Exodus 25:16 kjv
And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
Exodus 25:16 nkjv
And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.
Exodus 25:16 niv
Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.
Exodus 25:16 esv
And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.
Exodus 25:16 nlt
When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you.
Exodus 25 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 24:12 | The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me... and I will give you the tables of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written, that you may teach them.” | God giving the Law |
| Exo 31:18 | When He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. | Divine authorship of the Law |
| Exo 32:15 | Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tables of the testimony in his hand, tables that were written on both their sides... | Tablets as the "testimony" |
| Exo 34:1 | The LORD said to Moses, “Cut out for yourself two tables of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tables the words that were on the first tables...” | Replacement of shattered tablets |
| Deut 4:13 | “So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tables of stone.” | The testimony as Ten Commandments |
| Deut 9:10 | “The LORD gave me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.” | Law's divine origin and content |
| Deut 10:1-5 | "At that time the LORD said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tables of stone like the first ones... So I made an ark of acacia wood... And I put the tables in the ark..." | Moses placing the tablets in the Ark |
| Num 17:10 | The LORD said to Moses, "Put Aaron's rod before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels..." | Other items associated with the testimony/Ark |
| Num 10:33 | They set out from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD going before them... | Ark guiding God's people |
| Deut 31:26 | "Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you." | Book of Law placed alongside Ark |
| Josh 3:6 | Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” | Ark leading, symbol of God's presence |
| 1 Sam 4:3 | ... "Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that it may come among us and save us from the hand of our enemies." | Ark as a symbol of God's presence/power |
| 2 Sam 6:1-2 | David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went... to bring up the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim. | Ark as God's throne symbol |
| 1 Kgs 8:9 | "There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt." | Confirmation of Ark's original contents |
| Ps 19:7 | The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. | The nature and power of God's testimony |
| Rom 3:2 | Great benefit comes to the Jew... for to them were committed the oracles of God. | God's word (oracles) entrusted to Israel |
| Rom 7:12 | So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. | The holiness and goodness of the Law |
| Heb 8:6-13 | Christ obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises... | New Covenant vs. Old Covenant (Law) |
| Heb 9:4 | It contained the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tables of the covenant. | Ark contents in the New Testament view |
| Heb 10:16-17 | "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them; and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." | New Covenant: Law in the heart |
| Rev 11:19 | Then the temple of God which is in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple; and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. | Ark in heavenly temple (symbolic) |
| John 1:17 | For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. | Law given through Moses |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." | Christ fulfilling the Law |
Exodus 25 verses
Exodus 25 16 Meaning
Exodus 25:16 outlines a specific divine instruction to Moses: to place the tablets containing God's laws—referred to as "the testimony"—into the newly constructed Ark of the Covenant. This act solidifies the Ark's primary function as the sacred repository for the core of God's revealed word to Israel, emphasizing the absolute authority and centrality of the divine Law within the covenant relationship. It signifies that God's presence among His people is intricately linked with His holy and revealed will.
Exodus 25 16 Context
Exodus chapter 25 initiates God's detailed instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings, immediately following the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (Exo 20-24). The Tabernacle serves as God's dwelling place among His people, enabling His presence amidst their camp. The Ark of the Covenant, detailed first (Exo 25:10-22), is presented as the most holy item within this sacred space. Its design and purpose underscore its paramount importance. The immediate verses describe the dimensions, materials, and specific elements of the Ark (like cherubim and the Mercy Seat) before detailing what must be placed within it. Historically and culturally, these instructions set Israel apart from surrounding pagan nations who worshipped idols and multiple deities. Instead, Israel's worship centered on the invisible, holy God whose presence was tied to His revealed word—the Law—rather than an image. This emphasis on the "testimony" within the Ark directly contrasts with the material idols and mythical narratives prevalent in Egyptian and Canaanite religions.
Exodus 25 16 Word analysis
You shall put (וְנָתַתָּ - ve'natatta):
- Word: The Hebrew word is from the root נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give," "to put," or "to place."
- Significance: It is a direct command from God to Moses, indicating an immediate, non-negotiable action. The form natatta (qal perfect 2ms with waw consecutive) denotes a strong imperative for the future fulfillment of the divine instruction, showing certainty and solemnity. It signifies the entrustment of a sacred duty.
into the ark (אֶל־הָאָרֹן - el-ha'aron):
- Word: הָאָרֹן (ha'aron) means "the ark." This refers specifically to the Ark of the Covenant, not just any container. The definite article "ha-" (
הָ) emphasizes that this is the Ark already described and consecrated by divine command. - Significance: The Ark's function as a sacred container is defined by its contents. Its construction is directly for this purpose, highlighting its supreme holiness and central role in the Tabernacle. It serves as the physical anchor for the spiritual covenant.
- Word: הָאָרֹן (ha'aron) means "the ark." This refers specifically to the Ark of the Covenant, not just any container. The definite article "ha-" (
the testimony (אֵת הָעֵדֻת - et ha'edut):
- Word: הָעֵדֻת (ha'edut) means "the testimony" or "the witness." It specifically refers to the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments by the finger of God (Exo 31:18, 32:15).
- Significance: The Ten Commandments serve as God's witness to His covenant with Israel, detailing the obligations and expectations of the relationship. It's a divine declaration and perpetual reminder of His will and holiness. It testifies to God's identity and righteous demands. The Law itself is holy, just, and good (Rom 7:12).
which I will give you (אֲשֶׁר אֶתֵּן אֵלֶיךָ - asher etten elekha):
- Word: אֶתֵּן (etten) is the future tense of נָתַן (nathan), "I will give." אֵלֶיךָ (elekha) means "to you."
- Significance: This phrase emphasizes the divine authorship and complete origin of the Law. The testimony is not a human construct or Moses's creation, but a direct, divinely-provided revelation. It underscores God's sovereignty and His initiative in establishing the covenant. It also assures Moses that these crucial items will indeed be provided to him directly by God, thus enabling him to fulfill the command.
Words-group Analysis:
- "You shall put into the ark the testimony": This phrase directly connects the Ark to its contents, establishing the Ark's primary purpose. The sacredness of the Ark is derived from the holy testimony it contains. It shows that God's presence will be where His Word (testimony) is enshrined and honored.
- "the testimony which I will give you": This highlights the unchallengeable authority and divine nature of the Law. It's not a set of human rules but God's personal covenant stipulations, entrusted directly by Him to His chosen leader. This underscores the revelatory aspect of God's interaction with humanity.
Exodus 25 16 Bonus section
- The term "testimony" (עֵדֻת - edut) for the tablets highlights their function as a perpetual witness – witnessing to God’s nature, His will, and the covenant terms between Him and His people. It also served as a witness against them when they transgressed, symbolizing God's faithfulness and justice.
- The Ark is later referred to as "the Ark of the Testimony" (e.g., Exo 30:6) or "the Ark of the Covenant" (e.g., Num 10:33) interchangeably, confirming the intimate connection between the Ark and the covenant/testimony it housed.
- While Exodus 25:16 initially specifies only the testimony to be placed in the Ark, later accounts (e.g., Heb 9:4) mention additional items like Aaron's rod and a pot of manna. However, the foundational command and primary content for which the Ark was designed remained the "testimony," the very Law of God.
- The deliberate placement of God's Law within the Ark, over which the Mercy Seat rested, symbolizes that atonement (through the annual sprinkling of blood on the Mercy Seat) covers the broken Law. It demonstrates that access to God's mercy is directly related to how He has dealt with the Law that humanity cannot perfectly uphold.
Exodus 25 16 Commentary
Exodus 25:16 is a foundational command establishing the sacred function of the Ark of the Covenant: to house God's "testimony." This "testimony" refers explicitly to the tablets of the Ten Commandments, the bedrock of the covenant between Yahweh and Israel. By mandating that this divine word be placed within the most sacred object of the Tabernacle, God emphasizes the absolute centrality and supremacy of His revealed Law. The Ark, therefore, is not merely a box, but the holy repository for the visible manifestation of God's covenant with His people. Its contents remind Israel of their covenant obligations and God's unwavering character. It's a tangible sign of God dwelling amidst His people, not as an idol but through His word and presence, making the Law integral to Israel's identity and worship. This act prefigures the New Covenant where God promises to write His laws upon our hearts, moving the place of the "testimony" from a golden ark to the spiritual core of His people (Jer 31:33, Heb 10:16).