Exodus 25:15 kjv

The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

Exodus 25:15 nkjv

The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.

Exodus 25:15 niv

The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.

Exodus 25:15 esv

The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.

Exodus 25:15 nlt

These carrying poles must stay inside the rings; never remove them.

Exodus 25 verses

Exodus 25 15 Meaning

Exodus 25:15 conveys a divine mandate for the Ark of the Covenant's carrying poles to remain permanently inserted into its rings, never to be removed. This command ensured the Ark's constant readiness for travel, underscored its profound holiness, and strictly prohibited its casual handling, thus reflecting God's mobile, yet utterly distinct and reverent, presence among His people.

Exodus 25 15 Context

Exodus chapter 25 begins a detailed account of God's instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai for constructing the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings. Specifically, verses 10-22 meticulously outline the design, dimensions, and materials for the Ark of the Covenant, which was to serve as the most holy dwelling place for God's presence among Israel. Verse 15 follows the directions for creating the four rings of gold and the two carrying poles, emphasizing a crucial operational detail: these poles were not to be mere temporary accessories but permanent fixtures. Historically, Israel was a nomadic people journeying through the wilderness, making the Tabernacle and its contents necessarily portable. The perpetual attachment of the Ark's poles underscored its readiness to move with God's people, reflecting God's dynamic leading and ensuring that this most sacred object was always handled with the specific reverence commanded by Yahweh, contrasting with the static nature or common transport of pagan idols.

Exodus 25 15 Word analysis

• The poles (הַבַּדִּים - hab-baddim): Derived from bad, meaning "apart" or "separate." These were not just any sticks but specifically crafted, extended shafts made of acacia wood overlaid with gold (Exo 25:13), designed for a distinct purpose – to carry the Ark without direct human contact. Their very name emphasizes their unique function as extensions that separated the handlers from the holy Ark.

• shall remain (יִהְיוּ - yih-yu): From the verb hāyâ (הָיָה), "to be, to exist, to happen." In this context, it carries the strong sense of continuous existence and permanence. It implies an ongoing state, not a temporary condition. The command isn't just that they should be there but that they must perpetually be there.

• in the rings (בָּאַרְנֹת - ba-ʼar-nōṯ): While ’aronot (אַרְנֹת) is plural for 'ark', in context with Exodus 25:12 and the poles, this refers to the golden rings specifically designed to hold the poles and which were integral to the ark's structure. The use of 'in the arks' is an idiomatic expression signifying "in their places on the Ark itself". This indicates the physical location and inseparable nature of the poles with the Ark.

• they are not to be removed (לֹא יָסֻרוּ - lo ya-su-ru): Lo (לֹא) is a strong negation ("not"). Yassuru comes from sur (סוּר), "to turn aside, to depart, to remove." This is an absolute prohibition, commanding that the poles should under no circumstances be taken out. It highlights the unchanging, continuous nature of the divine directive.

• from them/it (מִמֶּנּוּ - mim-men-nu): Refers back to the Ark (singular "it") or implicitly to the rings (plural "them"). The precise pronoun often relies on context. The KJV's "from it" (referring to the Ark) best captures the meaning that the Ark and its poles must function as a single, indivisible unit for transport, never disconnected. This underscores the unity of purpose: the Ark is always ready.

• "The poles shall remain in the rings": This phrase highlights the foundational purpose of the Ark as a mobile sanctuary. It was never intended to be a stationary relic but a dynamic symbol of God's leadership accompanying Israel on its wilderness journey and beyond. It speaks to an active, present God, ever ready to move with His people.

• "they are not to be removed from them": This absolute prohibition emphasizes reverence, holiness, and strict obedience. Removing the poles would be treating the Ark as a common object, opening it up to unauthorized or improper handling (e.g., direct touching, as Uzzah learned). It sets clear boundaries for interaction with the holy. This strict instruction implies that even when the Ark reached a "resting place," its essential character as the dwelling of a moving God was to be preserved.

Exodus 25 15 Bonus section

The detailed specifications for the Ark and its perpetual readiness prefigure aspects of God's dwelling with His people in the New Covenant. The Old Covenant Tabernacle represented God's presence among them, but in the New Covenant, through Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers themselves become the portable temples of God. This echoes the concept of God's mobile presence: His Spirit moves with us, wherever we go, and we are called to be always "ready" in our faith and walk, just as the Ark was always prepared for movement. Furthermore, the warning against removing the poles, ensuring that unauthorized hands do not touch the Ark, highlights a principle of divine separation and holiness that still applies: one should approach God on His terms, with humility and reverence, recognizing the sacredness of His person and Word. The incident with Uzzah (2 Sam 6), who died for touching the Ark after it was being moved incorrectly on a cart, powerfully illustrates the severe consequence of disregarding this divine instruction and the importance of respecting God's specified boundaries for interacting with His holy things. This serves as a timeless reminder that while God is intimately with us, He is also utterly holy and requires a reverence born of fear and awe.

Exodus 25 15 Commentary

Exodus 25:15 encapsulates profound theological truths within a simple instruction. The perpetual presence of the poles in the Ark's rings was more than a practical consideration; it was a divine decree for reverent conduct and an enduring symbol of God's active involvement with His people. This command eliminated any temptation to treat the Ark as ordinary luggage or to neglect its sanctity during movement or storage. It continually reminded the Israelites that their God was not confined or static, like the idols of surrounding nations, but was constantly with them, ready to lead, sustain, and guide them in their journeys. This command ensured the integrity of their worship and their understanding of Yahweh's unique nature. Practically, it demanded continuous vigilance and strict adherence to divine protocol, reminding them that God's ways were always set apart.Example: In our spiritual journey, just as the Ark was always ready to move, we should strive to be spiritually ready, our "poles" (preparation, obedience) always in place, ensuring we are constantly prepared to follow God's leading, without compromise or treating our walk with Him as casual or interruptible.Example: The specific commands also teach the importance of absolute obedience to God's Word, even in details that may seem minor or unnecessary to human reason, as divine wisdom undergirds all His instructions.