Exodus 26:15-16
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The phrase "standing up" (Hebrew: amad) is key, implying these wooden frames weren't merely laid down but were intentionally erected and supported. This detail highlights how the Tabernacle, though intended to be portable, was designed for a profound stability and presence, mirroring the steadfastness God intended for His people's worship.
“You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is now directing Moses to construct the innermost dwelling of the tabernacle, the sacred chamber where His presence would reside. This section details the building of the "walls" for this chamber using sturdy acacia wood, which would then be overlaid with gold, reflecting the divine glory within. These upright boards were the structural framework that would support the elaborate curtains and coverings described in earlier verses.
Ever wondered what 'shittim wood' is and why it was chosen for such a sacred structure? It's more than just timber; it's a symbol of resilience and God's provision.
The 'boards' (or frames) for the tabernacle were made from 'shittim wood,' which is commonly identified as acacia wood. This wasn't just any wood; it was known for its strength, durability, and resistance to decay, even in the harsh desert environment.
Why Acacia?
These boards formed the solid framework, the 'walls,' that held the tabernacle together, giving it structure and permanence.
Were these just flat boards, or something more? The way these wooden pieces were designed reveals a focus on stability and God's dwelling.
The Hebrew word used here, 'keresh,' might be better understood as 'frames' or 'beams' rather than thin 'boards.' These frames were substantial, likely fifteen feet high and over two feet wide, designed to be interlocked and supported.
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A Solid Foundation
The acacia wood formed the structure, but what gave the tabernacle its breathtaking beauty? Look closer at what covered these sturdy frames.
While the acacia wood formed the strong, unadorned walls, the inside of these walls was overlaid with gold. This wasn't just for decoration; it was profoundly symbolic.
The Unseen Radiance
The outward structure might appear simple, but the interior radiated divine splendor, pointing to the sacredness of God’s presence.
Understand the original words
shittim · Hebrew Noun
A durable, insect-resistant wood native to the desert region of the Sinai Peninsula. Its use in the tabernacle construction represents the beauty and incorruptibility of humanity or the earthly materials sanctified for holy service to God.
ammah · Hebrew Noun
A unit of measurement in the ancient Near East, generally defined as the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately 18 inches. In the Bible, it is the standard unit for construction specifications of sacred structures.
qeresh · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the upright boards or standing structures that formed the walls of the Tabernacle. These were structural supports designed to hold the curtains and provide stability for the portable sanctuary.
This passage calls believers the 'temple of God' and the 'temple of the Holy Spirit,' highlighting that God dwells among His people, just as He did in the physical Tabernacle constructed with these boards.
Ephesians 2:20-21It describes the church as being 'built together into a dwelling-place for God,' with Christ as the cornerstone, paralleling how these acacia boards formed the structure of God's dwelling place.
Hebrews 9:11-12This passage contrasts the earthly tabernacle with Christ's greater sacrifice, showing that the Tabernacle's structure, including its solid wooden walls, was a shadow pointing to the reality of Christ's work.
1 Timothy 3:15The church is called the 'pillar and foundation of truth,' echoing the structural role of these boards in upholding the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place.
clarkeExodus 26:15: "And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up."
Thou shalt make boards - These formed what might be called the walls of the tabernacle, and were made of shittim wood, the acacia Nilotica, which Dr. Shaw says grows here in abundance. To have worked the acacia into these boards or planks, the Israelites must have had sawyers, joiners, etc., among them; but how they got the tools is a question. But as the Israelites were the general workmen of Egypt, and…
calvinExodus 26:1-37: "Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them."
And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
Facies quoque, laqueolos hya cinthinos in ora cortinae unius in extremo in conjunetione: et sic facies…
The phrase "standing up" (Hebrew: amad) is key, implying these wooden frames weren't merely laid down but were intentionally erected and supported. This detail highlights how the Tabernacle, though intended to be portable, was designed for a profound stability and presence, mirroring the steadfastness God intended for His people's worship.
God is now directing Moses to construct the innermost dwelling of the tabernacle, the sacred chamber where His presence would reside. This section details the building of the "walls" for this chamber using sturdy acacia wood, which would then be overlaid with gold, reflecting the divine glory within. These upright boards were the structural framework that would support the elaborate curtains and coverings described in earlier verses.
God is now directing Moses to construct the innermost dwelling of the tabernacle, the sacred chamber where His presence would reside. This section details the building of the "walls" for this chamber using sturdy acacia wood, which would then be overlaid with gold, reflecting the divine glory within. These upright boards were the structural framework that would support the elaborate curtains and coverings described in earlier verses.
"“You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame." — The phrase "standing up" (Hebrew: amad) is key, implying these wooden frames weren't merely laid down but were intentionally erected and supported. This detail highlights how the Tabernacle, though…
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Last reviewed October 2026
