Ark of the covenant — Meaning in the Bible
A gold-covered wooden chest kept in the most holy place, holding the tablets of the covenant. It represented God's presence and throne among Israel.
What it means
God told Moses to make the ark of acacia wood overlaid with gold, with a mercy seat and two cherubim on top; the tablets of the covenant were placed inside. Exodus 25:10–22Deuteronomy 10:1–5
The priests carried it across the Jordan and around Jericho. The Philistines captured it in Eli's day, and David brought it to Jerusalem with great joy. Joshua 3:14–17Joshua 6:6–81 Samuel 4:10–112 Samuel 6:12–15
Key passages
- Exodus 25:10–22 — How it was made.
- Joshua 3:14–17 — The Jordan stops before the ark.
- 1 Samuel 4:1–11 — The ark captured.
- 2 Samuel 6:12–15 — David brings it to Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 8:6–9 — Placed in Solomon's temple.
Original language
אֲרוֹן a.ron
Hebrew · Strong’s H727 · gloss: “ark”
The Hebrew word aron, chest. (Noah's ark is a different Hebrew word.) Exodus 25:10
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
How translations differ
- Noah's "ark" (a boat) and the "ark" of the covenant (a chest) are different Hebrew words that English versions both render "ark". Genesis 6:14Exodus 25:10
For children
The ark of the covenant was a special golden box. Inside were the stone tablets with God's commandments. Exodus 25:10–16Deuteronomy 10:5
Study further
- Exodus 25:10–22 The design.
- 2 Samuel 6 The ark comes to Jerusalem.