Exodus 26: The Tabernacle Itself
God details the curtains, boards, and veil of his dwelling, with a veil that separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy.
Exodus 26 (WEB)
1 “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman you shall make them.
2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.
3 Five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4 You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling; and likewise you shall make in the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling.
5 You 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 to another.
6 You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to another with the clasps: and the tabernacle shall be a unit.
7 “You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make them eleven curtains.
8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
9 You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.
10 You 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.
11 You shall make fifty clasps of brass, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12 The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
13 The 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.
14 You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
15 “You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.
16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the breadth of each board.
17 There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 You shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.
19 You 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.
20 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
21 and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22 For the far part of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.
23 You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.
24 They 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.
25 There 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,
27 and 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 part westward.
28 The middle bar in the midst of the boards shall pass through from end to end.
29 You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and you shall overlay the bars with gold.
30 You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.
31 “You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.
32 You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.
33 You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil: and the veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.
34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand over against 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 Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.
37 You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold: their hooks shall be of gold: and you shall cast five sockets of brass for them.
Exodus 26 (KJV)
1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
3 The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4 And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
8 The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
11 And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12 And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
13 And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
15 And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
17 Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
19 And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
21 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
23 And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
24 And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25 And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26 And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27 And 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 two sides westward.
28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
29 And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35 And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
36 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
Exodus 26 (ASV)
1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shalt thou make them.
2 The length of each curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.
3 Five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4 And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is outmost in the second coupling.
5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling; the loops shall be opposite one to another.
6 And thou shalt make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to another with the clasps: and the tabernacle shall be one whole.
7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make them.
8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.
10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops upon the edge of the curtain which is outmost in the second coupling.
11 And thou shalt make fifty clasps of brass, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12 And the overhanging part that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
13 And the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of that which remaineth 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.
14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.
15 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.
16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board.
17 Two tenons shall there be in each board, joined one to another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.
19 And thou shalt 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:
20 and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
21 and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22 And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
23 And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part.
24 And they shall be double beneath, and in like manner they shall be entire unto the top thereof unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25 And there shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26 And thou shalt make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27 and 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 hinder part westward.
28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall pass through from end to end.
29 And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which hath been showed thee in the mount.
31 And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shall it be made:
32 and thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, upon four sockets of silver.
33 And thou shalt hang up the veil under the clasps, and shalt bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall separate unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34 And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35 And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
36 And thou shalt make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.
37 And thou shalt make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold: their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
Summary
God gives the design for the tabernacle structure itself, the tent that will house his presence. First are the ten inner curtains of fine twined linen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet and figures of cherubim—the beautiful interior covering—coupled together with loops and golden clasps to form one unit. Over these go eleven curtains of goats' hair as a tent, fastened with bronze clasps, and above them coverings of rams' skins dyed red and sea cow hides for protection. The frame is made of upright acacia boards overlaid with gold, set in silver sockets and held together by gold-covered bars, forming the walls of the dwelling. Then comes the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen with cherubim, hung on gold-covered pillars, which separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the Testimony will rest behind it under the mercy seat. The table and lampstand are placed in the Holy Place outside the veil. Finally, a screen of the same rich colors covers the entrance to the tent. Everything is to be set up according to the pattern shown to Moses on the mountain, a dwelling both beautiful and ordered, guarding the holiness of God.
Key Themes
- The curtains and coverings — The layered fabrics of linen, goats' hair, and skins that form the beautiful and protective tent enclosing God's dwelling.
- The boards and bars — The gold-covered acacia framework set in silver sockets that gives the tabernacle its stable, ordered structure.
- The veil — The richly woven curtain with cherubim that separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy, guarding the way into God's presence.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who designs every detail of his dwelling, both beautiful and holy, and whose presence the veil both reveals and guards.
Key Verse
Exodus 26:33 (WEB)
You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil: and the veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.
Lessons Learned
- God dwells in beauty and order; his sanctuary reflects his glory and worth.
- The veil reveals that access to a holy God is real but restricted by sin.
- Every detail of worship matters to God; nothing is left to chance or whim.
- The structure points beyond itself to the heavenly reality it copies.
- The veil that barred the way anticipates Christ, through whom the way to God is opened.
- God's dwelling is beautiful. The curtains are “fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim” (Exodus 26:1, WEB). The artistry of the sanctuary honors the glory of the God who dwells there.
- A veil guards God's holiness. “The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you” (Exodus 26:33, WEB). The barrier teaches that sinful people cannot casually enter God's presence.
- Worship is ordered, not improvised. “You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain” (Exodus 26:30, WEB). God's house follows God's design.
- The earthly copies the heavenly. The tabernacle is built to the pattern shown on the mountain (Exodus 26:30, WEB), a shadow of greater, heavenly realities later fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 9:24).
- What does the beauty of the curtains and coverings communicate about God?
- Why does God place a veil between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place?
- What is the significance of building everything according to the pattern shown on the mountain?
- How does the layered, ordered structure of the tabernacle reflect God's character?
- How does the tearing of the temple veil at Jesus' death (Matthew 27:51) change your understanding of this veil?
- The rich linen, colors, and cherubim make the dwelling beautiful (26:1). Beauty is fitting for the God of glory; the artistry declares his worth. God cares not only that he is worshiped but that his dwelling reflects something of his splendor and holiness.
- The veil separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy, where the ark rests (26:33). It teaches that God is holy and that sin keeps people from entering his immediate presence freely. The barrier both invites worship and guards the gravity of drawing near.
- Twice the chapter insists on the pattern shown on the mountain (26:30). The tabernacle is not a human design but a copy of heavenly realities (Hebrews 8:5). Worship is acceptable when it follows God's revelation, reminding us we come to God on his terms.
- The layered coverings, gold-covered boards, silver sockets, and ordered framework display care, stability, and glory. The structure mirrors a God of order and beauty, not chaos, whose holiness is carefully guarded yet who graciously chooses to dwell among his people.
- This is a personal-application question. At Jesus' death the temple veil tore from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), signaling that the way into God's presence is now open through Christ (Hebrews 10:19-20). Invite members to marvel that what Sinai's veil barred, the cross has opened.