Curtains of Linen

26 (A)Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and [a]violet, purple, and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer. The length of each curtain shall be [b]twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have [c]the same measurements. Five curtains shall be [d]joined to one another, and the other five curtains shall be [e]joined to one another. You shall make loops of violet on the edge of the [f]outermost curtain in the first set, and likewise you shall make them on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second [g]set. You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops on the [h]edge of the curtain that is in the second [i]set; the loops shall be opposite each other. You shall also make fifty clasps of gold, and [j]join the curtains to one another with the clasps so that the [k]tabernacle will be a unit.

Curtains of Goats’ Hair

“Then (B)you shall make curtains of goats’ hair as a tent over the tabernacle; you shall make eleven curtains in all. The length of each curtain shall be [l]thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall have [m]the same measurements. You shall [n]join five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain [o]at the front of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the [p]curtain that is outermost in the first [q]set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second [r]set.

11 “You shall also make fifty clasps of [s]bronze, and you shall put the clasps into the loops and [t]join the tent together so that it will be [u]a unit. 12 The [v]overhanging part that is left over in the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that is left over, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 The [w]cubit on one side and the cubit on the other, of what is left over in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on one side and on the other, to cover it. 14 And (C)you shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins [x]dyed red and a covering of [y]fine leather above.

Boards and Bases

15 “Then you shall make (D)the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 [z]Ten cubits shall be the length of [aa]each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board. 17 There shall be two tenons for each board, [ab]fitted to one another; that is what you shall do for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 You shall make the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards [ac]for the south side. 19 You shall make forty (E)bases of silver under the twenty boards, two bases under one board for its two tenons and two bases under another board for its two tenons; 20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards, 21 and their forty bases of silver; two bases under one board and two bases under another board. 22 For the [ad]back of the tabernacle, to the west, you shall make six boards. 23 You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the [ae]back. 24 They shall be double beneath, and together they shall be complete [af]to its top [ag]to the first ring; this is how it shall be with both of them: they shall form the two corners. 25 And there shall be eight boards with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one board and two bases under another board.

26 “Then you shall make (F)bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the boards of the [ah]other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle for the [ai]back side to the west. 28 The middle bar in the [aj]center of the boards shall pass through from end to end. 29 And you shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold as holders for the bars; and you shall overlay the bars with gold. 30 Then you shall erect the tabernacle (G)according to its plan which you have been shown on the mountain.

The Veil and Curtain

31 “You shall also make (H)a veil of violet, purple, and scarlet material, and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skilled embroiderer. 32 Then you shall [ak]hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 You shall [al]hang up the veil under the clasps, and bring in (I)the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall [am]serve as a partition for you (J)between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. 34 (K)You shall put the [an]atoning cover on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 And (L)you shall set the table outside the veil, and the (M)lampstand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.

36 (N)You shall also make a curtain for the doorway of the tent of violet, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a [ao]weaver. 37 And (O)you shall make five pillars of acacia for the curtain and overlay them with gold, their hooks also of gold; and you shall cast five bases of [ap]bronze for them.

The Bronze Altar

27 “Now you shall make (P)the altar of acacia wood, [aq]five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be [ar]three cubits. You shall make (Q)its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with [as]bronze. And you shall make its pails for removing its ashes, and its shovels, its basins, its forks, and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze. You shall also make for it a grating, a netting of bronze, and on the netting you shall make four bronze rings [at]at its four corners. And you shall put it under the ledge of the altar, so that the netting will reach halfway up the altar. You shall also make carrying poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood and overlay them with bronze. Its poles shall be inserted into the rings, so that the poles will be on the two sides of the altar (R)when it is carried. You shall make it hollow with planks; (S)as it was shown to you on the mountain, so they shall make it.

Courtyard of the Tabernacle

“Now you shall make (T)the courtyard of the [au]tabernacle. [av]On the south side there shall be hangings for the courtyard of fine twisted linen, a [aw]hundred cubits long for one side; 10 and its pillars shall be twenty, with their twenty bases of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their [ax]bands shall be of silver. 11 Likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings a [ay]hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars with their twenty bases of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver. 12 For the width of the courtyard on the west side shall be hangings of [az]fifty cubits, with their ten pillars and their ten bases. 13 The width of the courtyard on the [ba]east side shall be fifty cubits. 14 The hangings for the one [bb]side of the gate shall be [bc]fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three bases. 15 And for the [bd]other [be]side there shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three bases. 16 And for the gate of the courtyard there shall be a curtain of [bf]twenty cubits, of [bg]violet, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a [bh]weaver, with their four pillars and their four bases. 17 All the pillars around the courtyard shall be joined together with silver, with their hooks of silver and their bases of bronze. 18 The length of the courtyard shall be a [bi]hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits of fine twisted linen, and their bases of bronze. 19 All the utensils of the tabernacle used in all its service, and all its pegs, and all the pegs of the courtyard, shall be of bronze.

20 “And you shall command the sons of Israel that they bring you (U)clear oil of beaten olives for the [bj]light, to make a lamp [bk]burn continually. 21 In the (V)tent of meeting, outside (W)the veil which is before the testimony, (X)Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord; it shall be a permanent (Y)statute throughout their generations [bl]for the sons of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 26:1 Or bluish; LXX hyacinth in color, and so throughout the ch
  2. Exodus 26:2 About 42 ft. long and 6 ft. wide or 13 m and 1.8 m
  3. Exodus 26:2 Lit one measure
  4. Exodus 26:3 Or coupled
  5. Exodus 26:3 Or coupled
  6. Exodus 26:4 Lit one curtain from the end in the coupling
  7. Exodus 26:4 Lit coupling
  8. Exodus 26:5 Lit end
  9. Exodus 26:5 Lit coupling
  10. Exodus 26:6 Or couple
  11. Exodus 26:6 Or dwelling place, and so throughout the ch
  12. Exodus 26:8 About 45 ft. long and 6 ft. wide or 13.5 m and 1.8 m
  13. Exodus 26:8 Lit one measure
  14. Exodus 26:9 Or couple
  15. Exodus 26:9 Lit toward the front of the face of the tent
  16. Exodus 26:10 Lit one curtain
  17. Exodus 26:10 Lit coupling
  18. Exodus 26:10 Lit coupling
  19. Exodus 26:11 Or copper
  20. Exodus 26:11 Or couple
  21. Exodus 26:11 Lit one
  22. Exodus 26:12 Lit excess
  23. Exodus 26:13 About 18 in. or about 45 cm
  24. Exodus 26:14 Or tanned
  25. Exodus 26:14 Meaning of the Heb uncertain
  26. Exodus 26:16 About 15 ft. long and 2.2 ft. wide or 4.6 m and 68 cm
  27. Exodus 26:16 Lit the
  28. Exodus 26:17 Lit bound
  29. Exodus 26:18 Lit toward the side of the Negev to the south
  30. Exodus 26:22 Lit far parts
  31. Exodus 26:23 Lit far parts
  32. Exodus 26:24 Or at its head
  33. Exodus 26:24 Or with reference to
  34. Exodus 26:27 Lit second
  35. Exodus 26:27 Lit far parts
  36. Exodus 26:28 Lit midst
  37. Exodus 26:32 Lit put
  38. Exodus 26:33 Lit put
  39. Exodus 26:33 Lit separate for you between
  40. Exodus 26:34 Also called mercy seat; i.e., where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement
  41. Exodus 26:36 Lit variegator; i.e., a weaver in colors
  42. Exodus 26:37 Or copper
  43. Exodus 27:1 About 7.5 ft. or 2.3 m
  44. Exodus 27:1 About 4.5 ft. or 1.4 m
  45. Exodus 27:2 Or copper, and so for bronze throughout the ch
  46. Exodus 27:4 Lit on
  47. Exodus 27:9 Or dwelling place
  48. Exodus 27:9 Lit For the side of the Negev to the south
  49. Exodus 27:9 About 150 ft. or 46 m
  50. Exodus 27:10 Or rings
  51. Exodus 27:11 About 150 ft. or 46 m
  52. Exodus 27:12 About 75 ft. or 23 m
  53. Exodus 27:13 Lit east side eastward
  54. Exodus 27:14 Lit shoulder
  55. Exodus 27:14 About 23 ft. or 6.8 m
  56. Exodus 27:15 Lit second
  57. Exodus 27:15 Lit shoulder
  58. Exodus 27:16 About 30 ft. or 9 m
  59. Exodus 27:16 Or bluish; LXX hyacinth in color
  60. Exodus 27:16 Lit variegator; i.e., a weaver in colors
  61. Exodus 27:18 About 150 ft. long, 75 ft. wide, and 7.5 ft. high or about 46 m, 23 m, and 2.3 m
  62. Exodus 27:20 Or luminary
  63. Exodus 27:20 Lit ascend
  64. Exodus 27:21 Lit from

The Tabernacle(A)

26 “Make the tabernacle(B) with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim(C) woven into them by a skilled worker. All the curtains are to be the same size(D)—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.[a] Join five of the curtains together, and do the same with the other five. Make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and do the same with the end curtain in the other set. Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. Then make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the tabernacle is a unit.(E)

“Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. All eleven curtains are to be the same size(F)—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.[b] Join five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. 10 Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. 11 Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to fasten the tent together as a unit.(G) 12 As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle. 13 The tent curtains will be a cubit[c] longer on both sides; what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it. 14 Make for the tent a covering(H) of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of the other durable leather.[d](I)

15 “Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. 16 Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,[e] 17 with two projections set parallel to each other. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. 18 Make twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle 19 and make forty silver bases(J) to go under them—two bases for each frame, one under each projection. 20 For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, make twenty frames 21 and forty silver bases(K)—two under each frame. 22 Make six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, 23 and make two frames for the corners at the far end. 24 At these two corners they must be double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both shall be like that. 25 So there will be eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

26 “Also make crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 27 five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. 28 The center crossbar is to extend from end to end at the middle of the frames. 29 Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.

30 “Set up the tabernacle(L) according to the plan(M) shown you on the mountain.

31 “Make a curtain(N) of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim(O) woven into it by a skilled worker. 32 Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.(P) 33 Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain.(Q) The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.(R) 34 Put the atonement cover(S) on the ark of the covenant law in the Most Holy Place. 35 Place the table(T) outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lampstand(U) opposite it on the south side.

36 “For the entrance to the tent make a curtain(V) of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer.(W) 37 Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them.

The Altar of Burnt Offering(X)

27 “Build an altar(Y) of acacia wood, three cubits[f] high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.[g] Make a horn(Z) at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls,(AA) meat forks and firepans.(AB) Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.(AC) The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.(AD) Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown(AE) on the mountain.

The Courtyard(AF)

“Make a courtyard(AG) for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits[h] long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, 10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 11 The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

12 “The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits[i] wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. 13 On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide. 14 Curtains fifteen cubits[j] long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, 15 and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

16 “For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain(AH) twenty cubits[k] long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer(AI)—with four posts and four bases. 17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases. 18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide,[l] with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits[m] high, and with bronze bases. 19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

Oil for the Lampstand(AJ)

20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil(AK) of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the tent of meeting,(AL) outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law,(AM) Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps(AN) burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance(AO) among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 26:2 That is, about 42 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 13 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
  2. Exodus 26:8 That is, about 45 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 13.5 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
  3. Exodus 26:13 That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
  4. Exodus 26:14 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals (see 25:5)
  5. Exodus 26:16 That is, about 15 feet long and 2 1/4 feet wide or about 4.5 meters long and 68 centimeters wide
  6. Exodus 27:1 That is, about 4 1/2 feet or about 1.4 meters
  7. Exodus 27:1 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters long and wide
  8. Exodus 27:9 That is, about 150 feet or about 45 meters; also in verse 11
  9. Exodus 27:12 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters; also in verse 13
  10. Exodus 27:14 That is, about 23 feet or about 6.8 meters; also in verse 15
  11. Exodus 27:16 That is, about 30 feet or about 9 meters
  12. Exodus 27:18 That is, about 150 feet long and 75 feet wide or about 45 meters long and 23 meters wide
  13. Exodus 27:18 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters