Exodus 38
Making the Altar and Court
1He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits, and its height was three cubits.
2He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze.
3He made all the vessels of the altar: the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of bronze.
4He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.
5He cast four rings for the four corners of bronze grating, to be places for the poles.
6He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze.
7He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
8He made the basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, out of the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
9He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
10their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.
11For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
12For the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
13For the east side eastward fifty cubits,
14the hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
15and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
16All the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen.
17The sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals were overlaid with silver. All the pillars of the court had silver bands.
18The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. Twenty cubits was the length, and the height along the width was five cubits, like the hangings of the court.
19Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.
20All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of bronze.
Materials of the Tabernacle
21These are the amounts of materials used for the tabernacle, even the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
22Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses.
23With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen.
24All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred thirty shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
25The silver of those who were counted of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary:
26a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone who passed over to those who were counted, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty men.
27The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil: one hundred sockets for the one hundred talents, one talent per socket.
28From the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them.
29The bronze of the offering was seventy talents and two thousand four hundred shekels.
30With this he made the sockets to the door of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, all the vessels of the altar,
31the sockets around the court, the sockets of the gate of the court, all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins around the court.
Exodus 38 details the construction of the altar of burnt offering and the tabernacle courtyard, followed by a comprehensive inventory of materials used in the entire project. The chapter emphasizes the skilled craftsmanship of Bezalel and Oholiab, who faithfully executed God's detailed instructions using the generous offerings of the Israelites. This meticulous accounting demonstrates both divine precision in worship design and human faithfulness in stewardship of sacred resources.
Context
This chapter concludes the detailed construction narrative that began in chapter 36, transitioning toward the tabernacle's completion and consecration in chapters 39-40.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-7Construction of the Bronze AltarBezalel builds the altar of burnt offering with acacia wood overlaid with bronze, including all its vessels and carrying poles.
- 8The Bronze BasinThe ceremonial washing basin is crafted from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the tabernacle entrance.
- 9-20Building the Tabernacle CourtThe courtyard is constructed with linen hangings, bronze pillars and sockets, and silver fittings, creating the sacred enclosure.
- 21-31Inventory of MaterialsA detailed accounting records the gold, silver, and bronze contributed by the Israelites and used in the tabernacle's construction.
Making the Altar and Court
38:1–38:20Construction of the bronze altar for burnt offerings and the tabernacle courtyard with its hangings and pillars. These structures create the sacred space where Israel will offer sacrifices and worship God.
structural
Bronze appears seventeen times in these twenty verses, creating an acoustic drumbeat that reinforces the altar's role as the durable, fire-resistant threshold between Israel's offerings and God's holiness.
Materials of the Tabernacle
38:21–38:31Detailed accounting of the gold, silver, and bronze materials used in tabernacle construction, demonstrating careful stewardship of the people's offerings. The passage records the substantial contributions made by the Israelites for God's dwelling place.
person_contrast
Moses transforms from lawgiver to accountant here, meticulously recording 29 talents of gold and 100 talents of silver—the only passage where he personally oversees financial stewardship rather than divine revelation.
Exodus 38:1
Exodus 27:1lexical“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height…
Exodus 37:25lexicalHe made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height wa…
Exodus 25:23lexical“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one 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 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 38:2
Exodus 27:2lexicalYou shall make its horns on its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with bronze.
Ezekiel 43:20lexicalYou shall take of its blood and put it on its four horns, and on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all ar…
Exodus 38:3
Exodus 27:3lexicalYou shall make its pots to take away its ashes; and its shovels, its basins, its meat hooks, and its fire pans. You shal…
Numbers 4:14lexicalThey shall put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and…
2 Chronicles 4:16lexicalHuram-abi also made the pots, the shovels, the forks, and all its vessels for King Solomon, for the LORD’s house, of bri…
1 Kings 7:45lexicalthe pots; the shovels; and the basins. All of these vessels, which Hiram made for King Solomon for the LORD’s house, wer…
Jeremiah 52:18lexicalThey also took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze with whic…
Exodus 38:4
Exodus 27:5lexicalYou shall put it under the ledge around the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar.
Exodus 27:4lexicalYou shall make a grating for it of network of bronze. On the net you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners.
Exodus 39:39lexicalthe bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
Exodus 35:16lexicalthe altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base;
Exodus 38:5
Exodus 27:4lexicalYou shall make a grating for it of network of bronze. On the net you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners.
Exodus 35:16lexicalthe altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base;
Exodus 39:39lexicalthe bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
Exodus 25:12lexicalYou shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings shall be on the one side of it, and t…
Exodus 37:13lexicalHe cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet.
Exodus 38:6
Exodus 27:6lexicalYou shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.
Exodus 25:28lexicalYou shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
Exodus 37:15lexicalHe made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.
Exodus 30:5lexicalYou shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
Exodus 37:4lexicalHe made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
Exodus 38:7
Exodus 27:7lexicalIts poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when carrying it.
Exodus 25:14lexicalYou shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
Exodus 37:5lexicalHe put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
Exodus 37:27lexicalHe made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with wh…
Exodus 30:4lexicalYou shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and the…
Exodus 38:8
Exodus 30:18lexical“You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of M…
1 Samuel 2:22lexicalNow Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they slept with the women who serve…
Exodus 39:39lexicalthe bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
Exodus 35:16lexicalthe altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base;
Numbers 8:24lexical“This is what is assigned to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service…
Exodus 38:9
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 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 27:18lexicalThe length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of fine…
Exodus 27:12lexicalFor the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
Ezekiel 47:19lexical“The south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea. T…
Exodus 38:10
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 27:11lexicalLikewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
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 27:17lexicalAll the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze.
Exodus 26:37lexicalYou shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shal…
Exodus 38:11
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 36:38lexicaland the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sock…
Exodus 27:17lexicalAll the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze.
Exodus 26:37lexicalYou shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shal…
Exodus 38:12
Exodus 27:12lexicalFor the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
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 36:38lexicaland the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sock…
Exodus 27:14lexicalThe hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 38:13
Exodus 27:13lexicalThe width of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
Numbers 35:5lexicalYou shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits,…
Exodus 27:12lexicalFor the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
Exodus 38:14
Exodus 27:14lexicalThe hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 27:15lexicalFor the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 27:12lexicalFor the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
2 Kings 25:17lexicalThe height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on it. The height of the capital was three…
Exodus 27:11lexicalLikewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
Exodus 38:15
Exodus 27:14lexicalThe hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 27:15lexicalFor the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 27:12lexicalFor the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
Exodus 39:40lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
Exodus 35:17lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;
Exodus 38:16
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 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 27:18lexicalThe length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of fine…
Numbers 4:26lexicalthe hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the al…
Numbers 3:26lexicalthe hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its…
Exodus 38:17
Exodus 27:17lexicalAll the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze.
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 27:11lexicalLikewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
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 26:37lexicalYou shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shal…
Exodus 38:18
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 26:36lexical“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
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 39:29lexicalthe sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 27:18lexicalThe length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of fine…
Exodus 38:19
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 27:11lexicalLikewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…
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 27:17lexicalAll the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze.
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 38:20
Exodus 27:19lexicalAll the instruments of the tabernacle in all its service, and all its pins, and all the pins of the court, shall be of b…
Exodus 35:18lexicalthe pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords;
Exodus 39:40lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
Numbers 4:32lexicalthe pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all the…
Numbers 3:37lexicalthe pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
Exodus 38:21
Numbers 1:50lexicalbut appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to…
Numbers 7:8lexicalHe gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the…
Numbers 4:28lexicalThis is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting. Their duty shall be under the…
Numbers 4:33lexicalThis is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting, under…
Numbers 1:53lexicalBut the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of t…
Exodus 38:22
Exodus 35:30lexicalMoses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of th…
Exodus 31:2lexical“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
1 Chronicles 2:20lexicalHur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
2 Chronicles 1:5lexicalMoreover the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the LORD’s tabernacle;…
Exodus 38:23
Exodus 35:35lexicalHe has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and…
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 26:36lexical“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
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 39:29lexicalthe sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 38:24
Ezra 1:9lexicalThis is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, one thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives,
Numbers 7:86lexicalthe twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all th…
2 Chronicles 3:8lexicalHe made the most holy place. Its length, according to the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and its width twenty cu…
2 Kings 18:14lexicalHezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have offended you. Withdraw from me. That whic…
Numbers 7:85lexicaleach silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousa…
Exodus 38:25
Numbers 7:85lexicaleach silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousa…
Numbers 3:50lexicalfrom the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, according…
Numbers 7:49lexicalgave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy sh…
Numbers 7:37lexicalgave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy sh…
Numbers 7:25lexicalgave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy…
Exodus 38:26
Numbers 1:46lexicalall those who were counted were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.
Numbers 2:32lexicalThese are those who were counted of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses. All who were counted of the camps a…
Exodus 30:13lexicalThey shall give this, everyone who passes over to those who are counted, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sa…
Numbers 3:47lexicalyou shall take five shekels apiece for each one; according to the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the sheke…
Numbers 3:50lexicalfrom the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, according…
Exodus 38:28
Exodus 26:37lexicalYou shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shal…
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 27:17lexicalAll the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze.
Exodus 26:32lexicalYou shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.
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 38:29
Numbers 7:85lexicaleach silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousa…
1 Samuel 17:5lexicalHe had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he wore a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels…
1 Chronicles 29:7lexicaland they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousa…
1 Chronicles 22:14lexicalNow, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million tal…
Exodus 38:30
Exodus 39:39lexicalthe bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
Exodus 35:16lexicalthe altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base;
Exodus 39:40lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
2 Chronicles 1:6lexicalSolomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and offered one thousand bu…
Exodus 30:18lexical“You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of M…
Exodus 38:31
Exodus 39:40lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
Numbers 3:37lexicalthe pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
Numbers 4:32lexicalthe pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all the…
Exodus 40:33lexicalHe raised up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses fin…
Numbers 4:26lexicalthe hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the al…
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