Exodus 25:38 kjv
And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exodus 25:38 nkjv
And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold.
Exodus 25:38 niv
Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold.
Exodus 25:38 esv
Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold.
Exodus 25:38 nlt
The lamp snuffers and trays must also be made of pure gold.
Exodus 25 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:31 | "You shall make a lampstand of pure gold..." | Main item described; all from pure gold. |
| Ex 25:40 | "And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain." | Emphasis on divine precision in design. |
| Ex 30:27-28 | "the lampstand with its utensils..." | Refers to these items as necessary utensils. |
| Lev 24:2 | "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from pressed olives for the light, that a lamp may be regularly set up." | Regular maintenance of the light. |
| Num 4:9 | "And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the lampstand of the light, with his lamps, and his tongs..." | Priestly duty to transport the sacred items. |
| 1 Ki 7:49-50 | "and the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right, and five on the left, before the inner sanctuary... also the bowls, snuffers, and basins of pure gold" | Solomon's Temple follows similar pattern. |
| Zech 4:2 | "What do you see? I answered, ‘I see a lampstand of pure gold, with a bowl on top of it, and seven lamps on it...’" | Prophetic vision of the Lampstand. |
| Zech 4:6 | "'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts." | Light from the Lampstand represents Spirit. |
| Matt 5:14-16 | "You are the light of the world... let your light shine before others..." | Believers as lights, needing maintenance. |
| Jn 1:9 | "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." | Christ as the source of light. |
| Jn 8:12 | "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world.'" | Jesus as the ultimate light. |
| Jn 12:35-36 | "Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you..." | Live in the light Christ provides. |
| Heb 9:2-5 | "For a tent was prepared, the first section... the lampstand, and the table..." | Confirmation of Tabernacle items. |
| Rev 1:12-20 | "I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like a son of man... The seven lampstands are the seven churches." | Churches as lampstands; maintenance for witness. |
| Rev 4:5 | "From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God" | Seven lamps of God's perfect Spirit. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" | Call to purity in life and service. |
| 2 Tim 2:20-21 | "in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay... If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy..." | Purity for usefulness in God's service. |
| Ps 19:10 | "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold..." | Purity of God's Word, greater than gold. |
| Mal 3:3 | "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver..." | God purifies His people as precious metals. |
| Isa 48:10 | "Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction." | God's refinement for spiritual purity. |
| Ex 28:36 | "You shall make a plate of pure gold..." | Pure gold signifies holiness, worn by priest. |
| Zec 13:9 | "I will put this third into the fire and refine them as one refines silver and test them as gold is tested." | God's refining process for His people. |
Exodus 25 verses
Exodus 25 38 Meaning
Exodus 25:38 details specific accessories for the Tabernacle's Golden Lampstand (Menorah): its tongs and its trays. These implements were essential for the proper maintenance of the lamps, ensuring they burned brightly and continuously. The directive that these items be made of "pure gold" signifies their sacred purpose and the exalted holiness of God, who commands meticulous attention to purity and preciousness in all aspects of His worship. This divine instruction underscores God's perfect standard for the objects and service dedicated to Him.
Exodus 25 38 Context
Exodus chapter 25 marks a pivotal transition in the Book of Exodus, moving from Israel's liberation from slavery and the giving of the Ten Commandments to detailed divine instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among His people. Yahweh commands Israel to bring specific offerings, and from these, the materials for His sacred sanctuary are to be made. Verses 10-22 focus on the Ark of the Covenant, verses 23-30 on the Table of Showbread, and verses 31-40 on the Golden Lampstand (Menorah) and its accessories. Exodus 25:38 is an integral part of these precise instructions for the Menorah's complementary tools, emphasizing that every item used in God's service, no matter how seemingly small, must meet His perfect standard of purity and quality. Historically, this meant setting apart Israel's worship from the pagan practices of surrounding nations, where deity worship might be characterized by common materials or lack of specific design.
Exodus 25 38 Word analysis
- And its tongs (מַלְקָחַ֫יִם, malqakhayim):
- This is a dual form in Hebrew, literally "two takers" or "pliers," referring to tongs or snuffers.
- Their function was to trim the wicks of the lamps, removing burnt portions (snuff) to ensure a clear, continuous, and efficient flame.
- Significance: These represent the need for ongoing maintenance, care, and precision in spiritual service. Just as a physical lamp requires trimming to burn brightly, so spiritual life and witness require the removal of impurities and "dead wood" to shine effectively.
- and its trays (מַחְתֹּתֶיהָ, maḥtōtˌeyhā):
- From the root חָתָה (hathah), meaning "to take or snatch up live coals" or "to remove."
- These were small ash-trays, dishes, or fire-pans designed to collect the trimmed wick snuff and any excess oil or ashes.
- Significance: Symbolize cleanliness, tidiness, and the removal of refuse. Pure worship and service demand purity and order, free from defilement and spiritual clutter. This points to the importance of constantly cleansing and purifying one's walk and worship before God.
- shall be of pure gold (זָהָב טָהוֹר, zahav tahor):
- Gold (zahav): The most precious metal, resistant to tarnish. Symbolizes divinity, glory, ultimate value, enduring truth, and immutability. Its unblemished nature speaks of God's perfections.
- Pure (tahor): Signifies unalloyed, undefiled, ritually clean, and set apart for sacred use. This highlights God's demand for absolute holiness and the highest quality in all that pertains to His sanctuary and worship.
- Significance: The use of pure gold for even these minor maintenance tools elevates their purpose to the divine. It emphasizes that all aspects of service and worship to God, even the seemingly mundane or "behind-the-scenes" tasks of cleaning and maintaining, must be characterized by the highest standard of purity, devotion, and excellence, mirroring the absolute perfection of God Himself. It denotes the infinite worth and holiness of God, for whom only the very best is sufficient.
Exodus 25 38 Bonus section
The instruction for "pure gold" extends to every item related to the Tabernacle that required specific handling or direct contact with God's presence or sacred rituals, indicating God's intolerance for spiritual compromise or mixture. It also teaches that God pays meticulous attention to details. There is no such thing as an insignificant command when it comes from the Lord. Every aspect of our lives, service, and worship, no matter how small or practical, is seen by God and should be offered to Him in purity and excellence. This verse thus stands as a foundational truth that all facets of worship, including the practical ones, must be conducted with the utmost care, reflecting the majesty of the God we serve.
Exodus 25 38 Commentary
Exodus 25:38, though seemingly a small detail, is profound in its theological implications. The Menorah, designed to provide perpetual light in the Holy Place, required continuous care. The tongs for trimming wicks and the trays for collecting debris were not incidental; they were integral to the lampstand's function, ensuring uninterrupted light. The insistence that these humble, practical tools be made of pure gold underscores a critical principle: nothing in God's service is to be cheapened or performed haphazardly. Every aspect, from the grandest structure to the smallest utensil, must reflect the ultimate holiness and glory of God. This divine instruction serves as a constant reminder that outward worship must stem from inward purity, diligently maintained. For the believer, this speaks to the necessity of consistent spiritual self-examination and "trimming" (removing sin and hindrances) to allow Christ's light to shine brightly through them into the world, just as a carefully tended lamp radiates pure light. The quality of our maintenance of our "light" matters as much as the light itself.