Exodus 25:16 (WEB)
You shall put the covenant which I shall give you into the ark.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Exodus 25:16 (KJV)
And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
Key words
- עֵדֻתedut · Hebrew
- 'the testimony' — the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, 'written with the finger of God' (Exodus 31:18).
- אָרוֹןaron · Hebrew
- 'ark' — simply a box or chest; the Ark is first of all the container of God's word.
Why it matters
The first thing placed in the ark is the testimony, the tablets of the law. Pitre lists this as the Ark's second feature: it is the chest that holds God's word, later joined by the manna and Aaron's rod (pp 45–46; Hebrews 9:4). The Word that Mary carries is not on stone but made flesh (John 1:14).