And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass.

EXODUS 38:6KJV
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Exodus 38:6 (KJV)

What does Exodus 38:6 mean?

Exodus 38:6 describes how the craftsman made poles out of shittim wood and covered them with brass. These poles were part of the materials used for the construction of the tabernacle, specifically for carrying the altar.

In this verse, the focus is on the practical details of building the tabernacle as instructed by God to Moses. The person making these items is Bezalel, a skilled craftsman chosen for this work. Shittim wood (from the acacia tree) was valued for its durability, and covering the poles with brass (a type of bronze) made them strong and suitable for moving the altar without direct contact.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 38:6

  • שִׁטִּים (shittim): This word refers to acacia wood, a hard and long-lasting wood native to the region. Its use highlights the importance of durability and quality in the tabernacle's construction.
  • נְחֹשֶׁת (nechoshet): Often translated as "brass" or "bronze," this metal was used to overlay the poles, providing extra strength and a polished appearance. The choice of metal over wood alone shows attention to both function and appearance.

Why Exodus 38:6 matters

  • This verse shows the care and precision involved in following God's instructions for the tabernacle, emphasizing that even small details were important.
  • The use of shittim wood and brass connects this verse to other parts of Exodus where these materials are repeatedly chosen for sacred objects, underlining their special status.
  • Understanding these construction details helps readers appreciate the craftsmanship and reverence involved 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 37:1 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:

“overlaid” 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 36:36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
  • 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 37:4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
  • 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.