The Meaning of Exodus 25:23 Explained

Exodus 25:23

KJV: Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

YLT: 'And thou hast made a table of shittim wood, two cubits its length, and a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height,

Darby: And thou shalt make a table of acacia-wood, two cubits the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

ASV: And thou shalt make a table of acacia wood: two cubits'shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt also make  a table  [of] shittim  wood:  two cubits  [shall be] the length  thereof, and a cubit  the breadth  thereof, and a cubit  and a half  the height  thereof. 

What does Exodus 25:23 Mean?

Study Notes

shittim wood
i.e. acacia.

Context Summary

Exodus 25:23-40 - The Table Of Showbread And The Lampstand
The Table of the Showbread, or Presence-bread, held the twelve loaves, which represented the tribes of Israel. It was three feet long, one foot, six inches broad, and two feet, three inches high. The border or edging of gold around the top kept its contents from falling off. The loaves were changed each week, and when removed, were eaten only by the priests. See Mark 2:26. Surely the suggestion of this table, standing, as it did, immediately before the veil on the outer side, was intended to teach that the purity and devotion of Israel were as bread to God. He taketh pleasure in them that fear Him. We also feed with God on the beauty and glory of our Savior's obedience unto death.
The candlestick, with its seven branches, cost $35,000, and is a type of Christ, the Light of the World, and of the people of God when illuminated by the Divine Fire and shining amid the darkness around. See Zechariah 4:2; John 8:12; Revelation 1:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 25

1  What the Israelites were to offer for the building of the tabernacle
10  The dimensions of the ark
17  The mercy seat, with the cherubim
23  The table of show bread, with the furniture thereof
31  The golden candlestick, with the instruments thereof

What do the individual words in Exodus 25:23 mean?

And You shall make a table of wood acacia Two cubits [shall be] its length and a cubit its width and a half its height
וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ שֻׁלְחָ֖ן עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים אַמָּתַ֤יִם אָרְכּוֹ֙ וְאַמָּ֣ה רָחְבּ֔וֹ וָחֵ֖צִי קֹמָתֽוֹ

וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ  And  You  shall  make 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
שֻׁלְחָ֖ן  a  table 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֻׁלְחָן  
Sense: table.
עֲצֵ֣י  of  wood 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
שִׁטִּ֑ים  acacia 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שִׁטָּה  
Sense: acacia tree, acacia wood.
אַמָּתַ֤יִם  Two  cubits 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: אַמָּה 
Sense: cubit—a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 8 in (.
אָרְכּוֹ֙  [shall  be]  its  length 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹרֶךְ  
Sense: length.
וְאַמָּ֣ה  and  a  cubit 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַמָּה 
Sense: cubit—a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 8 in (.
רָחְבּ֔וֹ  its  width 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֹחַב  
Sense: breadth, width, expanse.
וָחֵ֖צִי  and  a  half 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֲצִי 
Sense: half.
קֹמָתֽוֹ  its  height 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹומָה  
Sense: height.