 22Their buds and branches were of one piece with it. All of it was a single hammered piece of pure gold. 23He also made its seven lamps, snuffers, and firepans of pure gold. 24He made it and all its utensils of seventy-five pounds of pure gold.
25He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, eighteen inches long and eighteen inches wide; it was thirty-six inches high. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26He overlaid it, its top, all around its sides, and its horns with pure gold. Then he made a gold molding all around it. 27He made two gold rings for it under the molding on two of its sides; he put these on opposite sides of it to be holders for the poles to carry it with. 28He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
New Living Translation
1Next Bezalel made the Ark of acacia wood — a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 2He overlaid it inside and outside with pure gold, and he ran a molding of gold all around it. 3He cast four gold rings and attached them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 4Then he made poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5He inserted the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.
6Then he made the Ark’s cover — the place of atonement — from pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 7He made two cherubim from hammered gold and placed them on the two ends of the atonement cover. 8He molded the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold. 9The cherubim faced each other and looked down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they protected it.
10Then Bezalel made the table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 11He overlaid it with pure gold and ran a gold molding around the edge. 12He decorated it with a 3-inch border all around, and he ran a gold molding along the border. 13Then he cast four gold rings for the table and attached them at the four corners next to the four legs. 14The rings were attached near the border to hold the poles that were used to carry the table. 15He made these poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 16Then he made special containers of pure gold for the table — bowls, ladles, jars, and pitchers — to be used in pouring out liquid offerings.
17Then Bezalel made the lampstand of pure, hammered gold. He made the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece — the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals. 18The lampstand had six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side. 19Each of the six branches had three lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 20The center stem of the lampstand was crafted with four lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 21There was an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extended from the center stem, all made of one piece. 22The almond buds and branches were all of one piece with the center stem, and they were hammered from pure gold.
23He also made seven lamps for the lampstand, lamp snuffers, and trays, all of pure gold. 24The entire lampstand, along with its accessories, was made from 75 pounds of pure gold.
25Then Bezalel made the incense altar of acacia wood. It was 18 inches square and 36 inches high, with horns at the corners carved from the same piece of wood as the altar itself. 26He overlaid the top, sides, and horns of the altar with pure gold, and he ran a gold molding around the entire altar. 27He made two gold rings and attached them on opposite sides of the altar below the gold molding to hold the carrying poles. 28He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
King James Version
1And 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: 2And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 3And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it. 4And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
6And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 7And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat; 8One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 9And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims. 10And 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: 11And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about. 12Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about. 13And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof. 14Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. 15And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table. 16And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold. 17And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: 18And 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: 19Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. 20And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers: 21And 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 going out of it. 22Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold. 23And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold. 24Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof. 25And 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. 26And 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. 27And 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. 28And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
New King James Version
1Then Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 2He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold all around it. 3And he cast for it four rings of gold to be set in its four corners: two rings on one side, and two rings on the other side of it. 4He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 5And he put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6He also made the mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits was its length and a cubit and a half its width. 7He made two cherubim of beaten gold; he made them of one piece at the two ends of the mercy seat: 8one cherub at one end on this side, and the other cherub at the other end on that side. He made the cherubim at the two ends of one piece with the mercy seat. 9The cherubim spread out their wings above, and covered the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.
10He made the table of acacia wood; two cubits was its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold all around it. 12Also he made a frame of a handbreadth all around it, and made a molding of gold for the frame all around it. 13And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that were at its four legs. 14The rings were close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 15And he made the poles of acacia wood to bear the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16He made of pure gold the utensils which were on the table: its dishes, its cups, its bowls, and its pitchers for pouring.
17He also made the lampstand of pure gold; of hammered work he made the lampstand. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and its flowers were of the same piece. 18And six branches came out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 19There were three bowls made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. 20And on the lampstand itself were four bowls made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 21There was a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches extending from it. 22Their knobs and their branches were of one piece; all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold. 23And he made its seven lamps, its wick-trimmers, and its trays of pure gold. 24Of a talent of pure gold he made it, with all its utensils.
25He made the incense altar of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit and its width a cubit— it was square—and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26And he overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides all around, and its horns. He also made for it a molding of gold all around it. 27He made two rings of gold for it under its molding, by its two corners on both sides, as holders for the poles with which to bear it. 28And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
What does Exodus chapter 37 mean?
Bezalel (Exodus 35:30) and Oholiab (Exodus 35:34) are supervising construction of tabernacle components (Exodus 35—36). Great emphasis is placed on repeating God's exact instructions (Exodus 25—31) as they are being followed. This chapter primarily describes the four items kept inside the main tabernacle building.The ark (Exodus 25:10–22) is a large golden chest with an ornate lid. The lid features two cherubim reaching their wings over the ark. This is the most sacred object in Israel's faith. It will contain a jar of manna and Aaron's staff (Exodus 16:33; Numbers 17:10; Hebrews 9:4). But its most important cargo are the stone tablets recording God's basic covenant with Israel (Exodus 24:12; 25:16). This will be kept in the innermost room (Exodus 26:34) of the tabernacle (Exodus 37:1–9).
In the first room of the tabernacle is a ceremonial table (Exodus 25:23–29). This holds sacred bread which is eaten and replaced by the priests every week (Exodus 25:30). This will be placed on the northern wall (Exodus 26:35; 40:22) of the tabernacle's first room (Exodus 37:10–16).
On the southern wall of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:35) is a solid gold menorāh, or candelabra. This has branches around a central trunk, creating holders for seven lights. Bezalel accurately follows the Lord's directions (Exodus 25:31–39) to create this item. Priests will be responsible to maintain the lights of this fixture (Exodus 37:17–24).
The final item kept inside the tabernacle, but outside the veil obscuring the ark (Exodus 30:6), is an altar for incense (Exodus 30:1–10). Here, again, Bezalel closely adheres to God's specific design (Exodus 37:25–28).
The final verse of this chapter is one of the few exceptions to the book of Exodus and repetition of detail. Exodus 30:22–38 described the ingredients for anointing oil and sacred incense. The anointing oil has a detailed set of proportions for each ingredient. Ceremonial incense is made of equal parts of various resins, with an unspecified amount of salt. The passage in this chapter simply notes that Bezalel oversaw the perfumer making them as required (Exodus 37:29).
The next two chapters describe construction of the tabernacle courtyard, washbasin, sacrificial altar, and clerical uniforms (Exodus 38—39). The final chapter explains that these components were assembled as God instructed. This results in God's glory coming down in the form of a cloud (Exodus 40).
