Wooden plaques, while not directly mentioned in the Bible, can be considered an element of the rich tapestry of religious craftsmanship and symbolism that pervades the scriptural narratives. While the Bible often references stone tablets, wooden elements hold their unique significance in biblical times, in constructions such as Noah’s Ark and the Ark of the Covenant.
Below are a selection of Bible verses that reflect the spirit, symbolic, and physical attributes that can be associated with the concept of wooden plaques, each offering a reflection on enduring commitment, divine instructions, and spiritual symbolism.
Bible Verses About Wooden Plaques
1. Exodus 25:10 – The Ark of the Covenant
“Have them make an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.” – Exodus 25:10
Cross-References
Hebrews 9:4 – “Which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.”
Deuteronomy 10:1 – “At that time the LORD said to me, ‘Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones and come up to me on the mountain.'”
1 Samuel 6:11 – “They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors.”
2. Genesis 6:14 – Construction of Noah’s Ark
“So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.” – Genesis 6:14
Cross-References
Hebrews 11:7 – “By faith Noah, being warned, built an ark to save his family.”
1 Peter 3:20 – “To those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.”
Luke 17:27 – “People were eating, drinking, marrying…, until the day Noah entered the ark.”
3. Exodus 37:10 – The Table for the Bread of the Presence
“They made the table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.” – Exodus 37:10
Cross-References
1 Kings 7:48 – “Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in the LORD’s temple: the golden altar; the golden table that held the bread of the Presence.”
Leviticus 24:5 – “Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf.”
Numbers 4:7 – “Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings.”
4. Exodus 26:15 – The Frames for the Tabernacle
“Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.” – Exodus 26:15
Cross-References
Numbers 7:1 – “The day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings.”
Exodus 30:26 – “Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, the table and all its articles…”
1 Chronicles 28:11 – “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms, and the place of atonement.”
5. 1 Kings 6:9 – Solomon Builds the Temple
“So he built the temple and completed it, roofing it with beams and cedar planks.” – 1 Kings 6:9
Cross-References
1 Kings 5:6 – “So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me.”
2 Chronicles 2:8 – “Send me also cedar, juniper and algum logs from Lebanon.”
Ezra 3:7 – “They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.”
6. Exodus 35:24 – Contributions for the Tabernacle
“Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.” – Exodus 35:24
Cross-References
Exodus 35:29 – “All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.”
2 Kings 12:4 – “Joash said to the priests, ‘Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the LORD.'”
1 Chronicles 29:9 – “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD.”
7. Deuteronomy 10:3 – The New Tablets
“So I made the ark out of acacia wood and chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hands.” – Deuteronomy 10:3
Cross-References
Exodus 34:1 – “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones.'”
2 Corinthians 3:3 – “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
Hebrews 9:4 – “Which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.”
8. Isaiah 44:14 – Idolatry Condemned
“He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.” – Isaiah 44:14
Cross-References
Jeremiah 10:3 – “For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.”
Habakkuk 2:19 – “Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!'”
Psalm 135:15 – “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands.”
9. Jeremiah 10:8 – Worship of Wooden Idols
“They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols.” – Jeremiah 10:8
Cross-References
Psalm 115:4 – “But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.”
Isaiah 2:8 – “Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.”
Habakkuk 2:18 – “Of what value is an idol, a wooden thing, a maker’s creation?”
10. Ezekiel 41:23 – Inner Sanctuary
“Both the outer sanctuary and the Most Holy Place had double doors. Each door had two leaves—two hinged leaves for each door.” – Ezekiel 41:23
Cross-References
1 Kings 6:31 – “For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors out of olive wood that were one fifth of the width of the sanctuary.”
Exodus 26:33 – “Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain.”
Hebrews 9:3 – “Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place.”
11. 2 Chronicles 3:5 – Temple Walls Paneled
“He paneled the main hall with juniper and covered it with fine gold and decorated it with palm tree and chain designs.” – 2 Chronicles 3:5
Cross-References
1 Kings 6:15 – “He lined its interior walls with cedar boards and covered the floor of the temple with planks of juniper.”
1 Kings 6:29 – “On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers.”
1 Chronicles 28:11 – “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms, and the place of atonement.”
12. 1 Kings 10:12 – Timbred Musical Instruments
“The king made the almug wood into supports for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and into harps and lyres for the musicians.” – 1 Kings 10:12
Cross-References
2 Chronicles 9:11 – “And the king made from the almug trees supports for the house of the LORD and for the king’s house, also lyres and harps for the singers.”
Genesis 4:21 – “His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.”
Psalms 144:9 – “I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you.”
13. Isaiah 41:19 – Trees of the Lord’s Provision
“I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together.” – Isaiah 41:19
Cross-References
Isaiah 55:13 – “Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.”
Ezekiel 31:8 – “The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, nor could the junipers equal its boughs.”
Psalms 104:16 – “The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.”
14. Judges 9:9 – The Parable of the Trees
“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’” – Judges 9:9
Cross-References
Judges 9:8 – “One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.'”
Judges 9:10-11 – “‘’That desert has been blessed with rain from the heavens above,’ But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet…'”
Judges 9:13 – “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?'”
15. Habakkuk 2:11 – Stones and Beams
“The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.” – Habakkuk 2:11
Cross-References
Luke 19:40 – “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Jeremiah 22:13 – “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work.”
Isaiah 5:8 – “Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land.”
16. Jeremiah 5:14 – The Consuming Word
“Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: ‘Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.’” – Jeremiah 5:14
Cross-References
Jeremiah 1:9 – “Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘I have put my words in your mouth.'”
Isaiah 6:7 – “With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'”
Ezekiel 3:1 – “And he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.'”
17. Ezekiel 26:12 – Destruction of Tyre
“They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.” – Ezekiel 26:12
Cross-References
Jeremiah 51:25 – “I am against you, you destroying mountain, you who destroy the whole earth,” declares the LORD. “I will stretch out my hand against you, roll you off the cliffs, and make you a burned-out mountain.”
Amos 1:9 – “This is what the LORD says: ‘For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not relent.'”
Psalms 83:7 – “Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre.”
18. Isaiah 60:13 – Glory of Lebanon
“The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet.” – Isaiah 60:13
Cross-References
Haggai 1:8 – “Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.”
Isaiah 35:2 – “It will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.”
Isaiah 41:19 – “I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together.”
19. 2 Kings 19:23 – Boastfulness of Assyria
“By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord. And you have said, ‘With my many chariots I have ascended the heights of the mountains, the utmost heights of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the choicest of its junipers. I have reached its remotest parts, the finest of its forests.” – 2 Kings 19:23
Cross-References
Psalm 33:16 – “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.”
Isaiah 37:24 – “By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord. And you have said, ‘With my many chariots I have ascended the heights of the mountains…'”
Ezekiel 31:16 – “I made the nations tremble at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.”
20. Ezekiel 27:5 – Ship-making in Tyre
“They made all your timbers of juniper from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.” – Ezekiel 27:5
Cross-References
1 Kings 5:10 – “In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted.”
Isaiah 23:2 – “Be silent, you people of the island and you merchants of Sidon, whom the seafarers have enriched.”
Judges 9:15 – “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’”
21. Matthew 26:26 – The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’” – Matthew 26:26
Cross-References
Luke 22:19 – “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'”
John 6:56 – “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”
1 Corinthians 10:16 – “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ?”
22. Mark 6:3 – Jesus the Carpenter
“Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.” – Mark 6:3
Cross-References
Matthew 13:55 – “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?”
Luke 4:22 – “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.”
John 6:42 – “They said, ‘Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?'”
23. Genesis 22:9 – Abraham and Isaac
“When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.” – Genesis 22:9
Cross-References
Hebrews 11:17 – “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.”
James 2:21 – “Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
24. Leviticus 14:4 – The Cleansing of Diseased Homes
“The priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the person to be cleansed.” – Leviticus 14:4
Cross-References
Leviticus 14:6 – “He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.”
Hebrews 9:19 – “When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.”
Numbers 19:6 – “The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.”
25. John 19:17 – Jesus Carries His Cross
“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).” – John 19:17
Cross-References
Matthew 27:32 – “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.”
Luke 23:26 – “As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”
Mark 15:21 – “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.”
26. 1 Kings 6:7 – Built in Silence
“In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.” – 1 Kings 6:7
Cross-References
Exodus 20:25 – “If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.”
Deuteronomy 27:5 – “Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.”
1 Chronicles 22:2 – “So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God.”
27. Amos 5:11 – Oppression and Judgment
“You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.” – Amos 5:11
Cross-References
Micah 2:2 – “They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance.”
Isaiah 5:8 – “Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land.”
Proverbs 21:13 – “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”
28. Joshua 8:31 – Altar on Mount Ebal
“As Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.” – Joshua 8:31
Cross-References
Exodus 20:25 – “If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.”
Deuteronomy 27:6 – “Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.”
1 Kings 18:31 – “Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, ‘Your name shall be Israel.'”
29. Isaiah 9:10 – Construction and Defiance
“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” – Isaiah 9:10
Cross-References
1 Kings 5:17 – “At the king’s command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple.”
Ezekiel 13:10 – “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash.'”
Matthew 21:42 – “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? ”
30. Isaiah 44:13 – Fruits of Idolatry
“The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in human form, human form in all its glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.” – Isaiah 44:13
Cross-References
Jeremiah 10:3-4 – “For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.”
Habakkuk 2:18 – “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies?”
Judges 6:31 – “But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, ‘Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him?'”
31. 1 Kings 5:8 – Cedars for Solomon
“So Hiram sent word to Solomon: ‘I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs.’” – 1 Kings 5:8
Cross-References
2 Chronicles 2:15 – “Now let my lord send his servants the wheat and barley and the olive oil and wine he promised.”
Ezra 3:7 – “They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.”
Psalm 104:16 – “The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.”
32. 2 Chronicles 2:16 – Transporting Timber
“We will cut all the logs from Lebanon that you need and will float them as rafts by sea down to Joppa. You can then take them up to Jerusalem.” – 2 Chronicles 2:16
Cross-References
1 Kings 5:9 – “My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will send them to you by sea to Joppa. You can then take them up to Jerusalem.”
Genesis 49:13 – “Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.”
Acts 9:36-38 – “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas).”
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Final Thought
Reflecting on the symbolic use of wood in the biblical context, we recognize that while specific references to wooden plaques are not prevalent, the concept of wood in divine service signifies durability, craftsmanship, and the natural materials utilized in worship and covenant. Wooden elements served not only practical purposes in the form of altars and the Ark of the Covenant but also symbolized the meeting point of the divine and the mundane. The planning and intricacy of a wooden plaque are akin to the meticulous descriptions found in temple construction, conveying dedication and care.
The presence of wood through various biblical narratives—from Noah’s obedient ark creation to the sacrificial cross Jesus bore—illustrates how wood signifies God’s enduring promises and human devotion. Thus, wooden plaques, though absent by definition, resonate symbolically in their representation of law, covenant, and faithful artistry found throughout the Bible’s rich tapestry of teachings and divine inspiration.