Original Word: שִׁטָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: shittah
Pronunciation: SHIT-tah
Phonetic Spelling: (shit-taw')
KJV: shittah, shittim See also H1029
NASB: acacia
Word Origin: [feminine of a derivative (only in the plural shittiym {shit-teem'}, meaning the sticks of wood) from the same as H7850 (שׁוֹטֵט - whip)]

1. the acacia (from its scourging thorns)

shittah, shittim

Feminine of a derivative (only in the plural shittiym {shit-teem'}; meaning the sticks of wood) from the same as shotet; the acacia (from its scourging thorns) -- shittah, shittim. See also Beyth hash-Shittah.

see HEBREW shotet

see HEBREW Beyth hash-Shittah

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
acacia (a tree and a wood)
NASB Translation
acacia (28).

שִׁטָּה₂₇ noun feminine acacia, tree and wood (= שִׁנְטָה*, Arabic , probably loan-word from Egyptian šndt, šond®t, Thes¹⁴⁵² Erman^{ZMG xlvi (1892), 120}); — growing in dry places; especially acacia (mimosa) Nilotica; compare Rob^{BR ii. 20}, or a. seyyâl Post^{Flora 298 f. Hast. DB SHITTAH-TREE} Tristr^{NHB 390 ff.}; — ׳שׁ singular Isaiah 41:19 (to grow in desert); usually plural, עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים shi‰‰îm (wood), material of ark, altars, staves, etc., in tabernacle, Deuteronomy 10:3; Exodus 25:5,10,13 19t. Exodus 25-38 (P); עֲצֵי omitted, ׳עַמּוּדֵי שׁ pillars of shi‰‰îm (wood), Exodus 26:32,37; Exodus 36:36 (P).

Botanical Description and Natural Setting

Shittah refers to the desert acacia native to the arid regions of the Sinai Peninsula, the Negev and Trans-Jordan. Growing as a gnarled tree or large shrub, it withstands fierce heat, low rainfall and poor soil, its hard, close-grained wood resisting rot and insect damage. Thorny branches and fragrant, yellow flower-balls characterize the species most commonly identified (Acacia seyal / Acacia raddiana). The very environment in which Israel wandered supplied the exact material God later specified for His sanctuary.

Occurrences and Distribution in Scripture

Approximately twenty-eight verses employ the term, almost all in the Exodus narrative of the wilderness Tabernacle (Exodus 25–38), with a preparatory mention in Exodus 25:5 and a retrospective reference in Deuteronomy 10:3. A single prophetic use (Isaiah 41:19) sets the tree among a restored desert grove, underscoring its association with divine provision in barren places. Outside these passages the word does not appear, although its plural form gives a name to locations such as Abel-Shittim.

Sacred Use in the Tabernacle

Every structural or moveable element of the wilderness sanctuary that required timber was fashioned from shittah wood:

• Ark of the Covenant and its carrying poles (Exodus 25:10–15; 37:1–5)
• Table of the Bread of the Presence and its poles (25:23–28; 37:10–15)
• Incense altar and its poles (30:1–5; 37:25–28)
• Altar of burnt offering and its poles (27:1–6; 38:1–7)
• Framework, bars and pillars of the tent (26:15–37; 36:20–38)

The choice of a single species for all wooden components highlights order and unity in the dwelling of God among His people.

Symbolic and Typological Significance

Durability. Shittah withstands decay, an apt emblem of the incorruptible life that surrounds the presence of the LORD.

Humanity overlaid with glory. Nearly every acacia object was “overlaid with pure gold” (Exodus 25:11). In biblical typology wood often represents humanity while gold speaks of divine glory. The Ark, table and altars therefore prefigure the union of Christ’s sinless humanity and deity, as well as the believer’s calling to share in the divine nature.

Redemption in the wilderness. That the Israelites could gather the needed timber in a trackless desert testifies to God’s forethought; He had planted the trees generations earlier, ensuring that redemption’s pattern and worship would lack nothing.

Prophetic and Poetic Imagery

Isaiah’s promise, “I will plant… acacias and myrtles and olives” (Isaiah 41:19), pictures a reversal of the curse: wilderness transformed into a garden, echoing Eden and anticipating the renewed creation. The acacia, already linked to God’s presence in the Tabernacle, becomes a sign of future restoration.

Historical and Archaeological Notes

Modern excavations in Sinai and Negev show acacia still dominant where rainfall averages under 100 mm annually. Ancient Egyptian texts record its use for ship-building and furniture, confirming its strength and workability—traits valued by Israel’s craftsmen. Resin from the tree (gum arabic) was prized for medicine and ink, adding commercial weight to the imagery of a flourishing desert.

Lessons for Ministry and Personal Faith

1. Availability: God never commands without providing the resources to obey.
2. Consistency: One timber throughout the sanctuary models integrity in service; the same character should mark every sphere of Christian life.
3. Incorruptibility: Ministry materials must endure both time and testing. Investing in what lasts—truth, holiness, love—mirrors the enduring quality of shittah wood.
4. Transformation: As wood was enveloped in gold, so ordinary lives are meant to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness for effective worship and witness.

Key References

Exodus 25:10; Exodus 25:23; Exodus 26:15; Exodus 27:1; Exodus 30:1; Deuteronomy 10:3; Isaiah 41:19

שִׁטִּ֑ים שִׁטִּ֔ים שִׁטִּ֖ים שִׁטִּ֛ים שִׁטִּֽים׃ שִׁטָּ֔ה שִׂטִּֽים׃ שטה שטים שטים׃ shitTah shitTim šiṭ·ṭāh śiṭ·ṭîm šiṭ·ṭîm šiṭṭāh sitTim śiṭṭîm šiṭṭîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts