Exodus 25:9 kjv
According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
Exodus 25:9 nkjv
According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
Exodus 25:9 niv
Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
Exodus 25:9 esv
Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.
Exodus 25:9 nlt
You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.
Exodus 25 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 25:40 | And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount. | Direct command for precise adherence to pattern. |
| Exo 26:30 | And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount. | Repetition of pattern emphasis for Tabernacle structure. |
| Num 8:4 | And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold... according unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses. | Pattern applies to all specific components. |
| Heb 8:5 | Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. | Tabernacle as a copy of heavenly reality, quoted from Exo 25:40. |
| Heb 9:23-24 | It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these... | Earthly Tabernacle items were copies of heavenly originals. |
| Acts 7:44 | Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. | Stephen reiterates Moses saw the divine pattern. |
| 1 Chr 28:19 | All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern. | God gives precise patterns for His Temple too. |
| Col 2:16-17 | Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink... Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. | Tabernacle system as a shadow, Christ as the reality. |
| John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. | Christ, the true "Tabernacle" or dwelling of God among humanity. |
| Is 7:14 | ...a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. | Immanuel: God with us, foreshadowing God dwelling with His people. |
| Matt 1:23 | ...they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. | Fulfillment of prophecy, reinforcing God dwelling with His people. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? | New Testament believer as a dwelling place for God's Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 6:19 | What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you...? | The body of a believer as a sanctuary for God. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord... | The Church as a spiritual temple, built according to God's design. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | ...ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them... | God's promise to dwell among His people, continuing His Tabernacle intent. |
| Rev 21:3 | And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them... | Ultimate fulfillment: God's permanent dwelling with glorified humanity. |
| Deut 12:32 | What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. | Principle of strict adherence to God's commands. |
| Jer 29:11 | For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. | God's intentionality and complete plan for His people. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. | Obedience requires trusting God's wisdom over human ideas. |
| Ps 119:105 | Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. | God's detailed instructions provide guidance and illumination. |
| Exo 40:16 | Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. | Moses' perfect obedience in building the Tabernacle. |
| Zech 6:12-13 | ...behold the man whose name is The BRANCH... he shall build the temple of the Lord... he shall bear the glory... he shall be a priest upon his throne... | Prophecy of Christ building the true spiritual temple. |
Exodus 25 verses
Exodus 25 9 Meaning
Exodus 25:9 commands Moses and the Israelites to construct the Tabernacle and its accompanying furnishings precisely according to the divine pattern shown to Moses on Mount Sinai. This verse underscores the supreme authority of God's design, ensuring that every detail of His earthly dwelling place reflects a heavenly archetype. It highlights the principle that worship and service to God must align with His revealed will, not human invention.
Exodus 25 9 Context
Exodus 25:9 appears immediately after God's instruction to the Israelites to gather an offering for the construction of a sanctuary, "that I may dwell among them" (Exo 25:8). The preceding chapters establish the covenant at Sinai, where God delivered the Ten Commandments and further laws, formalizing His relationship with Israel. The Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, served as the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people during their wilderness journey. This verse sets the stage for the meticulous, detailed instructions that follow, emphasizing that the structure, from its grand design to its smallest utensil, must precisely follow a divine blueprint. It establishes the critical theological concept that God's presence and worship require human conformity to His specific, divinely revealed standards, not human preference or innovation. This divine specificity implicitly serves as a polemic against the arbitrary nature of pagan idolatry, where gods and their temples were often products of human imagination and cultural evolution.
Exodus 25 9 Word analysis
According to all that I shew thee
- "According to all": (Heb. כְּכֹל kechol) Implies comprehensive coverage, exact compliance, and a holistic adherence. Nothing is left to human discretion or modification. It highlights God's sovereignty over every detail.
- "I shew thee": (Heb. וְהַרְאִיתָ vəharʾiytā from the root רָאָה ra'ah meaning "to see," often used for divine revelation) Signifies a direct, personal, and visual demonstration by God to Moses. This was not a verbal description alone, but an unveiling of the actual pattern, suggesting clarity and unmistakable divine origin. It underscores the unique revelatory experience Moses had with God. This divine "showing" removes any ambiguity regarding the source or the design, establishing its transcendent authority.
after the pattern of the tabernacle
- "after": (Heb. וְאֵת vəʾet, typically "and," here functions adverbially as "like" or "after the manner of") Reinforces the notion of copying or replicating exactly.
- "the pattern": (Heb. תַּבְנִית tavnit, meaning "model," "blueprint," "design," "figure," "structure," or "copy") This is a crucial theological term. It refers to a divinely originated exemplar, an archetype. This "pattern" is not just an idea but a precise visual and conceptual model. Its usage here signifies that the Tabernacle on earth is not unique but a representation or replica of something that exists in a higher, heavenly reality (as affirmed in Heb 8:5). It denotes divine perfection and purposeful design, with every element bearing theological significance. This word appears in scripture to denote plans (Eze 43:10-11 for the temple), forms (Deut 4:16-18 for idols), or resemblance (Isa 44:13).
- "the tabernacle": (Heb. מִשְׁכָּן mishkan, meaning "dwelling place" or "residence") This word directly indicates God's intention to dwell among His people. It signifies the place where the divine and human spheres would meet. It is derived from the root שָׁכַן shakan, "to settle," "to dwell," which gives rise to the term Shekinah glory, often associated with God's dwelling presence.
and the pattern of all the instruments thereof
- "and the pattern": Repetition of tavnit highlights that not only the main structure but also all its internal components, down to the smallest detail, must adhere to the same divine blueprint. This emphasizes God's meticulousness and the integral importance of every part.
- "of all the instruments thereof": (Heb. כָּל־כֵּלָיו kol-kēlaw, meaning "all its vessels," "all its implements," "all its furnishings") Refers to everything within and associated with the Tabernacle: the Ark, table, lampstand, altars, curtains, poles, etc. The inclusion of "all" underscores that nothing is insignificant or left to human discretion. Every tool and furnishing played a symbolic and functional role within God's divinely ordered system of worship and access.
even so shall ye make it
- "even so": (Heb. כֵּן kēn, meaning "thus," "so," "in like manner") A forceful reiteration of the requirement for precise execution. It commands exact duplication of the divine vision.
- "shall ye make it": (Heb. תַּעֲשׂוּ taʿasū, from the root עָשָׂה ʿāśāh, "to make," "to do," "to create") A direct command for immediate and precise action. This imperative signifies the responsibility of the Israelites to be obedient craftsmen, carrying out God's will exactly as revealed, emphasizing faithful execution without deviation.
Exodus 25 9 Bonus section
The insistence on the divine pattern highlights the transcendent nature of God. Unlike human deities formed by imagination, the God of Israel designs His own dwelling, demonstrating His complete independence and authoritative control. This precision also served as a safeguard against syncretism with pagan religious practices, ensuring the Tabernacle's uniqueness and holy separation. The concept of an earthly "copy" of a heavenly reality suggests a universe ordered by God's eternal designs, with creation itself being a reflection of His wisdom and purpose. The physical Tabernacle was a concrete symbol that taught Israel to seek divine instruction in all areas of their life, fostering a reliance on God's wisdom rather than their own limited understanding.
Exodus 25 9 Commentary
Exodus 25:9 is foundational to understanding biblical worship and the nature of God's revelation. It teaches that God initiates and defines the terms of His dwelling and worship among humanity. The "pattern" revealed to Moses was not a mere architectural suggestion but a divinely authoritative blueprint, symbolizing eternal realities and pointing toward a greater fulfillment. The strict command to follow this pattern emphasizes God's perfection, His sovereignty over all creation, and the importance of precise obedience in serving Him. Every aspect of the Tabernacle, from its general layout to the smallest utensil, bore profound theological significance, serving as a pedagogical tool to teach Israel about God's holiness, His plan of salvation, and the necessary pathway for His people to approach Him. This insistence on divine blueprint foreshadows how Christ, as the ultimate High Priest and perfect sacrifice, perfectly fulfilled the Tabernacle's typology, becoming the "true tabernacle" where God permanently dwells among humanity. It also lays the groundwork for understanding the spiritual temple that is the Church, built according to God's divine plan in Christ (Eph 2:20-22). The lesson is clear: authentic service and worship of God are not a matter of human preference or innovation but of faithful adherence to His revealed will.