Exodus26
New King James Version
1 “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them.
2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. And every one of the curtains shall have the same measurements.
3 Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
4 And you shall make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set, and likewise you shall do on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set.
5 Fifty loops you shall make in the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is on the end of the second set, that the loops may be clasped to one another.
6 And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, so that it may be one tabernacle.
7 “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall all have the same measurements.
9 And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent.
10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain of the second set.
11 And you shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12 The remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
13 And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side, of what remains of the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and on that side, to cover it.
14 “You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that.
15 “And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright.
16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board.
17 Two tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side.
19 You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons.
20 And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards
21 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards.
22 For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards.
23 And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle.
24 They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners.
25 So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver—sixteen sockets—two sockets under each of the boards.
26 “And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle,
27 five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward.
28 The middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end.
29 You shall overlay the boards with gold, make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold.
30 And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.
31 “You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim.
32 You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver.
33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.
34 You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy.
35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.
36 “You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver.
37 And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be gold, and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.
Study
Exodus 26Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 26. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The curtains of the tabernacle. (1–6). The curtains of goats' hair. (7–14). The boards, sockets, and bars. (15–30). The vail of the holy of holies, and for the entrance. (31–37).
vv1-6
God manifested his presence among the Israelites in a tabernacle or tent, because of their condition in the wilderness. God suits the tokens of his favour, and the gifts of his grace, to his people's state and wants. The curtains of the tabernacle were to be very rich. They were to be embroidered with cherubim, signifying that the angels of God pitch their tents round about the church, Ps 34:7. (Ex 26:7-14)
vv7-14
The curtains of meaner materials, being made both longer and broader, covered the others, and were defended by coverings of skins. The whole represents the person and doctrine of Christ, and the church of true Christians, and all heavenly things, which outwardly are mean, but inwardly, and in the sight of God, are glorious and precious.
vv15-30
The sockets of silver each weighed about 115 pounds; they were placed in rows on the ground. In every pair of these sockets, a strong board of shittim-wood, covered with plates of gold, was fitted by mortises and tenons. Thus walls were formed for the two sides, and for the west end. The wall was further held together by bars, which passed through rings of gold. Over this the curtains were spread. Though movable, it was strong and firm. The materials were very costly. In all this it was a type of the church of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone, Eph 2:20, 21.
Key Words
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
מִשְׁכָּן: a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls)
עֶשֶׂר: ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
יְרִיעָה: a hanging (as tremulous)
שָׁזַר: to twist (a thread of straw)
שֵׁשׁ: bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by analogy) marble
תְּכֵלֶת: the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith
אַרְגָּמָן: purple (the color or the dyed stuff)
כְּרוּב: a cherub or imaginary figure
חָשַׁב: properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute
Cross References
Exodus 26The apostle explains the spiritual significance of the veil dividing the Holy from the Most Holy Place.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The rending of the temple veil at Christ's death signifies free access to the holiest of all.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The veil is a type of Christ's flesh, through which we have a new and living way.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The tabernacle boards on silver sockets typify the church built on the foundation of the apostles.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reinforces the command to construct the tabernacle exactly according to the pattern shown on the mount.
Supported by JFB
The historical account of the actual construction of these exact ten curtains and coverings.
Identifies the source of the materials, noting that wise-hearted women spun the goats' hair.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the subsequent construction of the protective outer covering of rams' skins dyed red.
Supported by JFB
The structural fulfillment of making the standing boards of shittim wood and their bars.
The execution of making the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Direct instruction on placing the mercy seat on top of the ark, executed here.
Highlights the heavenly pattern that Moses was strictly warned to follow when rearing the tabernacle.
Regulations concerning the high priest entering behind the veil only once a year.
New Testament description of the outer sanctuary containing the candlestick and the table.
The coupling together of the boards at the corners typifies Christian unity and brotherhood.
Consistent instructions for overlaying the wooden structural elements of the sanctuary with pure gold.