Exodus 25:9 Study Bible: According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it.

◄ Exodus 25:9 ►

You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.

You must make
This phrase underscores the divine imperative given to Moses. The Hebrew root for "make" is עָשָׂה (asah), which means to do, fashion, or accomplish. It implies not just creation but a purposeful and intentional act. In the context of the tabernacle, it signifies the importance of following God's specific instructions, highlighting obedience and reverence in worship.

the tabernacle
The Hebrew word for "tabernacle" is מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan), meaning dwelling place. This term is significant as it represents God's presence among His people. The tabernacle was a portable sanctuary, symbolizing that God was not confined to a single location but traveled with the Israelites. It foreshadows the coming of Christ, who "tabernacled" among us (John 1:14).

and design all its furnishings
The word "design" comes from the Hebrew תַּבְנִית (tabnith), meaning pattern or model. This indicates that every detail of the tabernacle and its furnishings was divinely inspired. The furnishings, including the Ark of the Covenant, the table, and the lampstand, each had specific purposes and symbolized various aspects of God's covenant and holiness.

according to the pattern
The Hebrew word for "pattern" is תַּבְנִית (tabnith), which is the same as "design." This repetition emphasizes the importance of adhering strictly to God's blueprint. It suggests that the earthly tabernacle was a reflection of a heavenly reality, a concept echoed in Hebrews 8:5, where the earthly sanctuary is described as a shadow of the heavenly one.

I will show you
This phrase indicates direct divine revelation. God personally revealed the plans to Moses, underscoring the sacredness and divine origin of the tabernacle's design. It highlights the intimate relationship between God and Moses and, by extension, God's desire to reveal Himself to His people. This revelation is a precursor to the ultimate revelation of God through Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His people from Egypt and to receive the Law, including the instructions for the tabernacle.

2. The Tabernacle
A portable sanctuary that served as the dwelling place of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.

3. Mount Sinai
The place where Moses received the instructions for the tabernacle and the Law from God.

4. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were to construct the tabernacle according to the divine pattern given to Moses.

5. God's Presence
The central focus of the tabernacle, symbolizing God's desire to dwell among His people.

Teaching Points

Divine Blueprint
God provides specific instructions for His dwelling place, emphasizing the importance of obedience and reverence in worship.

Symbolism of the Tabernacle
Each element of the tabernacle points to deeper spiritual truths and foreshadows Christ's work and presence.

God's Desire to Dwell with Us
The tabernacle represents God's ongoing desire to be present with His people, culminating in Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Attention to Detail in Worship
Just as the Israelites were to follow God's pattern precisely, we are called to approach worship with intentionality and respect.

Faithfulness in Following God's Plan
The construction of the tabernacle teaches us the importance of adhering to God's guidance in our lives.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the concept of a "divine pattern" in Exodus 25:9 influence our understanding of worship today?

2. In what ways does the tabernacle foreshadow the coming of Jesus Christ, and how does this enhance our appreciation of the New Testament?

3. How can we apply the principle of following God's detailed instructions in our personal and communal spiritual practices?

4. What does the tabernacle teach us about God's desire to be present with His people, and how can we cultivate an awareness of His presence in our daily lives?

5. How do the instructions for the tabernacle challenge us to consider the importance of holiness and reverence in our relationship with God?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Hebrews 8:5
This verse explains that the earthly tabernacle was a shadow of the heavenly things, emphasizing the importance of following God's pattern.

Exodus 40:34-38
Describes the completion of the tabernacle and the glory of the Lord filling it, signifying God's approval and presence.

1 Chronicles 28:19
David speaks of receiving the plans for the temple by the Spirit, paralleling the divine pattern given to Moses for the tabernacle.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, drawing a parallel between the tabernacle and Jesus as the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity.

Revelation 21:3
Foretells the ultimate fulfillment of God's desire to dwell with His people in the new heaven and new earth.

Sermons

A Divine Plan for Building	Great Thoughts	Exodus 25:1-9
Badgers' Skins	W. Brown.	Exodus 25:1-9
Brass	W. Brown.	Exodus 25:1-9
Design and Use of the Ceremonial Law	E. W. Hengstenberg, D. D.	Exodus 25:1-9
Gifts of Materials for the Construction of the Tabernacle	W. Brown.	Exodus 25:1-9
Goats' Hair	W. Brown.	Exodus 25:1-9
God Dwelling with Men	A. Raleigh, D. D.	Exodus 25:1-9
Gold	W. Brown.	Exodus 25:1-9
Means of Interpretation	E. E. Atwater.	Exodus 25:1-9
Nature and Design of the Tabernacle	R. Newton, D. D.	Exodus 25:1-9
Offerings Accompanied with Devotion	S. S. Chronicle	Exodus 25:1-9
Rams' Skins	W. Brown.	Exodus 25:1-9
Silver	W. Brown.	Exodus 25:1-9
Symbolism of Colour	E. E. Atwater.	Exodus 25:1-9
Symbolism of Minerals	E. E. Atwater.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Basis of Symbolism	E. P. Humphrey, D. D.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Colours	E. F. Willis, M. A.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Divine Purpose in the Erection of a Tabernacle	J. Ridgeway, M. A.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Edifice of the Tabernacle	E. E. Atwater.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Holy Tent	T. Champness.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Oneness of the Tabernacle	H. Macmillan, D. D.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Pocket Converted		Exodus 25:1-9
The Rearing of the Lord's Sanctuary	J. Urquhart	Exodus 25:1-9
The Tabernacle	W. Roberts, M. A.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Tabernacle a Symbol of Holier Things	R. E. Sears.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Tabernacle a Tent	G. Rodgers.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Tabernacle and Priesthood	D. C. Hughes, M. A.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Tabernacle Entire	W. Mudge.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Tabernacle of the Testimony	W. Seaton.	Exodus 25:1-9
Typical Import of Materials	H. W. Soltau.	Exodus 25:1-9
The Command to Build a Sanctuary	J. Orr	Exodus 25:1-10
God's Dwelling-Place Among His People	D. Young	Exodus 25:8, 9

People

Israelites, Moses, Shoham

Places

Mount Sinai

Topics

Construct, Designs, Exactly, Furnishings, Furniture, Instruments, Pattern, Shew, Shewing, Tabernacle, Thereof, Utensils, Vessels

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Exodus 25:9

4065 orderliness

Exodus 25:1-9

8421 equipping, physical

Exodus 25:1-16

4528 trees

Exodus 25:3-9

5399 luxury
7459 tabernacle, in OT

Exodus 25:8-9

     5207   architecture
     5578   tents
     7382   house of God
     8626   worship, places

Library

The Bread of the Presence
'Thou shalt set upon the table shew-bread before Me alway.'--EXODUS xxv. 30. I suspect that to many readers the term 'shew-bread' conveys little more meaning than if the Hebrew words had been lifted over into our version. The original expression, literally rendered, is 'bread of the face'; or, as the Revised Version has it in the margin, 'presence bread,' and the meaning of that singular designation is paraphrased and explained in my text: 'Thou shalt set upon the table, bread of the presence before …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Golden Lampstand
'Thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold....' --EXODUS xxv. 31. If we could have followed the Jewish priest as he passed in his daily ministrations into the Inner Court, we should have seen that he first piled the incense on the altar which stood in its centre, and then turned to trim the lamps of the golden candlestick which flanked it on one side. Of course it was not a candlestick, as our versions misleadingly render the word. That was an article of furniture unknown in those days. It was a …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Eighth Day. Holiness and Indwelling.
And let them make me a holy place, that I may dwell among them.'--Ex. xxv. 8. 'And the tent shall be sanctified by my glory, and I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.'--Ex. xxix. 43, 45. The Presence of God makes holy, even when it descends but for a little while, as at Horeb, in the burning bush. How much more must that Presence make holy the place where it dwells, where it fixes its permanent abode! So much is this the case, that the place where God dwells …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

April the Thirteenth Pure Gold
"Thou shalt overlay it with pure gold.... And there I will meet with thee." --EXODUS xxv. 10-22. I must put my best into my preparations, and then the Lord will honour my work. My part is to be of "pure gold" if my God is to dwell within it. I must not satisfy myself with cheap flimsy and then assume that the Lord will be satisfied with it. He demands my very best as a condition of His enriching Presence. My prayers must be of "pure gold" if He is to meet me there. There must be nothing vulgar …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Concerning Jonathan, one of the Sicarii, that Stirred up a Sedition in Cyrene, and was a False Accuser [Of the Innocent].
1. And now did the madness of the Sicarii, like a disease, reach as far as the cities of Cyrene; for one Jonathan, a vile person, and by trade a weaver, came thither and prevailed with no small number of the poorer sort to give ear to him; he also led them into the desert, upon promising them that he would show them signs and apparitions. And as for the other Jews of Cyrene, he concealed his knavery from them, and put tricks upon them; but those of the greatest dignity among them informed Catullus, …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

How Intent the Ruler Ought to be on Meditations in the Sacred Law.
But all this is duly executed by a ruler, if, inspired by the spirit of heavenly fear and love, he meditate daily on the precepts of Sacred Writ, that the words of Divine admonition may restore in him the power of solicitude and of provident circumspection with regard to the celestial life, which familiar intercourse with men continually destroys; and that one who is drawn to oldness of life by secular society may by the aspiration of compunction be ever renewed to love of the spiritual country. …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
or, Gospel Light Fetched out of the Temple at Jerusalem, to Let us More Easily into the Glory of New Testament Truths. 'Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Isreal;--shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out hereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof.'--Ezekiel 43:10, 11 London: Printed for, and sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgate, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prophets and Apostles.
The work of the Holy Spirit in apostles and prophets is an entirely distinctive work. He imparts to apostles and prophets an especial gift for an especial purpose. We read in 1 Cor. xii. 4, 8-11, 28, 29, R. V., "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.... For to one is given through the Spirit wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; and to another workings …
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

The Kingdom Forming
Exodus Page Leviticus Page Deuteronomy Page EXODUS I. Pictorial Device. Originate one, or omit. II. III. IV. V. 1706 B.C. to 1490 B.C., making 216 years. VI. 1. 1 to 18. Israel Delivered. 2. 19 to 34. Israel Taught at Mount Sinai. 3. 35 to 40. Israel Prepared for Worship. VII. Chapter 20.2. VIII. God Delivering a Nation. IX. 12:13: "And when I see the blood I will pass over you." 15:11. X. 1. Bondage. 2. 3. Burning Bush. 7-11. 12. 14. Red Sea. 15. 16. Manna. 20. 25 and 35. The …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible

The Word
The third way to escape the wrath and curse of God, and obtain the benefit of redemption by Christ, is the diligent use of ordinances, in particular, the word, sacraments, and prayer.' I begin with the best of these ordinances. The word . . . which effectually worketh in you that believe.' 1 Thess 2:13. What is meant by the word's working effectually? The word of God is said to work effectually when it has the good effect upon us for which it was appointed by God; when it works powerful illumination …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

An Advance Step in the Royal Programme
(Revelation, Chapters iv. and v.) "We are watching, we are waiting, For the bright prophetic day; When the shadows, weary shadows, From the world shall roll away. "We are watching, we are waiting, For the star that brings the day; When the night of sin shall vanish, And the shadows melt away. "We are watching, we are waiting, For the beauteous King of day; For the chiefest of ten thousand, For the Light, the Truth, the Way. "We are waiting for the morning, When the beauteous day is dawning, We are …
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links

Exodus 25:9 NIV
Exodus 25:9 NLT
Exodus 25:9 ESV
Exodus 25:9 NASB
Exodus 25:9 KJV

Exodus 25:9 Commentaries

Bible Hub