A desert tree with sharp spines, small pale yellow flowers, and twisted bean pods; its wood is often used for building.
About Acacia
Any tree or shrub of the mimosa family that grows in warm regions. The plant called "shittah" (singular) or "shittim" (plural) in the King James Version of the Bible is certainly the acacia tree. This was the only timber tree of significant size that grew in the Arabian desert. Acacia wood was used in the building of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10).
Acacia tortilis is the largest and most common tree in the desert where the Israelites wandered for 40 years. It is especially noticeable on Mount Sinai and was probably the type of wood used for making the tabernacle furnishings.
Key References
And 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.
I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together,
And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
All Scripture References (41)
Exodus (26)
ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood;
And 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.
And make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
You are also to make a table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.
Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them.
You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.
You are also to make five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one side of the tabernacle,
Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.
Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain, overlay them with gold hooks, and cast five bronze bases for them.
“You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.
Additionally, make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.
“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.
Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood;
And all who could present an offering of silver or bronze brought it as a contribution to the LORD. Also, everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the service brought it.
Next, he constructed upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.
He also made five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one side of the tabernacle,
He also made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold, along with gold hooks; and he cast four silver bases for the posts.
Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
He also made the table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.
He made the poles of acacia wood for carrying the table and overlaid them with gold.
He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece.
And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.
And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.
Deuteronomy (1)
So I made an ark of acacia wood, chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands.
Isaiah (1)
I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together,
Matthew (4)
By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Mark (3)
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.
Luke (3)
For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles.
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings.
The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.
John (2)
Hebrews (1)
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.