Exodus 38 21

Exodus 38:21 kjv

This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Exodus 38:21 nkjv

This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, which was counted according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.

Exodus 38:21 niv

These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant law, which were recorded at Moses' command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.

Exodus 38:21 esv

These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Exodus 38:21 nlt

This is an inventory of the materials used in building the Tabernacle of the Covenant. The Levites compiled the figures, as Moses directed, and Ithamar son of Aaron the priest served as recorder.

Exodus 38 verses

Exodus 38 21 Meaning

Exodus 38:21 serves as a summary statement for the comprehensive inventory and accountability of all materials contributed and used in the construction of the Tabernacle. It highlights that the meticulous counting and recording were carried out according to the explicit commandment of Moses, the divine intermediary. This administrative task, involving the handling of the precious materials for God's dwelling, was specifically allocated to the Levites for their service, supervised directly by Ithamar, one of Aaron the priest's sons. The verse underscores divine order, human responsibility, and the sacred precision required in all matters pertaining to God's dwelling and worship.

Exodus 38 21 Context

Exodus 38:21 is positioned at the culmination of the Tabernacle's construction phase. The preceding chapters (Exodus 25-31) detail God's specific architectural and material commands to Moses. Exodus 35-37 describe the enthusiastic contributions of materials by the Israelites and the skilled craftsmanship of Bezaleel and Oholiab. Chapter 38 itself outlines the construction of the altar of burnt offering, the court, and the materials used for it, serving as a comprehensive accounting of the collected wealth and its deployment. This verse marks a transition, emphasizing accountability and the meticulous recording before the Tabernacle's final erection and dedication in chapter 40. Historically, this period signifies the initial establishment of organized worship and the administrative structure for God's presence among His newly liberated people in the wilderness, establishing a crucial pattern for future generations and serving as a contrast to the often chaotic and unquantified practices of surrounding pagan cults.

Exodus 38 21 Word analysis

• This is the sum:

  • Hebrew: אֵלֶּה פְקֻדֵי ('elleh pəqudê).
  • אֵלֶּה ('elleh): "These are," plural demonstrative, pointing to the inventory details.
  • פְקֻדֵי (pəqudê): From the root פּקד (pqd), meaning "to visit, muster, count, appoint, supervise, enroll." Here it denotes "register," "account," "numbering," or "reckonings."
  • Significance: Implies careful, authoritative oversight and meticulous accountability for the holy materials. Not just a collection, but a documented use. This concept is polemical against pagan worship which might be more chaotic or based on mere emotion rather than strict adherence to divine command.

• of the materials: Implied in פְקֻדֵי and then made explicit by the subsequent mention of the Tabernacle. Refers to all the gold, silver, bronze, fabrics, wood, etc., detailed in previous chapters.

• for the tabernacle:

  • Hebrew: הַמִּשְׁכָּן (hammišḵān).
  • מִשְׁכָּן (mišḵān): "Dwelling place," from the root שׁכן (shakhan), "to dwell."
  • Significance: The central purpose of the construction was to provide a physical space for God's presence to dwell among His people, reinforcing the covenant relationship. It points to immanence and communion.

• the tabernacle of the testimony:

  • Hebrew: מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת (miškan hā‘ēdut).
  • עֵדֻת (‘ēdut): "Testimony," "witness," "attestation." Specifically refers to the two tablets of the covenant law stored in the Ark.
  • Significance: Highlights the Tabernacle's core purpose as the keeper and witness of God's covenant with Israel. It’s a perpetual reminder of God's revealed will and His covenant obligations and blessings. This links the structure directly to God’s Law and His enduring promises.

• as it was counted:

  • Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר פֻּקַּד (’ăsher puqqad).
  • פֻּקַּד (puqqad): Passive voice of פּקד (pqd), meaning "it was appointed/registered/counted."
  • Significance: Emphasizes that the accounting was not a voluntary human initiative but a mandated action, carried out under divine instruction. Reinforces meticulousness and divine oversight.

• according to the commandment of Moses:

  • Hebrew: עַל־פִּי מֹשֶׁה (‘al-pî Mōšeh).
  • עַל־פִּי (‘al-pî): Literally "by the mouth of," indicating authority, instruction, or decree.
  • Significance: Establishes Moses' indispensable role as God's chosen prophet and administrator, receiving and conveying divine instructions. His authority is explicitly stated, ensuring adherence to the divine blueprint.

• for the service of the Levites:

  • Hebrew: לַעֲבֹדַת הַלְוִיִּם (la‘ăvōdat hal-lᵊwiyyim).
  • לַעֲבֹדַת (la‘ăvōdat): "For the work," "for the service."
  • הַלְוִיִּם (hal-lᵊwiyyim): "The Levites," the tribal group chosen by God for sacred service concerning the Tabernacle.
  • Significance: Defines the specific role of the Levites, who were set apart from other tribes for distinct duties, including the dismantling, carrying, reassembling, and maintenance of the Tabernacle. It illustrates the specialized roles within God's organized community. This reflects an ordered community, unlike the ad-hoc cultic practices of some Canaanite religions.

• by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest:

  • Hebrew: בְּיַד אִיתָמָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן (bəyaḏ ’Îṯāmār ben-’Aharon hak-Kōhēn).
  • בְּיַד (bəyaḏ): "By the hand of," signifying supervision, agency, or delegated authority.
  • אִיתָמָר (’Îṯāmār): Ithamar, the youngest surviving son of Aaron.
  • בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן (ben-’Aharon hak-Kōhēn): "Son of Aaron the priest," identifying his lineage and confirming his priestly authority and suitability for this task.
  • Significance: Designates a specific, accountable individual within the priestly family responsible for the administrative oversight of the Levites and their duties, ensuring proper execution and detailed record-keeping. Ithamar's role here is specifically supervisory over the Tabernacle's materials and Levite service, distinct from his older brother Eleazar's overall priestly oversight.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "This is the sum... tabernacle of the testimony": Establishes the precise, audited nature of the work on God's dwelling place and its central purpose as a testament to God's covenant law. It speaks to divine demand for accountability in all sacred endeavors.
  • "as it was counted according to the commandment of Moses": Emphasizes divine mandate and human fidelity. It is God's will mediated through His chosen servant, ensuring all actions conform to the divine blueprint and are duly recorded. This contrasts sharply with human-initiated or unauthorized religious practices.
  • "for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest": Details the delegation of sacred tasks within God's ordered community. It highlights the division of labor, the appointment of specific personnel (Levites), and the priestly supervision (Ithamar), ensuring precision and proper handling of holy objects and materials, reflecting God's love for order.

Exodus 38 21 Bonus section

The meticulous accounting in this verse demonstrates the sanctity and divine ownership of the materials consecrated for God's use. It illustrates the principle of good stewardship: once something is devoted to God, it must be handled with utmost care and transparency. The detailed record-keeping also served as a clear legal and historical document, affirming the legitimacy of the Tabernacle's construction. This foreshadows the care and order commanded in the building up of the New Testament "spiritual house" (1 Pet 2:5) or "temple" (1 Cor 3:16) — the church — where everything should be done "decently and in order" (1 Cor 14:40). Ithamar's role highlights that even within the priesthood, specific administrative duties were carefully delineated to ensure every aspect of sacred service was executed flawlessly and with proper oversight, providing a model for organization within any divine service.

Exodus 38 21 Commentary

Exodus 38:21 functions as a crucial administrative note, encapsulating the entire material enterprise of the Tabernacle construction. It's a statement of faithful stewardship, confirming that the Israelites’ offerings and the artisans' work were meticulously accounted for and used exactly as commanded by God through Moses. This attention to detail underscores a profound theological principle: God demands order, precision, and accountability in all matters pertaining to His worship and presence. It reveals that worship is not only a matter of spiritual devotion but also involves physical materials, human labor, and diligent administration, all overseen by divinely appointed leadership. The Tabernacle, as the dwelling place of the "Testimony," served as a visible witness to God's precise and binding covenant.