Exodus 37:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: one 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.

NIV: He 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.

NASB: one 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.

CSB: one 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.

NLT: He molded the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold.

KJV: One 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.

NKJV: one 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.

Exodus 37:1–9 explains that Bezalel (Exodus 35:30) exactly followed the Lord's designs for the ark. The ark is a large golden chest meant to hold stone tablets. The tablets record the Ten Commandments (Exodus 25:16). Bezalel's work here directly mirrors the instructions recorded in Exodus 25:10–22.

Bezalel (Exodus 35:30) follows God's instructions to make multiple items for the tabernacle. Most of these are described in Exodus 25. He constructs the ark, table, lampstand, and altar of incense. All of these will be kept inside the main tabernacle building. The text deliberately reproduces the phrasing of God's earlier command to stress Israel's exact obedience to His will.

Moses relays God's instructions for building the tabernacle (Exodus 25—31). The people respond generously (Exodus 35) and follow the Lord's directions exactly (Exodus 36). This pattern continues in chapter 37 as Bezalel (Exodus 35:30) completes designs mostly seen in chapter 25. Other items are depicted in chapter 30. The next two chapters (Exodus 38—39) are more of the same: describing the Israelites carrying out God's design as it was given.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 9/18/2025 3:59:58 PM