Exodus 31 8

Exodus 31:8 kjv

And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,

Exodus 31:8 nkjv

the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense,

Exodus 31:8 niv

the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense,

Exodus 31:8 esv

the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense,

Exodus 31:8 nlt

the table and its utensils;
the pure gold lampstand with all its accessories;
the incense altar;

Exodus 31 verses

Exodus 31 8 Meaning

Exodus 31:8 specifies the inclusion of several critical pieces of furniture for the Holy Place within the Tabernacle that Bezalel and Oholiab were divinely empowered to create: the Table of Showbread with all its associated utensils, the pure Lampstand (Menorah) with all its ancillary utensils, and the Altar of Incense. This verse is part of God's detailed instructions for the Tabernacle's construction, ensuring every element required for worship was meticulously crafted according to His design.

Exodus 31 8 Context

Exodus chapter 31 continues God's meticulous instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings, a process detailed from Exodus chapter 25 onward. Before detailing the final pieces, the Lord specifically names and endows Bezalel and Oholiab with divine skill, wisdom, and understanding for the comprehensive work. Verse 8 falls within the broader list of specific items Bezalel, Oholiab, and their fellow skilled workers were to construct, demonstrating the exactitude required for God's dwelling place.

Historically and culturally, large, ornate temples and their cultic implements were central to ancient Near Eastern worship. However, the Tabernacle was unique as a portable sanctuary, signifying God's presence with His people during their wilderness journey. The precise specifications countered any human arbitrary design, ensuring it was a "pattern" (Heb 8:5) reflecting heavenly realities. The divine appointment of specific craftsmen (as opposed to inherited guild membership) highlighted that true spiritual artistry and wisdom for God's service are gifts from God Himself.

Exodus 31 8 Word analysis

• and for the table: (וְאֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָן - və’et-hash-shul-ḥan) "The table." This refers to the Table of Showbread, specified in Exo 25:23-30. Made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, it held the twelve loaves of "bread of presence" (Lev 24:5-9). This symbolized God's continual provision for His people and the covenant fellowship.
• and its utensils: (וְאֶת־כֵּלָיו - və’et-kê-lāw) "And its vessels/implements." These included the dishes, bowls, pitchers, and cups used in connection with the showbread (Exo 25:29). Their mention signifies that the main furniture piece was incomplete without its necessary ancillary items for proper function. God's commands are comprehensive.
• and for the pure lampstand: (וְאֶת־הַמְּנֹרָה הַטְּהֹרָה - və’et-ham-mə-nō-rāh hat-ṭə-hō-rāh) "And the lampstand, the pure." The "Menorah" was a seven-branched lampstand (Exo 25:31-40) beaten from a single talent of pure gold. "Pure" (ṭāhor) emphasizes not just the material purity (gold) but its ritual, unblemished sanctity, symbolizing God's unblemished light and truth in a dark world. It provided the sole illumination for the Holy Place.
• with all its utensils: (אֶת־כָּל־כֵּלֶיהָ - ’et-kāl-kê-le-hā) "All its vessels/implements." These included snuffers and trays (Exo 25:38-39) used for tending the lamps. These small but crucial items facilitated the continuous burning of the lamps, demonstrating that divine service requires attention to every detail for proper execution.
• and for the altar of incense: (וְאֶת־מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת - wə’et-miz-baḥ haq-qə-ṭō-ret) "And the altar of incense." This was the smaller, golden altar placed directly before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exo 30:1-10). Daily incense offerings on this altar symbolized the ascending prayers of the saints (Psa 141:2, Rev 5:8) and symbolized worship, intercession, and fellowship with God.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "for the table and its utensils": This pairing emphasizes God's desire for not just the centerpiece, but the full functionality and completeness of the instruments required for the worship appointed to them. It underscores that all components, seemingly minor, contribute to the whole.
• "for the pure lampstand with all its utensils": The repetition of "all its utensils" highlights the meticulousness required for every aspect of divine service. The "pure" description of the lampstand elevates its symbolic significance, representing God's unblemished holiness and the radiant light of His truth in contrast to spiritual darkness. This pairing stresses that true worship demands comprehensive and undefiled execution.

Exodus 31 8 Bonus section

• The three items listed in Exo 31:8 – the Table of Showbread, the Menorah, and the Altar of Incense – form the core contents of the Holy Place, the first compartment of the Tabernacle entered by priests daily. Their precise enumeration emphasizes their foundational role in Israelite priestly ministry and communal worship.
• The command to make the Lampstand "pure" points beyond just the gold material. It signifies the spiritual purity required of those who minister before the Lord and the holy nature of the divine light that it represented. This emphasis foreshadows the unblemished perfection of Christ.
• The fact that these highly symbolic items, and all their details, were meticulously specified by God, underlines that human creativity in divine service is not about personal invention but about faithful adherence to God's revelation. True artistic skill, in this context, becomes an instrument for exact obedience.

Exodus 31 8 Commentary

Exodus 31:8 is a succinct enumeration of key furnishings intended for the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. Far from being a mere laundry list, each item mentioned carried profound symbolic and theological significance within Israel's worship. The Table of Showbread symbolized God's provision and sustained covenant fellowship. The pure Lampstand represented God's illuminating presence, the truth of His word, and His guidance through the darkness. The Altar of Incense served as a visual and olfactory representation of the people's ascending prayers and communion with God. The consistent mention of "utensils" for both the Table and the Lampstand underscores the precision and comprehensiveness of God's blueprint for the Tabernacle. Every single item, no matter how small, was essential for the ordained ritual, signaling that worship unto the Lord is not arbitrary or improvised, but strictly patterned according to His revealed will. These physical objects served as earthly copies and shadows (Heb 8:5) pointing to greater spiritual realities, particularly Christ who is the True Bread of Life (Jn 6:35), the Light of the World (Jn 8:12), and through whom our prayers ascend as a fragrant offering to God (Heb 4:14-16, Rev 8:3-4).