Exodus 26
Lexham English Bible
Instructions for Making the Tabernacle
26 “And the tabernacle you will make with ten curtains; you will make them of finely twisted linen and blue and purple and crimson yarns, with cherubim, the work of a skilled craftsman. 2 The length of the one curtain will be twenty-eight cubits, and the width will be four cubits for the one curtain; one measure will be for all the curtains. 3 Five curtains will be joined to one another,[a] and five curtains joined to one another.[b] 4 And you will make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain, at the end in the set; and you will do so on the edge of the end curtain in the second set. 5 You will make fifty loops on the one curtain, and you will make fifty loops on the end of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops are to be opposite[c] to one another.[d] 6 And you will make fifty gold clasps and join the curtains to one another[e] with the clasps, so that the tabernacle will be one.
7 “And you will make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you will make them eleven curtains. 8 The length of the one curtain will be thirty cubits, and the width will be four cubits for the one curtain; one measure will be for the eleven curtains. 9 And you will join five curtains together and six curtains together, and you will fold double the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. 10 And you will make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain at the end of the first set and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain in the second set. 11 And you will make fifty bronze clasps, and you will put the clasps in the loops and join the tent, so that it will be one.
12 “And the surplus in the curtains of the tent will be an overhang; the surplus half curtain will hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And a cubit from one side[f] and a cubit from the other side[g] in the surplus in the length of the curtains of the tent will be hung over the sides of the tabernacle equally[h] to cover it.
14 “And you will make a covering for the tent of red-dyed ram skins and a covering of fine leather to go above.
15 “And you will make the frames[i] for the tabernacle of acacia wood as uprights.[j] 16 The length of the frame[k] will be ten cubits, and the width of the one frame[l] will be one and a half cubits. 17 You will make two pegs[m] for the one frame[n] for joining each to another[o] and likewise for all the frames[p] of the tabernacle. 18 And you will make the frames[q] for the tabernacle with twenty frames[r] for the south[s] side. 19 And you will make forty silver bases under the twenty frames,[t] with two bases under the one frame[u] for its two pegs[v] and two bases under the next[w] frame[x] for its two pegs.[y] 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there will be twenty frames[z] 21 and their forty silver bases, with two bases under the one frame[aa] and two bases under the next[ab] frame.[ac]
22 “And for the rear of the tabernacle on the west[ad] you will make six frames.[ae] 23 And you will make two frames[af] for the tabernacle corners at the rear. 24 They will be double at the bottom, and they will be completely together on its top to the one ring; it will be likewise for the two of them; they will be for the two corners. 25 And there will be eight frames[ag] and their silver bases, sixteen bases, with two bases under the one frame[ah] and two bases under the next[ai] frame.[aj]
26 “You will make five bars of acacia wood for the frames[ak] on the one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the frames[al] on the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames[am] on the side of the tabernacle at the rear on the west.[an] 28 And the bar in the middle, in the midst of the frames[ao] will run from end to end. 29 And you will overlay the frames[ap] with gold, and you will make their rings of gold as holders[aq] for the bars, and you will overlay the bars with gold. 30 And you will erect the tabernacle according to its plan, which you have been shown on the mountain.
31 “And you will make a curtain of blue and purple and crimson yarns and finely twisted linen, the work of a skilled craftsman; he will make it with cherubim. 32 And you will put it on four acacia pillars overlaid with gold with their gold hooks on four silver bases. 33 And you will put the curtain under the clasps, and you will bring the ark of the testimony there inside the curtain, and the curtain will separate for you between the holy and the most holy place.[ar] 34 And you will put the atonement cover on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.[as] 35 And you will place the table outside the curtain and the lampstand opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, and you will put the table on the north side.
36 “And you will make for the entrance of the tent a screen of blue and purple and crimson yarns and finely twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer. 37 And you will make for the screen five acacia pillars, and you will overlay them with gold with their gold hooks, and you will cast for them five bronze bases.
Footnotes
- Exodus 26:3 Literally “a woman to her sister”
- Exodus 26:3 Literally “a woman to her sister”
- Exodus 26:5 Or “interlinked” or “matching”
- Exodus 26:5 Literally “a woman to her sister”
- Exodus 26:6 Literally “a woman to her sister”
- Exodus 26:13 Literally “from this”
- Exodus 26:13 Literally “from this”
- Exodus 26:13 Literally “from this and from this”
- Exodus 26:15 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:15 Literally “standing”
- Exodus 26:16 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:16 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:17 Literally “hands”
- Exodus 26:17 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:17 Literally “a woman to her sister”
- Exodus 26:17 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:18 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:18 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:18 Literally “south southward”
- Exodus 26:19 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:19 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:19 Literally “hands”
- Exodus 26:19 Literally “one”
- Exodus 26:19 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:19 Literally “hands”
- Exodus 26:20 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:21 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:21 Literally “one”
- Exodus 26:21 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:22 Or “westward,” literally “seaward,” toward the Mediterranean Sea
- Exodus 26:22 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:23 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:25 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:25 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:25 Literally “one”
- Exodus 26:25 Or “board” or “plank”
- Exodus 26:26 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:27 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:27 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:27 Or “westward,” literally “seaward,” toward the Mediterranean Sea
- Exodus 26:28 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:29 Or “boards” or “planks”
- Exodus 26:29 Literally “houses”
- Exodus 26:33 Literally “holy place of the holiness”
- Exodus 26:34 Literally “holy place of the holiness”
Exodus 26
New International Version
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. 2 All the curtains are to be the same size(D)—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.[a] 3 Join five of the curtains together, and do the same with the other five. 4 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. 5 Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. 6 Then make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the tabernacle is a unit.(E)
7 “Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. 8 All eleven curtains are to be the same size(F)—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.[b] 9 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.
Footnotes
- Exodus 26:2 That is, about 42 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 13 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
- Exodus 26:8 That is, about 45 feet long and 6 feet wide or about 13.5 meters long and 1.8 meters wide
- Exodus 26:13 That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
- Exodus 26:14 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals (see 25:5)
- 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
Exodus 26
Expanded Bible
The Holy Tent
26 “Make for the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] ten curtains of fine linen and blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread. Have a skilled craftsman sew designs of ·creatures with wings [cherubim; 37:7] on the pieces of cloth [C these deep blue curtains with cherubim represent heaven on earth]. 2 Make each curtain the same size—·forty-two feet [L twenty-eight cubits] long and ·six feet [L four cubits] wide. 3 ·Sew [L Join; Bind] five curtains together for one set, and ·sew [join; bind] the other curtains together for the second set. 4 Make loops of blue cloth on the edge of the end curtain of one set, and do the same for the end curtain of the other set. 5 Make fifty loops on the end curtain of the first set and fifty loops on the end curtain of the second set. These loops must be opposite each other. 6 And make fifty gold ·hooks [clasps] to join the two sets of curtains so that the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] is one piece.
7 “Then make another tent that will cover the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], using eleven curtains made from goat hair. 8 All these curtains must be the same size—·forty-five feet [L thirty cubits] long and ·six [L four cubits] feet wide. 9 ·Sew [Join; Bind] five of the curtains together into one set. Then ·sew [join; bind] the other six curtains together into the second set. Fold the sixth curtain double over the front of the Tent. 10 Make fifty loops down the edge of the end curtain of one set, and do the same for the end curtain of the other set. 11 Then make fifty bronze ·hooks [clasps] and put them in the loops to ·join [bind] the tent together so that the covering is one piece. 12 Let the extra half piece of cloth hang over the back of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle]. 13 There will be ·eighteen inches [L one cubit] hanging over the sides of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], to ·protect [cover] it [C this is the innermost of the weatherproofing protecting the innermost curtain]. 14 Make a covering for the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] from ·sheepskins colored red [or tanned rams’ skins; C the second weatherproof covering], and over that make a covering from ·fine leather [or sea cow hide; C the outermost covering used for weatherproofing].
15 “Use acacia wood to make upright frames for the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle]. 16 Each frame must be ·fifteen feet [L ten cubits] long and ·twenty-seven inches [L a cubit and a half] wide, 17 with two pegs side by side. Every frame [L of the Holy Tent/Tabernacle] must be made the same way. 18 Make twenty frames for the south side of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle]. 19 Each frame must have two silver bases to go under it, a peg fitting into each base. You must make forty silver bases for the [L twenty] frames. 20 Make twenty more frames for the [L second side on the] north side of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] 21 and forty silver bases for them—two bases for each frame. 22 You must make six frames for the rear or west end of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] 23 and two frames for each corner at the rear [L of the Holy Tent/Tabernacle]. 24 The two frames are to be doubled at the bottom and joined at the top with a metal ring. Both corner frames must be made this way. 25 So there will be a total of eight frames at the rear of the Tent, and there will be sixteen silver bases—two bases under each frame.
26 “Make crossbars of acacia wood to connect the upright frames of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle]. Make five crossbars to hold the frames together on one side 27 and five to hold the frames together on the ·other [L second] side. Also make five crossbars to hold the frames together on the west end, at the rear. 28 The middle crossbar is to be set halfway up the frames, and it is to run along the entire length of each side and rear. 29 Make gold rings on the sides of the frames to hold the crossbars, and ·cover [overlay] the frames and the crossbars with gold. 30 Set up the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] by the ·plan [pattern] shown to you on the mountain [25:9].
31 “Make a curtain of fine linen and blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread, and have a skilled craftsman sew ·designs of creatures with wings [cherubim; 37:7] on it. 32 ·Hang [Place] the curtain by gold ·hooks [clasps] on four posts of acacia wood that are ·covered [overlaid] with gold, and set them in four silver bases. 33 ·Hang [Place] the curtain from the ·hooks [clasps] in the roof, and put the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony; 25:10] containing the two stone tablets [24:12] behind it. This curtain will separate the ·Holy Place [Tabernacle] from the ·Most Holy Place [T Holy of Holies; C the back third, the throne room of God]. 34 Put the ·lid [mercy seat; atonement cover; 25:13–22] on the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; L Testimony; 25:10] in the Most Holy Place.
35 “Outside the curtain, put the table [25:23–30] on the north side of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle]. Put the lampstand [25:31–40] on the south side of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] across from the table.
The Entrance of the Holy Tent
36 “Then, for the entrance of the Tent, make a ·curtain [L screen] with fine linen and blue, purple, and ·red [scarlet] thread. ·Someone who can sew well is to sew designs on it [L …embroidered with needlework]. 37 Make five posts of acacia wood ·covered [overlaid] with gold. Make gold ·hooks [clasps] for them on which to hang the ·curtain [L screen], and make five bronze bases for them.
Exodus 26
New King James Version
The Tabernacle(A)
26 “Moreover (B)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 [a]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 (C)“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 (D)“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 (E)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 [b]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 [c]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 (F)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 (G)according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.
31 (H)“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 (I)the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between (J)the holy place and the Most Holy. 34 (K)You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. 35 (L)You shall set the table outside the veil, and (M)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 (N)“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 (O)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.
Footnotes
- Exodus 26:2 Lit. one measure
- Exodus 26:17 Projections for joining, lit. hands
- Exodus 26:24 Lit. doubled
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