Exodus 25:40 kjv
And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.
Exodus 25:40 nkjv
And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
Exodus 25:40 niv
See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
Exodus 25:40 esv
And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.
Exodus 25:40 nlt
"Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.
Exodus 25 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:9 | "According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle..." | Command to follow God's pattern for the whole Tabernacle. |
| Exod 26:30 | "And you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which was shown you on the mountain." | Reiteration for the Tabernacle structure itself. |
| Exod 27:8 | "You shall make it hollow with boards. As it was shown you on the mountain..." | Applies the pattern principle to the altar. |
| Num 8:4 | "Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand: hammered work of gold, from its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand." | Confirmation of the lampstand being built according to pattern. |
| Heb 8:5 | "who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle; for He said, ‘SEE THAT YOU MAKE ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.’" | Direct NT quotation, identifying earthly Tabernacle as a shadow of heavenly reality. |
| Heb 9:23-24 | "Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified... Christ has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." | Heavenly patterns require perfect reality; Christ fulfills this. |
| Heb 10:1 | "For the law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near." | Old Covenant law and its objects are shadows pointing to Christ. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance is Christ." | Ceremonial laws as shadows, with Christ as the true substance. |
| 1 Chr 28:11-12 | "Then David gave his son Solomon the plan of the porch and its houses... and of all that he had by the Spirit with him for the courts of the house of the LORD, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the house of God and for the treasuries of the dedicated things." | God provided the architectural plan for Solomon's Temple. |
| 1 Chr 28:19 | "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the work of this pattern." | David explicitly states the Temple plans were from God. |
| Acts 7:44 | "Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen." | Stephen's sermon affirms the Tabernacle's divine origin and pattern. |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." | Christ "tabernacled" or "pitched His tent" among us, the ultimate dwelling. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" | Believers are God's spiritual temple, indwelt by His Spirit. |
| Eph 2:20-22 | "having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." | Believers are living stones forming a spiritual dwelling for God. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Similar to Ephesians, believers as part of God's spiritual house. |
| Deut 4:2 | "You shall not add to the word which I command you nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." | Principle of not altering God's commands; applicable to the pattern. |
| Deut 12:32 | "Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." | General principle of meticulous obedience to divine instructions. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective censers and put fire in them, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them..." | Consequences of deviating from God's prescribed worship. |
| Psa 96:9 | "Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth." | Calls for worship done in holiness and prescribed beauty. |
| Matt 5:48 | "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." | Divine standard for His people, reflecting God's nature. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD... as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." | Emphasizes God's superior, perfect design, beyond human conception. |
| Rev 21:2-3 | "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people...'" | The ultimate fulfillment: God's perfected dwelling among His redeemed. |
Exodus 25 verses
Exodus 25 40 Meaning
Exodus 25:40 is a foundational command given by God to Moses, emphasizing strict adherence to a divine blueprint. It instructs Moses to ensure that all elements of the Tabernacle, specifically the lampstand and by extension all the sanctuary's furnishings, are constructed precisely according to the visual "pattern" (model or design) that was directly shown to him by God on Mount Sinai. This verse underscores God's sovereignty over worship and the absolute necessity of conformity to His revealed will in all sacred matters.
Exodus 25 40 Context
Exodus 25 begins a prolonged section of God's detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle (Exod 25-31) immediately following the giving of the Ten Commandments and the covenant ratification on Mount Sinai. Prior verses (25:10-39) describe specific elements: the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, and most immediately, the seven-branched Lampstand (Menorah). Verse 40 serves as a summary and emphatic directive, applying not just to the lampstand but implicitly to all preceding and subsequent instructions for the entire sanctuary. This command ensures the meticulous reproduction of a divinely revealed blueprint. The historical and cultural context of ancient Near Eastern temple building included common practices where temples reflected human architectural ingenuity or cosmological beliefs. However, Israel's Tabernacle uniquely distinguished itself by its origin: a direct, specific revelation from the Lord Himself. This highlights the Tabernacle's distinct holiness and functioned as an implicit polemic against syncretism or human-devised forms of worship prevalent among surrounding nations, reinforcing that only God's prescribed way is acceptable.
Exodus 25 40 Word analysis
- And see (וּרְאֵה, u-re'eh): This is an imperative verb from the root ra'ah (ראָה), meaning "to see," "to observe," "to perceive," or "to understand." Here, it's not merely a casual glance but an instruction for careful, deliberate, and attentive consideration. It implies grasping the essence of the pattern mentally and intellectually, preparing for precise execution. It suggests deep engagement and internal comprehension before acting.
- that you make them (וַעֲשֵׂה, wa-aseh): Also an imperative, from the root 'asah (עָשָׂה), meaning "to do," "to make," "to build," or "to accomplish." This command links diligent observation with concrete action. It requires not only Moses' understanding but also his active oversight and instruction to the skilled craftsmen who would perform the physical labor, ensuring every detail aligns with the divine vision. It emphasizes faithful execution.
- after the pattern (בְּתַבְנִיתָם, bə-ṭavnî-tam):
- בְּ (bə-): The prefixed preposition signifies "in," "with," "according to," or "in conformity with." It strictly dictates the manner of creation.
- תַּבְנִית (tavnît): This noun means "pattern," "model," "form," "likeness," or "blueprint." It's derived from banah (בָּנָה), "to build." It implies a detailed, existing, archetypal design to be copied exactly. It speaks of divine origination and an ideal standard, not human innovation. The "them" (-am) suffix refers to the plural items already detailed (ark, table, lampstand) and those yet to be detailed for the sanctuary, implying one unified pattern for all the elements.
- for them: This phrase is an implied English translation, based on the possessive suffix '-am' attached to 'pattern,' indicating that it's "their pattern" or the pattern that corresponds to or governs the design of "them" (the Tabernacle items).
- which was shown you (אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מָרְאֶה, asher attah mor'eh):
- אֲשֶׁר (asher): A relative pronoun, "which," "that."
- אַתָּה (attah): "You" (masculine singular), referring specifically to Moses.
- מָרְאֶה (mor'eh): This is the Niphal (passive voice) perfect of ra'ah (ראָה). It explicitly states that Moses did not just "see" by himself, but was shown or was caused to see by an external, divine agent—God Himself. This underscores God's active role in revealing the design and the unquestionable authority of the pattern.
- on the mountain (בַּהָֽר׃ bahar): This refers to Mount Sinai. It is the sacred geographical location where God descended, spoke directly to Moses, and established the covenant with Israel. Mentioning "the mountain" reinforces the divine authority, sanctity, and origin of these instructions. It anchors the command in the extraordinary encounter Moses had with God.
- "And see that you make them": This phrase couples mental discernment with active implementation. It’s a direct order to both understand thoroughly and then to meticulously build according to that understanding. This highlights the required unity of intention and action in service to God.
- "after the pattern for them, which was shown you": This clause emphasizes divine origination and specific instruction. The Tabernacle's design was not a product of human creativity or artistic flair but a direct revelation from God. This set a precedent for all aspects of true worship and obedience: conformity to God’s revealed will.
- "which was shown you on the mountain": This part reiterates the divine source and the unique context of its revelation (Mount Sinai). The "showing" indicates a visual manifestation, likely a detailed vision or a physical model presented to Moses, emphasizing that the blueprint was clear and unambiguous, leaving no room for subjective interpretation or variation.
Exodus 25 40 Bonus section
The concept of the divine "pattern" (tavnît) resonates throughout scripture, applied to Solomon's Temple construction (1 Chr 28:11-19) and interpreted in Hebrews as foreshadowing heavenly realities. The exact repetition of the phrase "as was shown you on the mountain" or similar variations (Exod 25:9, 26:30, 27:8, Num 8:4) throughout the Tabernacle instructions highlights God's non-negotiable insistence on precision. This extreme exactitude countered the ancient practice where human builders dictated the design and form of worship structures and cultic objects, often mirroring regional pagan motifs. For Israel, it meant their sanctuary was divinely unique, safeguarding them from syncretism and reinforcing their exclusive relationship with Yahweh. This rigorous instruction teaches us that God cares about the details of our service and worship, desiring not just devotion, but devotion offered in the manner He prescribes.
Exodus 25 40 Commentary
Exodus 25:40 is more than a mere building instruction; it's a profound theological statement. God, as the ultimate architect and designer, prescribes the precise blueprint for His earthly dwelling, signaling His demand for holy and precise worship. The "pattern" indicates a heavenly reality, of which the earthly Tabernacle was a copy or shadow (Heb 8:5). This insistence on exact adherence prevents human improvisation in worship and underscores the need to approach God on His terms, not our own. The emphasis on what was "shown on the mountain" reminds Israel of the unparalleled, direct divine revelation at Sinai, lending irrefutable authority to the instructions. This principle extends into the New Testament where Christ, as the ultimate reality, fulfills all the Tabernacle's types and shadows (John 1:14). Believers, by virtue of the indwelling Holy Spirit, become living temples (1 Cor 3:16, Eph 2:20-22), yet still called to live in conformity to God's revealed will in His Word, just as the Tabernacle builders conformed to the pattern. Deviating from God's pattern, as Nadab and Abihu tragically demonstrated (Lev 10:1-2), carries grave consequences. This verse implies that faithfulness is not merely zeal but precise obedience to God's detailed instruction, ensuring the holiness of His presence and worship.