Exodus 25:30 kjv
And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me always.
Exodus 25:30 nkjv
And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.
Exodus 25:30 niv
Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.
Exodus 25:30 esv
And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.
Exodus 25:30 nlt
Place the Bread of the Presence on the table to remain before me at all times.
Exodus 25 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:23-29 | "You shall make a table of acacia wood... make its plates... spoons..." | Description of the Table for the showbread. |
| Exod 37:10-16 | "He made the table of acacia wood..." | Moses' actual construction of the table. |
| Lev 24:5-9 | "You shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes... and put them in two rows, six in a row on the pure gold table before the LORD. You shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be a memorial portion, an offering by fire to the LORD. Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the LORD regularly, forever, as a covenant forever with the people of Israel. And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the LORD’s food offerings, a perpetual due." | Detailed instructions for the showbread's composition, quantity, frequency, purpose, and consumption, clarifying "always." |
| Num 4:7-8 | "On the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth..." | Levite duty in preparing the showbread table for travel. |
| 1 Sam 21:1-6 | "David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest... the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away." | David and his men eating the showbread due to hunger, showing mercy over strict ritual. |
| 1 Kings 7:48 | "...the golden altar... the table for the showbread, of gold..." | Solomon's Temple contains a golden table for showbread. |
| 2 Chron 4:19 | "...and the tables for the bread of the Presence, of pure gold..." | Further description of Temple furnishings. |
| Neh 10:32-33 | "...We obligate ourselves... to the bread of the Presence..." | Post-exilic commitment to provide for Temple services, including showbread. |
| Mal 1:7, 12 | "By offering polluted food upon my altar... 'The table of the LORD is polluted, and its food is contemptible.'" | Denunciation of defiled offerings, highlighting the holiness expected for God's "table." |
| Matt 12:3-4 | "Have you not read what David did... how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence..." | Jesus' defense of His disciples, citing David's action and principle of mercy over sacrifice. |
| Mark 2:25-26 | "Have you never read what David did... the bread of the Presence..." | Parallel account in Mark. |
| Luke 6:3-4 | "Have you not read what David did... ate the bread of the Presence..." | Parallel account in Luke. |
| John 6:35 | "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger...'" | Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate spiritual sustenance. |
| John 6:51 | "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever..." | Jesus as the life-giving bread, transcending literal bread. |
| Heb 9:2 | "For a tent was prepared, the first section... the table and the showbread." | The earthly Tabernacle as a copy of heavenly realities, lists the table and showbread. |
| Heb 9:24 | "For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands... but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." | Christ's ultimate entry into God's presence, fulfilling what the Tabernacle's items foreshadowed. |
| Heb 10:1 | "For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities..." | The showbread, as part of the Law, served as a shadow pointing to Christ's superior reality. |
| 1 Cor 10:16-17 | "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." | New Covenant fulfillment of communion and unity, resonating with the symbolism of communal bread before God. |
| 1 Cor 11:23-26 | "The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread... 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" | Institution of the Lord's Supper, making Christ's body and provision perpetually present to believers. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." | Ultimate fulfillment of the Tabernacle's purpose, where God's presence is permanently with His people without shadows or types. |
Exodus 25 verses
Exodus 25 30 Meaning
This verse instructs Moses to establish the "showbread" on the Table of Showbread in the Tabernacle's Holy Place. This bread was to remain continually before God, symbolizing the perpetual covenant relationship between Yahweh and the twelve tribes of Israel. It signified God's ongoing provision for His people and their constant remembrance and presence before Him through dedicated worship.
Exodus 25 30 Context
Exodus chapter 25 details God's divine instructions to Moses for constructing the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that would serve as His dwelling place among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. These instructions follow the giving of the Ten Commandments and the covenant at Mount Sinai, emphasizing God's desire to dwell in the midst of His people. The verse is part of the specific commands concerning the furnishings of the Holy Place, coming after the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat, and immediately preceding instructions for the lampstand. The Table of Showbread was one of three items located in the Holy Place, along with the golden lampstand (menorah) and the altar of incense, all representing different aspects of Israel's relationship and worship before God. Culturally, this directive countered common Ancient Near Eastern polytheistic beliefs, where gods were thought to literally require sustenance. Here, Yahweh commands a perpetual display for symbolic communion and remembrance, emphasizing His self-sufficiency and faithful provision for His people.
Exodus 25 30 Word analysis
- And you shall set (וְנָתַתָּ, ve'natatta): From the verb נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give," "to put," or "to place." This indicates a divine imperative, an authoritative instruction for a specific, ongoing action. It emphasizes that this is a command to be actively carried out by human hands, establishing a vital ritual service.
- the showbread (לֶחֶם פָּנִים, lechem panim): Literally translates to "bread of presence" or "bread of faces."
- לֶחֶם (lechem): The common Hebrew word for "bread" or "food," symbolizing basic sustenance and life.
- פָּנִים (panim): Meaning "face" or "presence." This signifies that the bread was literally before God's face or in His direct presence, implying an intimate, dedicated offering. It represents the continual presence of the twelve tribes of Israel before God, sustained by Him. This highlights a constant state of communion and remembrance between God and His people. The twelve loaves (specified in Lev 24:5) represent the twelve tribes of Israel, making it a symbolic presentation of the entire nation before God.
- on the table (עַל־הַשֻּׁלְחָן, 'al-hashshulchan): Refers specifically to the Table of Showbread, whose construction was detailed immediately prior (Exo 25:23-29). This golden table was designed exclusively for this sacred purpose, distinguishing it from an ordinary table. Its placement in the Holy Place underscores its sanctity and the sacred context of the showbread.
- before Me (לְפָנַי, lefanay): Meaning "before my face" or "in My presence." This reinforces the "bread of presence" concept, emphasizing that the entire arrangement is directed specifically towards Yahweh. It highlights God's accessibility and desire for perpetual fellowship with His people. The "Me" refers to God, indicating the direct object of the offering and display.
- always (תָּמִיד, tamid): Means "continually," "regularly," or "perpetually." This term is crucial because while it implies continuous display, Leviticus 24:8 clarifies that the loaves were replaced weekly on the Sabbath. Therefore, "always" signifies the unbroken continuity of the bread's presence on the table, not that the same physical loaves would remain indefinitely. This perpetual presence serves as a constant reminder of God's unchanging covenant and provision.
Exodus 25 30 Bonus section
- The Type of Bread: Although not explicitly stated in this verse, later instructions in Leviticus 24:5 clarify the showbread was made of "fine flour," suggesting unleavened cakes. This aligns with other pure offerings and emphasizes the holiness of the offering.
- The Purity and Holiness: The meticulous details of the Tabernacle construction, including the pure gold table, underscored the sanctity of all elements associated with God's dwelling. The showbread itself was "most holy" (Lev 24:9), highlighting the purity required in drawing near to God.
- Symbol of Divine-Human Encounter: The Tabernacle was the designated meeting place between God and humanity. The showbread, being perpetually "before Me," facilitated a constant state of encounter and remembrance, bridging the divine and human realms. It was a tangible reminder of Israel's spiritual reality – that they lived and moved in the constant awareness of their God's presence.
- Contrast with Incense Altar: The showbread was placed near the golden Altar of Incense (though this verse doesn't specify), where fragrant smoke rose "continually." The bread symbolized physical sustenance and covenant presence, while the incense represented the rising prayers and acceptable worship, forming a complementary picture of the Israelite's devotional life before God.
Exodus 25 30 Commentary
Exodus 25:30, in its simplicity, carries profound theological weight. The command to place "showbread" – the "bread of presence" – perpetually "before Me" on the golden table signifies God's unwavering commitment to sustain and commune with His covenant people, Israel. The twelve loaves represented the totality of the tribes, presenting the entire nation symbolically before God's face. This practice was not to feed a needy deity but rather to serve as a perpetual memorial of God's covenant faithfulness and an acknowledgment of His holy presence among them. The weekly replacement, as specified in Leviticus 24, reinforced the cyclical rhythm of worship and remembrance, always keeping the symbol fresh and meaningful. This constant display pointed to the ideal of continuous fellowship and dependency on God's provision. Ultimately, it prefigures Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be the "Bread of Life" (John 6), the living, perpetual sustenance for His people, replacing the temporal showbread with His own abiding presence and life-giving communion.