Exodus 26
The Tabernacle Curtains
1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman.
2The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.
3Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
4You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling.
5You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one another.
6You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a unit.
7“You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
8The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
9You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.
10You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling.
11You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
13The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in 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.
14You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
The Tabernacle Framework
15“You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.
16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
17There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.
19You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.
20For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
21and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22For the far side of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.
23You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side.
24They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26“You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward.
28The middle bar in the middle of the boards shall pass through from end to end.
29You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold.
30You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.
The Veil and Screen
31“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman.
32You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.
33You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.
34You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.
35You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south. You shall put the table on the north side.
36“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.
37You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.
Exodus 26 provides detailed instructions for constructing the tabernacle's interior structure, including the elaborate curtain system, wooden framework, and sacred partitions. God specifies precise measurements and materials for the fine linen curtains with cherubim, the goat hair tent covering, and the acacia wood boards with silver bases that form the tabernacle's walls. The chapter concludes with instructions for the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, and the screen for the tabernacle entrance, establishing the sacred boundaries within Israel's portable sanctuary.
Context
Following the instructions for the ark and furnishings in chapter 25, this chapter details the tabernacle structure itself, preparing for the priestly garments and consecration rituals in chapters 28-29.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-6Inner Curtains of Fine LinenTen ornate curtains with cherubim, joined by gold clasps to form the tabernacle's inner covering.
- 7-14Outer Tent CoveringsEleven goat hair curtains with bronze clasps, plus protective coverings of ram and sea cow skins.
- 15-30Wooden Framework and BasesAcacia wood boards with silver sockets forming the tabernacle's walls on three sides.
- 31-35The VeilOrnate curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, hung on gold-overlaid pillars.
- 36-37The Entrance ScreenEmbroidered screen for the tabernacle door, supported by five acacia wood pillars with bronze bases.
The Tabernacle Curtains
26:1–26:14Instructions for making the tabernacle curtains from fine linen with cherubim designs and goat hair coverings. The detailed measurements and coupling methods ensure the tabernacle forms a unified sacred space.
structural
The cherubim woven into the tabernacle's inner curtains create the only biblical instance where these divine guardians appear as decorative art rather than living beings or golden sculptures.
The Tabernacle Framework
26:15–26:30Detailed instructions for constructing the wooden framework of the tabernacle, including specifications for boards, sockets, and bars made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. These precise measurements and materials establish the sacred structure where God will dwell among His people.
structural
The Hebrew word "qeresh" (board/plank) appears 26 times in this passage alone—more than its total occurrences in the rest of the Old Testament combined.
The Veil and Screen
26:31–26:37Instructions for creating the veil that separates the holy place from the most holy place, and the screen for the tabernacle entrance. The veil with cherubim creates a sacred boundary protecting the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.
structural
The veil's cherubim motif uniquely mirrors Eden's cherubim guardians (Genesis 3:24), transforming the tabernacle's innermost sanctuary into a restored paradise where God's presence dwells protected.
Exodus 26:1
Exodus 36:8lexicalAll the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue,…
Exodus 36:35lexicalHe made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workm…
Exodus 39:8lexicalHe made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 28:6lexical“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exodus 28:15lexical“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
Exodus 26:2
Exodus 36:9lexicalThe length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one…
Exodus 36:15lexicalThe length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one mea…
Ezekiel 40:21lexicalThe lodges of it were three on this side and three on that side. Its posts and its arches were the same as the measure o…
2 Chronicles 3:3lexicalNow these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of God’s house: the length by cubits after the first m…
Ezekiel 40:33lexicalwith its lodges, its posts, and its arches, according to these measurements. There were windows in it and in its arches…
Exodus 26:3
Exodus 36:16lexicalHe coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
Exodus 36:10lexicalHe coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.
Exodus 26:4
Exodus 36:11lexicalHe made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the…
Exodus 36:17lexicalHe made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge o…
Exodus 36:12lexicalHe made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupli…
Exodus 26:5
Exodus 36:12lexicalHe made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupli…
Exodus 36:17lexicalHe made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge o…
Exodus 36:11lexicalHe made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the…
Exodus 26:6
Exodus 36:13lexicalHe made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit.
Exodus 36:18lexicalHe made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit.
Exodus 26:7
Exodus 36:14lexicalHe made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.
Exodus 36:15lexicalThe length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one mea…
Isaiah 54:2lexical“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your c…
Numbers 4:25lexicalthey shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the covering of sealskin that is…
Exodus 26:8
Exodus 36:15lexicalThe length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one mea…
Exodus 36:9lexicalThe length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one…
Ezekiel 40:49lexicalThe length of the porch was twenty cubits and the width eleven cubits, even by the steps by which they went up to it. Th…
Ezekiel 46:22lexicalIn the four corners of the court there were courts enclosed, forty cubits long and thirty wide. These four in the corner…
1 Kings 7:2lexicalFor he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its heig…
Exodus 26:9
Exodus 36:16lexicalHe coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
Exodus 36:10lexicalHe coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.
Exodus 26:10
Exodus 36:17lexicalHe made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge o…
Exodus 36:11lexicalHe made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the…
Exodus 36:12lexicalHe made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupli…
Exodus 26:11
Exodus 36:18lexicalHe made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit.
Exodus 36:13lexicalHe made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains to one another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was a unit.
Exodus 26:12
Isaiah 54:2lexical“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your c…
Numbers 4:25lexicalthey shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the covering of sealskin that is…
Exodus 36:14lexicalHe made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.
Exodus 26:13
Exodus 36:9lexicalThe length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains had one…
Exodus 36:15lexicalThe length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one mea…
Isaiah 54:2lexical“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your c…
Numbers 4:25lexicalthey shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the covering of sealskin that is…
Exodus 36:14lexicalHe made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.
Exodus 26:14
Exodus 36:19lexicalHe made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
Exodus 39:34lexicalthe covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
Exodus 25:5lexicalrams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
Exodus 35:7lexicalrams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
Exodus 35:23lexicalEveryone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, br…
Exodus 26:15
Exodus 36:31lexicalHe made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 36:20lexicalHe made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.
Exodus 26:16
Exodus 36:21lexicalTen cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board.
Exodus 37:10lexicalHe made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a…
Exodus 25:10lexical“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a c…
Exodus 25:17lexicalYou shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a half cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width.
Ezekiel 40:42lexicalThere were four cut stone tables for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and one cubit…
Exodus 26:18
Exodus 36:23lexicalHe made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.
Exodus 27:9lexical“You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine…
Exodus 36:25lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards
Ezekiel 48:28lexical“By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh…
Exodus 38:9lexicalHe made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
Exodus 26:19
Exodus 36:24lexicalHe made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets…
Exodus 36:26lexicaland their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exodus 36:30lexicalThere were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.
Exodus 27:11lexicalLikewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
Exodus 27:10lexicalIts pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of…
Exodus 26:20
Exodus 36:25lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards
Exodus 36:32lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the…
Exodus 36:23lexicalHe made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.
Exodus 36:31lexicalHe made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 27:11lexicalLikewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
Exodus 26:21
Exodus 36:26lexicaland their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exodus 36:24lexicalHe made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets…
Exodus 36:30lexicalThere were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.
Exodus 26:22
Exodus 36:27lexicalFor the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
Exodus 36:32lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the…
Exodus 36:28lexicalHe made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.
Exodus 26:23
Exodus 36:28lexicalHe made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.
Exodus 36:27lexicalFor the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
Exodus 36:32lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the…
Exodus 26:25
Exodus 36:30lexicalThere were eight boards and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets—under every board two sockets.
Exodus 36:26lexicaland their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Exodus 36:24lexicalHe made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets…
1 Chronicles 24:4lexicalThere were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of…
2 Chronicles 29:17lexicalNow they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the LORD…
Exodus 26:26
Exodus 36:31lexicalHe made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 36:32lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the…
Exodus 36:20lexicalHe made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.
Exodus 36:25lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards
Exodus 40:18lexicalMoses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pill…
Exodus 26:27
Exodus 36:32lexicaland five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the…
Exodus 36:31lexicalHe made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 36:25lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards
Exodus 36:27lexicalFor the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
Exodus 36:28lexicalHe made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.
Exodus 26:31
Exodus 36:35lexicalHe made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workm…
Exodus 36:8lexicalAll the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue,…
Exodus 28:6lexical“They shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exodus 28:15lexical“You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make i…
Exodus 39:8lexicalHe made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 26:32
Exodus 36:36lexicalHe made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of si…
Exodus 36:38lexicaland the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sock…
Exodus 38:19lexicalTheir pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals,…
Exodus 38:11lexicalFor the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pilla…
Exodus 27:11lexicalLikewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
Exodus 26:33
Exodus 30:6lexicalYou shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, wh…
Numbers 4:5lexicalWhen the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in with his sons; and they shall take down the veil of the screen, cover the…
Exodus 40:21lexicalHe brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the covenant, as the…
Exodus 40:3lexicalYou shall put the ark of the covenant in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
Leviticus 16:2lexicaland the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the ve…
Exodus 26:34
Exodus 40:20lexicalHe took and put the covenant into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
Exodus 25:22lexicalThere I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on th…
Exodus 39:35lexicalthe ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat,
Exodus 30:6lexicalYou shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, wh…
Numbers 7:89lexicalWhen Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy…
Exodus 26:35
Exodus 40:22lexicalHe put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside of the veil.
Exodus 40:24lexicalHe put the lamp stand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.
Exodus 36:25lexicalFor the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards
Ezekiel 40:40lexicalOn the one side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other sid…
Exodus 26:36
Exodus 36:37lexicalHe made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
Exodus 38:18lexicalThe screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. T…
Exodus 27:16lexicalFor the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, t…
Exodus 39:29lexicalthe sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 39:8lexicalHe made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 26:37
Exodus 36:36lexicalHe made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of si…
Exodus 36:38lexicaland the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sock…
Exodus 38:19lexicalTheir pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals,…
Exodus 38:17lexicalThe sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals we…
Exodus 38:10lexicaltheir pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silve…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language