And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:

EXODUS 37:1KJV
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Exodus 37:1 (KJV)

What does Exodus 37:1 mean?

Exodus 37:1 states that Bezaleel made the ark out of shittim wood, giving its exact measurements: two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. This verse describes the careful, skilled construction of the ark, which was a central and sacred object for the Israelites.

In the context of Exodus, Moses is recording how the instructions God gave earlier about building the tabernacle and its furnishings are now being carried out. Bezaleel is the craftsman chosen for this important work, and the verse highlights both his role and the precise dimensions of the ark, showing the attention to detail and obedience to God's commands.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 37:1

  • בְּצַלְאֵל (Bĕtsal'el, "Bezaleel"): This is the name of the skilled craftsman chosen for the work, emphasizing that a specific, gifted individual was responsible for making the ark.
  • אָרוֹן (aron, "ark"): This word refers to a chest or box, and in this context, it is the sacred container for the testimony (the tablets of the covenant).
  • שִׁטִּים (shittim, "shittim"): This is a type of wood, often understood as acacia, known for its durability and suitability for sacred objects.
  • אַמָּה (ammah, "cubit"): The cubit was a standard unit of length in the ancient world, roughly the length of a forearm (about 18 inches or 45 centimeters), making the ark about 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high.

Why Exodus 37:1 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the ark was not just an idea but was actually constructed by a named craftsman, grounding the story in real people and events.
  • The specific measurements and materials show the importance of following God's instructions exactly, highlighting the value of obedience and precision in matters considered holy.
  • By connecting back to earlier chapters where God gave the instructions, this verse shows the fulfillment of God's commands and the careful stewardship of sacred tasks.

Where else these words appear

“Bezaleel” Hebrew H1212 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 31:2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
  • Exodus 36:1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:20 And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.

“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.

“height” Hebrew H6967 · used in 43 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 6:20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,

“breadth” Hebrew H7341 · used in 89 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 7:2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
  • Ezekiel 41:3 Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.