Exodus 36:20 · Bible study
Exodus 36:20 Commentary: Acacia Wood Boards, Standing Upright
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exodus 36:20 describes the acacia wood boards of the tabernacle.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The verse reports the faithful construction of the tabernacle's vertical framework using acacia wood, fulfilling God’s pattern.
- Key words: qeresh (boards), mishkan (dwelling), shittim (acacia wood), omedim (standing upright).
- Main debate: Whether the materials and dimensions carry symbolic meaning beyond their practical function.
- Theological theme: Obedience to God’s detailed instructions as worship, and the earthly representation of heavenly realities.
- Best use: Teaching on the tabernacle as a picture of God’s desire to dwell with His people, and the call to build our lives on a durable foundation.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Next, he constructed upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.
KJV King James Version 1769
And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he made the boards for the tabernacle, of acacia wood, standing up.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And he maketh the boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia-wood, standing up;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
He made also the boards of the tabernacle of setim wood standing.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Además hizo las tablas para el tabernáculo de madera de Sittim, para estar derechas.
Também fez as tábuas para o tabernáculo de madeira de acácia, para estarem na vertical.
On fit les planches pour le tabernacle; elles étaient de bois d’ acacia, placées debout.
Und machte Bretter zur Wohnung von Akazienholz, die stehen sollten,
Hij maakte ook aan den tabernakel berderen van staand sittimhout.
Poi si fecero per il tabernacolo le assi di legno d’acacia, messe per ritto.
Naczynił też desek do przybytku z drzewa sytym stojących.
И сделал брусья для скинии из дерева ситтим прямостоящие:
他用皂莢 木 做 帳幕的 豎 板。
And for the uprights of the House they made boards of hard wood.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 36:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse records the faithful execution of the divine instructions given in Exodus 26:15. The boards of acacia wood (shittim) form the vertical framework of the tabernacle’s walls, standing upright on silver sockets. This wood, common in the Sinai region, is hard and long-lasting, symbolizing durability and permanence. The repetition of the building process across chapters 35, 40 emphasizes Israel’s precise obedience to God’s pattern shown on the mountain. The phrase “standing up” underscores the stability and ordered construction of the dwelling place where God would meet His people.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse faithfully records the construction of the tabernacle's wooden framework as commanded in Exodus 26:15, using acacia wood and upright positioning.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Symbolism of acacia wood | Acacia wood is a durable, rot-resistant wood used in the tabernacle furniture, indicating longevity. | Some see it as a type of Christ's incorruptible humanity; others view it simply as a practical building material. |
| The structure's significance | The boards formed the walls of the tabernacle, standing upright on silver sockets. | Whether the tabernacle prefigures the church or Christ's body is interpreted differently across traditions (typological vs. literal-historical). |
| Obedience to pattern | The builders followed the commands given in Exodus 26:15. | Some emphasize the literal obedience as a model for worship; others focus on the spiritual meaning behind the pattern. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The tabernacle, called mishkan or “dwelling,” was a portable sanctuary for Israel’s wilderness journey. Its boards, each ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide (roughly 15 feet by 2.3 feet), were cut from acacia wood, a tree native to the Sinai desert. Acacia wood is dense, resistant to insects and decay, making it ideal for a structure that could be disassembled and carried. According to Ellicott’s standards, the boards were plated with gold (Exodus 26:29) and fitted into solid sockets of silver. The silver came from the atonement contributions (Exodus 30:11, 16), linking the tabernacle’s foundation to atonement. The phrase “standing up” (omedim) indicates they were erected vertically, becoming the walls that enclosed the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. This design was not random; Moses received a heavenly pattern on Mount Sinai. The boards’ upright posture reflects the stability of God’s covenant and the ordered nature of His sanctuary. Even in a temporary camp, the tabernacle’s construction spoke of enduring holiness.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. Minor differences in English translations, such as “boards” (WEB, KJV) versus “frames” (BSB), reflect translation choices rather than textual uncertainty. The underlying Hebrew qereshim is consistent.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Exodus 36:20 has been read as part of the larger typological interpretation of the tabernacle. Early church fathers saw acacia wood as a picture of Christ’s humanity, impervious to decay. Medieval exegetes allegorized the boards as the faithful standing firm in the church. Reformation commentators such as Matthew Henry emphasized the meticulous obedience of the craftsmen, viewing it as a model for doing God’s work according to His instructions. In modern scholarship, the focus has shifted to the historical and cultural context, though typological readings remain common in pastoral teaching.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Faithful Workmanship: The craftsmen followed the pattern given to Moses, showing that obedience to God’s detailed instructions is an act of worship.
- Durable Materials: Acacia wood resists decay, symbolizing the unshakable nature of God’s presence and His covenant with Israel.
- Upright Posture: The boards stand vertically, representing the stability and permanence of God’s dwelling among His people.
Five-point outline
- The Material: Acacia wood, a desert treasure, points to Christ’s humanity, incorruptible and enduring.
- The Construction: Each board with two tenons fits into silver sockets, speaking of unity and atonement (silver from atonement money).
- The Overlay: Gold covers the wood, a picture of divinity covering humanity, ultimately seen in Christ.
- The Position: Standing upright calls believers to a posture of readiness and worship before God.
- The Purpose: The boards form walls that separate the holy from the common, yet invite approach through sacrifice.
Illustration hooks
- Building a house with termite-resistant wood: the materials determine how long the structure lasts.
- A piece of fine furniture made from a dense hardwood like acacia, its grain and durability add value.
- A tent that stakes firmly in the ground, contrasting with a flimsy shelter that cannot withstand wind.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God care about the specific kind of wood used in the tabernacle?
- What does “standing up” teach us about our posture before a holy God?
- How does this ancient construction point forward to Jesus Christ?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows the careful execution of God’s instructions for the tabernacle. The acacia wood boards remind us that God uses ordinary, durable materials to create a place for His presence. In the same way, He builds His church from people who stand firm in faith.
Discussion questions
- What do you know about acacia wood? Why might God have chosen this material for the tabernacle boards?
- How does the phrase “standing up” describe the posture of our faith or the stability of God’s dwelling among us?
- Read Exodus 26:15 where God first gives these instructions. What does it mean that the builders followed the pattern exactly?
- In what ways does God’s dwelling among us require both a sturdy foundation (acacia wood) and precious covering (gold)?
- How does this verse connect to 1 Peter 2:5, where believers are built into a spiritual house?
- What “acacia wood” qualities, endurance, resistance to decay, can you ask God to cultivate in your own life?
- How might the tabernacle’s design encourage us when we feel that God’s presence is temporary or fragile?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 25:5 | rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, |
| Exodus 25:10 | “They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a cubit and a half its height. |
| Exodus 26:15 | “You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. |
| Exodus 26:29 | You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold. |
| Exodus 40:18 | Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars. |
| Exodus 40:19 | He spread the covering over the tent, and put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses. |
| Numbers 25:1 | Israel stayed in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab; |
| Deuteronomy 10:3 | So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two stone tablets like the first, and went up onto the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke refrains from repeating himself here. He refers the reader back to his earlier note on Exodus 26:15, where the purpose and construction of the tabernacle boards were already explained. This verse simply records the execution, so no fresh commentary is needed.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge note clarifies that "the tabernacle" in this verse means "the Dwelling" — a specific title pointing to God's own residence among His people. The translation is not simply a tent but a sacred place of divine presence, as seen in the following verses.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note draws attention to the practical structural detail: the Tabernacle's boards were made of shittim wood, a sturdy acacia, and were specifically shaped to stand upright. This emphasizes the careful, functional design required for the sacred dwelling.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange highlights the striking contrast between this joyful, voluntary giving for the sanctuary and the people's earlier frenzied offerings for the golden calf. The spontaneous generosity here shows the covenant has been truly restored, a rare moment when God's people gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop.