And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.

EXODUS 27:6KJV
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Exodus 27:6 (KJV)

What does Exodus 27:6 mean?

Exodus 27:6 gives instructions for making poles out of shittim wood, covered with brass, to be used with the altar. These poles were meant to help carry the altar, making it possible to move it as needed.

God is speaking to Moses, giving detailed directions for building the altar used in Israel’s worship. The focus here is on practical design: the altar must be portable, so sturdy wooden poles (from the acacia tree, called "shittim") are made and covered with a metal (brass or bronze) for durability. This verse is part of a larger section where God describes the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 27:6

  • שִׁטִּים (shittim): This word refers to acacia wood, known for its hardness and resistance to decay. Its use highlights the need for durability in objects meant to be moved and handled often.
  • נְחשֶׁת (nechoshet): Often translated as "brass" or "bronze," this metal overlay protected the wood and added strength. The choice of metal shows concern for both function and appearance.

Why Exodus 27:6 matters

  • This verse shows the practical care taken in the design of sacred objects, ensuring they could be moved without damage.
  • The use of specific materials like shittim wood and brass connects to other tabernacle instructions, showing consistency and attention to detail.
  • Understanding these instructions helps readers see the importance of obedience and craftsmanship in Israel’s worship practices.

Where else these words appear

“shittim” Hebrew H7848 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 25:5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
  • Exodus 27:1 And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
  • Exodus 37:4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.

“overlay” Hebrew H6823 · used in 39 verses

  • Exodus 25:11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
  • Exodus 36:38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.
  • 1 Kings 6:22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

“staves” Hebrew H905 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
  • Exodus 37:5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
  • Numbers 11:14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

“brass” Hebrew H5178 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.