I have a confession to make as we begin this exploration. After investigating the priceless furniture in the Tabernacle, I was not excited about this part of the instructions. But Holy Spirit prompted me to look deeper. He wanted me to see the Hebrew meaning of the letters in the materials used. Some words we covered earlier in our study of the courtyard fence the Brazen Altar, and the furniture in the Tabernacle. Still others were undiscovered territory for me. 

So, put on your Hebrew glasses and get ready for some amazing treasures in this post and the one next week. 

The Tabernacle is unlike any other structure. Every element holds sacred meaning. We are going to walk slowly through this because I don’t want us to miss a detail. 

In this post, we will only consider the boards and tenons. Next time we will look more closely at the silver sockets. Please take note of the boards and tenons in this passage. 

Exodus 26:15-29 “And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board. 17 Two tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side.

 19 You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons. 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards 21 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards. 22 For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards. 23 And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 24 They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners. 25 So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver—sixteen sockets—two sockets under each of the boards.

 In the King James Version, the word used to make the boards is ‘shittim.’ In other translations, ‘acacia’ is used. As far as I can tell, they are the same wood. Acacia was the main tree available during the wilderness journey, and its density and strength made it ideal for a structure that would endure for generations.

 Let’s begin. 

Shittim/Acacia Wood — Strong’s #7848 – שִׁטִּים (this is the plural form) Meaning the sticks of wood from the acacia tree, acacia wood.

Here are the letters from right to left:

 Shin 300 = Victory of good over evil, Holy Spirit. Means: Teeth, Fire, God Almighty, the Fire of God to consume all His enemies, God Devour, Destroy, Something Sharp.

Tet 9 = Judgment. Means: Choice, Basket, Snake, Surround or Twist, entwine, ensnare, entrap, spin, roll together

 Yod 10 = The outcome or completion of something. Means: Hand, Right Arm, Power, Right hand of God’s power, a Deed Done, To Work, to Cover, Allow, Hollow, Open Hand

A closed Mem 600 = Means: Hidden Truth 

Shittim/Acacia Wood (Shin) It represents God’s victory of good over evil. It is a picture of His zeal and His (Tet) judgment seen on the cross that triumphed over the enemy with (Yod) His right hand of power-Yeshua. All of this was (Final Mem) hidden from the enemy even though it had been prophesied for centuries.

In general, wood is a picture of humanity. It is subject to harm and death. But shittim or acacia wood is not open to decay. Its use in the tabernacle represents Yeshua. Since we are one with Him, it also represents us in Him. It is a picture of the victory we have over the enemy as well. 

We do not need to be afraid of the enemy or his doings. Yeshua told us in Luke 10:19: Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

We are not to cower but to stand upright speaking and doing His will. 

 Now, let’s look at the word ‘boards.’

 Boards—Strong’s #7175 – קֶרֶשׁ

It is from an unused root meaning to split off; a slab or plank; by implication, a deck of a ship:—bench, board.

And here are the letters:

Qof 100 = Election of God’s chosen ones, set apart as holy. Means: Holiness, Consecrated

 Resh 200 = Insufficiency, Poverty. Picture: Head Means: Head, Chief, Beginning, Highest, Most Important, a Person 

 Shin 300 = Victory of good over evil, Holy Spirit. Means: Teeth, Fire, God Almighty, the Fire of God to consume all His enemies, God Devour, Destroy, Something Sharp.

 The letters reveal that the boards are pictures of (Qof) God’s chosen ones. And in Yeshua’s case, His chosen One. They are consecrated and holy, set apart for God’s use. They are the result of (Resh) our Head’s, (Yahweh) (Shin) victory over evil, His destruction of our enemies.

 Now, for the last element and to me the most exciting of all…the ‘tenons.’

I didn’t know what a tenon was. So, I looked it up and found these pictures:

 The word tenon has two different spellings.

 The first is Strong’s #3027 יָד and the second for this same Strong’s number is יָדוֹת It is the second one we will consider.

Yod 10 = The outcome or completion of something. Means: Hand, Right Arm, Power, Right hand of God’s power, a Deed Done, To Work, to Cover, Allow, Hollow, Open Hand

Dallet 4 = Earth or creation. Means: Door, Gate, Impoverished man, to come from indicates a pathway, a place of decision, or an entrance to life or death. 

Vav 6 = Man. Means: Nail or Hook, to Secure, Pin together, Connect -Yeshua

Tav 400 = the Outcome of Trial and Testing. Picture: A Rough Cross. Means: Cross, Covenant, Seal, Mark, a Sign, Ownership, Finished or Complete.

 The (Yod) right hand of God’s power allowed or opened the (Dallet) Door for all impoverished men of the earth to enter life. He (Vav) secured and connected us by the Nail (Yeshua) to (Tav) Covenant and Sealed us as His own. Finished and Complete

I would love to go on. But take some time to let these truths sink in. Let’s look at them all together. 

Shittim or Acacia Wood are pictures of God’s victory of good over evil. It is a picture of His zeal and His judgment seen on the cross that triumphed over the enemy with His right hand of power-Yeshua. All this was hidden from the enemy even though it had been prophesied for centuries.

 Boards are pictures of God’s chosen ones. And in Yeshua’s case, His chosen One. They are consecrated and holy, set apart for God’s use. They are the result of our Head’s victory over evil, His destruction of our enemies.

The right hand of God’s power allowed or opened the Door for all impoverished men of the earth to enter life. He secured and connected us by the Nail-Yeshua, to Covenant and Sealed us as His own, Finished and Complete.

Yeshua made a way where there was no way. We are His tabernacle now on the earth. We are in Him and He is in us. And every board was covered with gold–deity and holiness of God. We’ve been immersed in His holiness. 

Let’s end this with His prayer in John 17:20-23

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Take time to celebrate all that He has done. He is so worthy of our praise and worship.

Shalom ♥