Exodus 37:11 kjv
And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about.
Exodus 37:11 nkjv
And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold all around it.
Exodus 37:11 niv
Then they overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it.
Exodus 37:11 esv
And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it.
Exodus 37:11 nlt
He overlaid it with pure gold and ran a gold molding around the edge.
Exodus 37 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Construction & Materials | ||
| Ex 25:10-11 | “They shall make an ark of acacia wood... Overlay it with pure gold, within and without, and make on it a molding of gold around it." | God's specific instructions for the Ark. |
| Ex 30:3 | “You shall overlay it with pure gold—its top, its sides all around, and its horns—and make for it a molding of gold all around." | Gold overlay on the altar of incense. |
| Ex 39:30 | “They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold..." | Gold used for other sacred items/vestments. |
| Num 4:5-6 | "...they shall cover the ark of the testimony with a covering of badger skin...“ | Holiness of the Ark required covering for travel. |
| 1 Kgs 6:21 | "So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold..." | Temple built with similar rich materials. |
| Holiness, Presence & Sovereignty | ||
| 1 Kgs 8:10-11 | "...the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord." | God's glory filling sacred dwelling. |
| Num 10:33-36 | "The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them..." | Ark symbolizing God's leading presence. |
| Deut 10:1-5 | "Then I made an ark of acacia wood... I put the tablets in the ark..." | Ark as container for the covenant. |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | "Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it... and God struck him down..." | Importance of reverence and proper handling of the holy. |
| Heb 9:3-5 | "...behind the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, having the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold..." | New Testament description of the Ark's placement and nature. |
| Rev 11:19 | "...the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple." | Heavenly prototype of the Ark. |
| Symbolism of Gold & Purity | ||
| Job 23:10 | "He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." | Gold symbolizing purity after trials. |
| Mal 3:3 | "...He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver... and purge them as gold and silver..." | God's purifying nature. |
| 1 Pet 1:7 | "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes..." | Spiritual purity is more valuable than physical gold. |
| Rev 21:18 | "The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass." | Purity and divine nature of the New Jerusalem. |
| Christological & Theological Significance | ||
| Jn 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory..." | Christ as the ultimate "Tabernacle" or dwelling of God among humanity. |
| Col 2:9 | "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily..." | Christ as the ultimate embodiment of divine presence. |
| Rom 3:25 | "whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood..." | Christ as the ultimate "mercy seat" for atonement. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace..." | Drawing near to God's presence through Christ, echoing approach to Ark/Mercy Seat. |
| Ex 40:34-35 | "Then the cloud covered the tabernacle... For the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." | God's manifest presence fills the dwelling place. |
Exodus 37 verses
Exodus 37 11 Meaning
Exodus 37:11 details Bezalel's precise craftsmanship in constructing the Ark of the Covenant, specifying that he meticulously overlaid its acacia wood structure entirely with pure gold, both inside and out. Additionally, he fashioned a gold molding, described as a "crown" or rim, and placed it around the top edge of the Ark. This meticulous construction emphasized the Ark's sacred nature, its divine purpose, and the preciousness of God's presence.
Exodus 37 11 Context
Exodus 37:11 is part of the extensive biblical narrative describing the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings. Chapters 25-31 record God's detailed instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Chapters 35-40 then recount the actual fulfillment of these commands, undertaken by Bezalel, Oholiab, and other skilled craftsmen of Israel, empowered by the Spirit of God. The Ark of the Covenant, described in Exodus 37:1-9, is the central and most holy object within the Tabernacle, intended to house the tablets of the Covenant, symbolizing God's covenant with His people and His dwelling presence among them. This verse specifically details a critical step in the Ark's construction, emphasizing the use of precious materials and precise design. Historically, it reflects the practice of ancient Near Eastern cultures using valuable materials for divine cultic objects, but here, uniquely, according to precise divine revelation, not human innovation.
Exodus 37 11 Word analysis
- He: Refers to Bezalel, the chief artisan chosen and filled with the Spirit of God for the work of the Tabernacle (Ex 31:2-3, 35:30-31). This highlights divine appointment and empowerment for sacred service.
- overlaid: Hebrew "צָפָה" (tsaphah). This verb means to plate, cover, or overlay, indicating that a thin layer of gold was applied to the underlying acacia wood (mentioned in Ex 37:1). This method conserved gold while presenting a complete golden appearance, signifying ultimate purity and sacredness on all surfaces.
- it: Refers directly to the main body of the Ark of the Covenant, which was constructed from acacia wood, as established in prior verses.
- with pure gold: Hebrew "זָהָב טָהוֹר" (zahav tahor). "Pure" emphasizes that the gold was refined and unalloyed, signifying perfection, holiness, and incorruptibility. Gold, being a precious metal, symbolizes divine glory, majesty, and value in the biblical narrative. The use of pure gold points to God's absolute holiness and worthiness.
- within and without: This phrase emphasizes a complete, pervasive covering. Symbolically, it suggests that the Ark, and by extension God's dwelling place, was holy through and through, externally and internally. There was no hidden corruption or less-than-sacred aspect. This totality signifies integrity and a deep-seated purity.
- and made: Hebrew "וַיַּעַשׂ" (wayya'as), a standard verb for 'to make' or 'to do,' here indicating an act of creation or fashioning by Bezalel.
- a molding: Hebrew "זֵר" (zer). This word typically translates to "crown" or "border." In this context, it describes a decorative and functional golden rim that encircled the top of the Ark, likely serving to keep the mercy seat securely in place. The term "crown" further emphasizes royalty and sovereignty, suggesting God's kingly authority associated with His throne (the mercy seat) atop the Ark.
- of gold: Reinforces the preciousness and divine significance of this additional feature.
- around it: Specifies the placement of the molding—encircling the upper edge of the Ark's main body, setting it apart and signifying its royal distinction.
Exodus 37 11 Bonus section
The "molding of gold" (זר - zer) has profound symbolic meaning. Beyond merely a practical rim to secure the mercy seat, its common translation as "crown" suggests a royal aspect. This golden "crown" on the Ark points to God's supreme kingship and the Ark itself as the footstool of His invisible throne. The design and materials for the Ark implicitly countered the idol worship prevalent in Egypt and Canaan. Unlike pagan deities, which were often human or animal forms, or were crude materials worshipped for themselves, the Ark was a geometrically precise container, made of specific pure materials, and strictly forbidden from being worshipped. It served solely as a physical, portable point of contact for God's presence, highlighting His distinction, transcendence, and unique demands for worship, entirely different from contemporary polytheistic practices. The thoroughness of "within and without" reinforces the completeness required in holiness, foreshadowing the inner and outer sanctification in believers (1 Thess 5:23).
Exodus 37 11 Commentary
Exodus 37:11 illustrates the painstaking precision and opulence employed in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, underscoring its unparalleled sacredness as the symbol of God's presence among His people. The overlaying of acacia wood (humanity's frailty) with pure gold (divinity, glory) "within and without" signifies that everything associated with God's dwelling must be utterly consecrated, fully pure, and transparent in holiness. There is no aspect, seen or unseen, that is not entirely devoted to Him. The "molding of gold," often translated as "crown," further accentuates the Ark's, and thus God's, sovereign authority and royal majesty. This detail, like all others in the Tabernacle's construction, was not left to human discretion but meticulously revealed by God, emphasizing that approaching a holy God requires adherence to His precise instructions and a recognition of His transcendent purity. The Ark was a physical representation, though imperfect, of the divine truth that God's holiness pervades every aspect of His being and His presence.