Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Description:Acacia refers to a group of trees and shrubs belonging to the family Fabaceae, known for their durable wood and thorny branches. In the Bible, acacia wood is noted for its use in the construction of sacred objects and structures. The Hebrew word for acacia is "shittim," and it is often translated as "acacia" in modern Bible versions.
Biblical References:Acacia wood is prominently mentioned in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. The wood's durability and resistance to decay made it an ideal material for sacred purposes.
1.
The Ark of the Covenant: The Ark of the Covenant, a central and sacred object in Israelite worship, was constructed using acacia wood.
Exodus 25:10 states, "They are to construct an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high."
2.
The Table for the Bread of the Presence: The table that held the Bread of the Presence was also made from acacia wood.
Exodus 25:23 instructs, "You are also to make a table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high."
3.
The Altar of Burnt Offering: The altar used for burnt offerings was constructed from acacia wood, as described in
Exodus 27:1 : "You are to construct the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar is to be square, and three cubits high."
4.
The Poles and Framework of the Tabernacle: Acacia wood was used for the poles and framework of the Tabernacle, providing structural support.
Exodus 26:15 states, "You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle."
5.
The Altar of Incense: The altar of incense, used for burning fragrant incense before the Lord, was also made from acacia wood.
Exodus 30:1 specifies, "You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense."
Symbolism and Significance:Acacia wood's use in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings underscores its importance and symbolic value. The wood's resilience and incorruptibility may symbolize purity and endurance, qualities befitting objects dedicated to divine worship. The frequent use of acacia wood in sacred contexts highlights its role in facilitating the Israelites' worship and their covenant relationship with God.
Geographical Context:Acacia trees are native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the Middle East and Africa. They were likely abundant in the wilderness areas where the Israelites traveled during the Exodus, making them a practical choice for construction materials.
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient Near Eastern cultures, acacia wood was valued for its strength and workability. Its use in the Tabernacle reflects the broader cultural appreciation for durable and aesthetically pleasing materials in religious and ceremonial contexts.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Hebrews shittim)
Exodus 25:5, R.V. probably the Acacia seyal (the gum-arabic tree); called the "shittah" tree (
Isaiah 41:19). Its wood is called shittim wood (
Exodus 26:15, 26;
25:10, 13, 23, 28, etc.). This species (A. seyal) is like the hawthorn, a gnarled and thorny tree. It yields the gum-arabic of commerce. It is found in abundance in the Sinaitic peninsula.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A roll or bag, filled with dust, borne by Byzantine emperors, as a memento of mortality. It is represented on medals.
2. (n.) A genus of leguminous trees and shrubs. Nearly 300 species are Australian or Polynesian, and have terete or vertically compressed leaf stalks, instead of the bipinnate leaves of the much fewer species of America, Africa, etc. Very few are found in temperate climates.
3. (n.) The inspissated juice of several species of acacia; -- called also gum acacia, and gum arabic.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ACACIAa-ka'-sha (shiTTah, the shittah tree of the King James Version,Isaiah 41:19, and `atse-shiTTah, acacia wood; shittah wood the King James Version,Exodus 25:5, 10, 13;Exodus 26:15, 26; 27:1, 6Deuteronomy 10:3.): ShiTTah (= shinTah) is equivalent to the Arabic sant which is now the name of the Acacia Nilotica (NO, Leguminosae), but no doubt the name once included other species of desert acacias. If one particular species is indicated in the Old Testament it is probably the Acacia Seyal-the Arabic Seyyal-which yields the well-known gum-arabic This tree, which has finely leaves ular flowers, grows to a height of twenty feet or more, and its stem may sometimes reach two feet in thickness. The tree often assumes a characteristic umbrella-like form. The wood is close-grained and is not readily attacked by insects. It would be well suited for such purposes as described, the construction of the ark of the covenant, the altar and boarding of the tabernacle. Even today these trees survive in considerable numbers around `Ain Jidy and in the valleys to the south.
E. W. G. Masterman
Strong's Hebrew
7848. shittah --acacia (a tree and a wood)... 7847, 7848. shittah. 7849 .
acacia (a tree and a wood). Transliteration:
shittah Phonetic Spelling: (shit-taw') Short Definition:
acacia.
...1029. Beth Hashshittah -- "place of theacacia," a place in...
... "place of theacacia," a place in Palestine. Transliteration: Beth Hashshittah Phonetic
Spelling: (bayth hash-shit-taw') Short Definition: Beth-shittah....
7851. Shittim -- a place East of the Jordan, also a wadi perhaps...
... NASB Word Usage Shittim (5). Shittim. The same as the plural of shittah;acacia
trees; Shittim, a place East of the Jordan -- Shittim. see HEBREW shittah....
Library
The Wilderness.
... of water; and though there were here and there slopes of grass, and bushes of
hoary-leaved camel-thorn, and long-spined shittim oracacia, nothing bearing...
Religious Dangers
... It is not in the waste and howling wilderness of rock, and sand and shingle, with
its scantyacacia copses, and groups of date trees round the lonely well...
In the Desert
... It hinted of imprisonment. Turning as though pursued, he disappeared up
anacacia tree from which he could not be dislodged. With...
An Unfulfilled Desire
... A prophet, who knows God and His will, is standing on the mountain top, and as he
looks down over the valley beneath him, with itsacacia-trees and swift river...
Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.
... It was made ofacacia wood, and overlaid with gold"Exodus 37:25.] 12 And Zacharias
was troubled [as men always are at the sight of heavenly beings...
October.
... The beds of red verbena and geranium were still brilliant, though choked with fallen
leaves ofacacia and plane; the canary plant, still untouched by frost...
That There is no Distinction in the Scriptural Use of These...
... [726] 1 Corinthians 8:6. [727] 1 Corinthians 11:12. [728] Exodus 25:10, LXX.
AV "shittim." RV "acacia." St. Ambrose (de Spiritu Sancto, ii....
The Nile and Egypt
... There are light groves of the date-palm, groups ofacacia trees and sycamores, square
patches of barley or of wheat, fields of beans or of bersim,[*] and here...
Joel
... argument from citations, it would be possible to maintain that Joel's simple and
natural picture of the stream from the temple watering theacacia valley, iii...
Under Ban of the Ritual
... Palm and tamarisk,acacia and rose-shrub, jasmine and purple mimosa made a
multi-tinted jungle about a shadowy pool in which a white heron stood knee-deep....
Thesaurus
Acacia (28 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews shittim) Exodus 25:5, RV probably the
Acacia seyal (the gum-arabic tree); called the "shittah" tree (Isaiah 41:19).
...ACACIA.
...Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences)
Acacia-wood.Acacia-trees,Acacia-wood. Acatan . Multi-Version
ConcordanceAcacia-wood (27 Occurrences). Exodus 25:5...
Acacia-trees (1 Occurrence)
Acacia-trees.Acacia-tree,Acacia-trees.Acacia-wood . Multi-Version
ConcordanceAcacia-trees (1 Occurrence). Joel 3:18 And it will...
Acacia-tree (1 Occurrence)
Acacia-tree. Acacias,Acacia-tree.Acacia-trees . Multi-Version
ConcordanceAcacia-tree (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 41:19...
Poles (58 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:13 You shall make poles ofacacia wood, and overlay them with gold.... Exodus
30:5 You shall make the poles ofacacia wood, and overlay them with gold....
Shittim (34 Occurrences)
... shit'a, (shiTTah; Septuagint xulon asepton; the Revised Version (British and American)
ACACIA TREE (Isaiah 41:19)); (`ace shiTTim; the Revised Version (British...
Shittah (2 Occurrences)
... shit'a, (shiTTah; Septuagint xulon asepton; the Revised Version (British and American)
ACACIA TREE (Isaiah 41:19)); (`ace shiTTim; the Revised Version (British...
Overlaid (50 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:32 You shall hang it on four pillars ofacacia overlaid with gold;
their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver....
Breadth (100 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:10 "They shall make an ark ofacacia wood.... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS
YLT RSV). Exodus 25:23 "You shall make a table ofacacia wood....
Cubits (156 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Exodus 25:10 "They shall make an ark
ofacacia wood.... Exodus 25:23 "You shall make a table ofacacia wood....
Resources
What is the significance of acacia wood in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the altar of incense? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the tabernacle of Moses? | GotQuestions.orgAcacia: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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