Exodus 25:6 kjv

Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

Exodus 25:6 nkjv

oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense;

Exodus 25:6 niv

olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

Exodus 25:6 esv

oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,

Exodus 25:6 nlt

olive oil for the lamps;
spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;

Exodus 25 verses

Exodus 25 6 Meaning

Exodus 25:6 outlines two specific categories of precious stones designated for the Tabernacle construction: "onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate." These materials were to be part of the freewill offerings collected from the Israelites. Their primary purpose was for the high priestly garments – specifically, the ephod and the breastplate of judgment, which played crucial roles in representing the tribes of Israel before God and in seeking divine counsel.

Exodus 25 6 Context

Exodus chapter 25 begins with God commanding Moses to instruct the Israelites to bring a freewill offering for the construction of the Tabernacle, which would serve as a sanctuary where God could dwell among His people. This instruction immediately follows the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, emphasizing the covenant relationship and God's desire for intimate communion. Verses 1-7 list various materials to be collected: gold, silver, bronze, specific textiles, dyes, oils, spices, and finally, "onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate." This verse, therefore, highlights specific valuable stones necessary for the priestly garments, which were central to the system of worship and atonement within the Tabernacle's design. The high priest, wearing these stones, would bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel before the Lord, signifying their collective representation and the intercession made on their behalf.

Exodus 25 6 Word analysis

• Onyx (אֶבְנֵי־שֹׁהַם, evnei-šoham):

  • Word Level: Onyx (šoham) refers to a precious stone, often identified as a dark, banded agate or sardonyx. Its high value made it suitable for sacred purposes. In the ancient Near East, precious stones were often associated with deity and power.
  • Significance: Its specific use for the shoulder pieces of the ephod, bearing the names of the twelve tribes, symbolized strength, authority, and the High Priest "bearing" the burdens and identity of Israel before God. It connects to the theme of representation and the enduring nature of the covenant.

• stones to be set (וְאַבְנֵי מִלֻּאִים, ve'avnei millu'im):

  • Word Level: Millu'im (מִלֻּאִים) literally means "fillings" or "set stones." It implies careful fitting or embedding into a designated space. This isn't just a collection of random stones but specifically those that will be meticulously placed. The word is also related to "consecration" (as in "filling the hand" for priestly ordination), implying the stones are integral to the consecrated sacred object.
  • Significance: This denotes precision, order, and the meticulous nature of divine instruction for the sacred space. It speaks to God's attention to detail and the distinct role each stone would play in the overall design and symbolism, especially on the breastplate, where twelve distinct stones represented the twelve tribes.

• in the ephod (לָאֵפוֹד, la'ephod):

  • Word Level: The ephod (אֵפוֹד) was a complex priestly vestment worn by the High Priest. It was made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet threads, and fine twined linen. It served as a garment of glory and beauty (Exod 28:2).
  • Significance: The ephod's shoulders carried the two onyx stones with the tribal names (Exod 28:9-12), symbolizing the High Priest carrying the burden and identity of the whole congregation on his shoulders before God. It highlights the priest's mediatorial role.

• and in the breastplate (וְלַחֹשֶׁן, vela'choshen):

  • Word Level: The breastplate (חֹשֶׁן, choshen), often called the "breastplate of judgment" (choshen mishpat), was worn over the ephod and was also made of precious materials. It contained twelve different precious stones.
  • Significance: The breastplate stones were engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel (Exod 28:15-21), emphasizing their personal representation before God, carried "over the heart" of the High Priest. This garment was also associated with seeking divine guidance through the Urim and Thummim, implying direct access to God's wisdom and judgment on behalf of the people.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Onyx stones, and stones to be set": This grouping clearly distinguishes between the two specific uses for the precious stones. Onyx had its unique role on the ephod shoulders, while the "stones to be set" referred to the specific twelve gemstones on the breastplate, each representing a different tribe with unique colors and properties, yet all forming a unified representation. This distinction underscores God's precise and diverse requirements.
• "in the ephod and in the breastplate": This phrase precisely defines the ultimate destination and sacred purpose of these valuable offerings. They were not for general adornment of the Tabernacle walls but specifically for the most holy garments of the High Priest, vital for his mediatorial function. This linkage connects the raw materials to their significant ritual and symbolic role, highlighting their importance in God's ordered system of worship and divine-human interaction. It symbolizes the High Priest's essential role in bearing the full nation of Israel, both on his shoulders (power, responsibility) and over his heart (love, remembrance, judgment).

Exodus 25 6 Bonus section

The deliberate request for "onyx stones" suggests a particular color or type known and valued by the Israelites at that time, distinct from other gemstones. The specificity of materials in Exodus 25, including these stones, not only demonstrates the value God placed on His dwelling place but also revealed His power to command materials from an enslaved people, demonstrating His providence even amidst scarcity. The precise dimensions and material choices for the Tabernacle and its associated items emphasized divine order and truth, where every detail held meaning and was given by direct revelation, leaving no room for human preference or error in constructing a pattern of heavenly realities (Heb 8:5). These stones foreshadowed the preciousness of God's New Covenant people, called "living stones," who collectively form His spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5).

Exodus 25 6 Commentary

Exodus 25:6 details two critical components for the High Priest's vestments, which were fundamental to the Tabernacle service and God's covenant with Israel. The offering of onyx stones and stones for setting speaks not only to the material value and aesthetic beauty of God's sanctuary but more profoundly to its theological significance. These specific stones, when crafted into the ephod and breastplate, became powerful symbols of representation and intercession. The onyx stones on the ephod's shoulders conveyed the High Priest bearing the burden and identity of Israel's twelve tribes. The twelve unique stones on the breastplate, carried "over the heart" (Exod 28:29), ensured a continuous remembrance of each tribe before God's presence, signifying intimate intercession and God's attentiveness to His people's plight and destiny. The careful selection and precise setting of these precious gems contrasted sharply with pagan practices of adorning lifeless idols, instead dedicating them to a living God for a living, chosen people. Ultimately, these types and uses of stones point to the work of Christ, our Great High Priest, who bears us perfectly on His shoulders and in His heart, eternally interceding for us and carrying us into God's very presence, making us living stones in His spiritual temple.