Deuteronomy 10:3 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 10:3 mean?

Deuteronomy 10:3 describes Moses making a wooden chest out of acacia wood and carving two new stone tablets, like the first ones, before going up the mountain with these tablets in his hands. This verse shows Moses preparing to receive the commandments from God again after the first tablets were broken.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites, reminding them of what happened after they sinned with the golden calf. He explains how he followed God’s instructions by making an "ark" (a chest) and new "tables of stone" to replace the ones he broke earlier. The verse highlights Moses’ obedience and the careful preparation for restoring the covenant between God and Israel.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 10:3

• "Ark" (אָרוֹן, ’aron, H727): This word refers to a chest or box, here meaning the special container for the tablets. It emphasizes the care and reverence for the commandments.
• "Shittim" (שִׁטִּים, shittim, H7848): This is acacia wood, a durable wood common in the region. Its use shows the practical and lasting nature of what Moses built.
• "Hewed" (פָּסַל, pasal, H6458): This word means to carve or shape, showing Moses’ active role in preparing the new tablets, not just receiving them passively.
• "Tables" (לוּחַ, luach, H3871) and "stone" (אֶבֶן, eben, H68): These words refer to the stone tablets, the physical objects on which the commandments were written. The repetition stresses their importance and the restoration of what was lost.

Why Deuteronomy 10:3 matters

• This verse clarifies that Moses himself made the new tablets and the ark, showing his personal responsibility and involvement in restoring the covenant.
• The detail about the materials and the process emphasizes the seriousness and care taken in handling God’s instructions.
• By recalling this event, Moses reminds the people of their history and the importance of obedience and reverence for God’s commands, setting the stage for the laws that follow in Deuteronomy.