The Meaning of Exodus 25:8 Explained

Exodus 25:8

KJV: And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

YLT: 'And they have made for Me a sanctuary, and I have tabernacled in their midst;

Darby: And they shall make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.

ASV: And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And let them make  me a sanctuary;  that I may dwell  among  them. 

What does Exodus 25:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 25:1-9 - Moses Shown God's Plan For The Tabernacle
There were four concentric circles, so to speak, represented as gathered around the burning center of the Divine Presence. In the outer circle, the people, Exodus 24:2; Exodus 24:17; next, the seventy elders, Exodus 24:9; Exodus 24:14; then, Joshua, Exodus 24:13; Exodus 32:17, and lastly, Moses, Exodus 24:18. These represent respectively, the unenlightened; those whose religious life is hindered by their excessive devotion to the flesh; the few whose fellowship is liable to be interrupted by the war-clarion; and those who have been made nigh unto God in Jesus Christ our Lord, and have been baptized into the Holy Spirit. To which group have we attained? We are invited to draw nigh, let us act on the invitation. See Hebrews 10:19-20. There is always room at the top, and there we may stand, beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord. Notice that God said, Come up unto Me. He longs to have our love and faith; His delights are with the sons of men; at great cost He has opened the door of access, Romans 5:1-2. We need God, but God wants us, and therefore the construction of the Tabernacle is next arranged, that He may dwell with man upon the earth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 25

1  What the Israelites were to offer for the building of the tabernacle
10  The dimensions of the ark
17  The mercy seat, with the cherubim
23  The table of show bread, with the furniture thereof
31  The golden candlestick, with the instruments thereof

What do the individual words in Exodus 25:8 mean?

And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them
וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם

וְעָ֥שׂוּ  And  let  them  make 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לִ֖י  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
מִקְדָּ֑שׁ  a  sanctuary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִקְדָּשׁ  
Sense: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.
וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י  that  I  may  dwell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
בְּתוֹכָֽם  among  them 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.