Exodus 25:17

Summary

The verse instructs the construction of a kapporet ("atonement cover", H3727) made of pure gold, specifying its exact dimensions: two and a half cubits in length and one and a half cubits in width. The verb form marks this as a continuation of a sequence of divine instructions.

Key words

• 'a.Si.ta ("you will make", H6213H) — qal sequential perfect, second person masculine singular; this verb form links the instruction to the preceding commands in the passage, continuing a chain of "you shall do X" statements rather than standing as an isolated command.
• kha.Po.ret ("an atonement cover", H3727) — feminine singular noun in construct state, meaning it is defined by what follows (zahav, "gold"); grammatically it introduces the material specification.
• za.Hav ("gold", H2091) with ta.Hor ("pure", H2889) — masculine singular noun followed by its modifying adjective, together specifying the material as unalloyed gold.
• 'a.ma.Ta.yim ("[will be] two cubits", H0520A) — feminine dual form, inherently expressing the number two without a separate numeral, giving the length measurement.
• 'a.re.Ka ("length", H0753) with suffix -ha ("its", H9024) — construct noun with third-person feminine singular possessive suffix, referring back to the kapporet, clarifying that the two-and-a-half-cubit figure applies to its length specifically.

What the text says

The Hebrew sentence is built as a continuation of a sequence: the narrative vav on ve'asita ties this verse to prior instructions about the construction of sacred furnishings. The core clause is short — "you will make a kapporet of pure gold" — with kapporet placed in construct relation to zahav, so the noun phrase functions as "a gold kapporet," further qualified by the adjective tahor ("pure").

The dimensions are given through two parallel noun phrases, each following the same pattern: a cardinal number term plus "and a half" (va-chetzi), followed by a dimensional noun in construct with a feminine possessive suffix (-ha, "its"). The first phrase, 'amatayim va-chetzi 'arkah, uses the dual form 'amatayim to express "two cubits" grammatically, then adds "and a half," yielding "two and a half, its length." The second phrase, 'amah va-chetzi rachbah, uses the singular 'amah ("a cubit") plus "and a half," yielding "a cubit and a half, its breadth." The construct nouns 'arkah ("its length") and rachbah ("its breadth") both carry a feminine suffix referring to the kapporet, syntactically anchoring each measurement to the object being described. No height dimension appears in this verse.

Differences between versions

The Hebrew text of this verse describes only the kapporet and its length/width dimensions, with no mention of cherubim. The LXX text supplied here instead speaks of making "two golden hammered cherubim" (δύο χερουβεὶμ χρυσοτορευτά) and placing them on both sides of the ἱλαστηρίου ("mercy seat/atonement place"), content that does not correspond to the Hebrew wording of this verse. The Vulgate (Facies et propitiatorium de auro mundissimo... duos cubitos et dimidium... et cubitum ac semissem) follows the Hebrew's structure and content, rendering kapporet as propitiatorium and preserving both dimensions.