Exodus 26:1
in Exodus 26“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Exodus 26
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
(Compare Exo. 36:8-33.) The tabernacle was to comprise three main parts, the tabernacle Exo 26:1-6, more strictly so-called, its tent Exo 26:7-13, and its covering Exo 26:14 (Compare Exo 35:11; Exo 39:33-34; Exo 40:19, Exo 40:34; Num 3:25, etc.). These parts are very clearly distinguished in the Hebrew, but they are confounded in many places of the English Version (see Exo 26:7, Exo 26:9, etc.).
This site's exposition
make the tabernacle with ten curtains
on Exodus 26:1-2
The first thing named in the tabernacle is not a wall but a woven cloth, and the figures worked into it are cherubims. Genesis 3:24 set cherubims at the east of Eden with a flaming sword to keep the way of the tree of life, and here they are woven into the covering of the place where God will dwell among the people. The same four materials, fine twined linen with blue, purple and scarlet, return at the vail in verse 31 and at the door in verse 36.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 7 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
In so far as the cardinal virtues receive their form from charity, they are represented by the four ornaments of the tabernacle, the four sheets, skins of violet, curtains of goat hair, and rams' skins dyed red. The sheets correspond to temperance, the purple skins …
A commentator
Gregory the Dialogist40 Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 38 · Written before 604.
proposed
It should be known that just as a garment is woven on two beams, namely the upper and the lower, so charity is held in two commandments, that is, in the love of God and of neighbor. For it is written: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength; and your neighbor as yourself." Therefore whoever takes care to have a wedding garment at the wedding must keep these two commandments of charity.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), to intimate that the angels of God pitch their tents round about the church, Ps. xxxiv. As there were cherubim over the mercy-seat, so there were round the tabernacle; for we find the angels compassing, not only the throne, but the elders; see Rev. v. 11 .
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Moreover, thou shalt make the tabernacle,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Thou shalt make the tabernacle - משכן mischan, from שכן shachan, to dwell, means simply a dwelling place or habitation of any kind, but here it means the dwelling place of Jehovah, who, as a king in his camp, had his dwelling or pavilion among his people, his table always spread, his lamps lighted, and the priests, etc., his attendants, always in waiting. From the minute and accurate description here given, a good workman, had he the same materials, might make a perfect facsimile of the ancient Jewish tabernacle. It was a movable building, and so constructed that it might be easily taken to pieces, for the greater convenience of carriage, as they were often obliged to transport it from place to place, in their various journeyings. For the twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, see Clarke’s note on Exo 25:4, etc. Cherubims - See Clarke’s note on Exo 25:18. Cunning work - חשב chosheb probably means a sort of diaper, in which the figures appear equally perfect on both sides; this was probably formed in the loom. Another kind of curious work is mentioned, Exo 26:36, רקם rokem, which we term needle-work; this was probably similar to our embroidery, tapestry, or cloth of arras. It has been thought unlikely that these curious works were all manufactured in the wilderness: what was done in the loom, they might have brought with them from Egypt; what could be done by hand, without the use of complex machinery, the Israelitish women could readily perform with their needles, during their stay in the wilderness. But still it seems probable that they brought even their looms with them. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
As you were first told, namely, the pattern of the tabernacle (Ex.:9).
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַמִּשְׁכָּ֥ן | hamishkan | the tabernacle | H4908 → | 139 times |
| תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה | taaseh | you will make | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עֶ֣שֶׂר | ʾeser | ten | H6235 → | 176 times |
| יְרִיעֹ֑ת | yeriot | curtains | H3407 → | 54 times |
| שֵׁ֣שׁ | shesh | fine linen | H8336 → | 41 times |
| מָשְׁזָ֗ר | mashezar | twisted | H7806 → | 21 times |
| וּתְכֵ֤לֶת | utekhelet | and violet stuff | H8504 → | 49 times |
| וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ | veargaman | and purple | H713 → | 38 times |
| וְתֹלַ֣עַת | vetolaat | and scarlet stuff of | H8438 → | 43 times |
| שָׁנִ֔י | shani | scarlet | H8144 → | 42 times |
| כְּרֻבִ֛ים | keruvim | cherubim | H3742 → | 91 times |
| מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה | maaseh | [the] work of | H4639 → | 236 times |
| חֹשֵׁ֖ב | choshev | a skillful worker | H2803 → | 124 times |
| תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה | taaseh | you will make | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| אֹתָֽם׃ | ʾotam | <obj.> them | H853 → | 10935 times |
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֥ןthe tabernacle
hamishkanH4908 →139 times
תַּעֲשֶׂ֖הyou will make
taasehH6213 →2628 times
עֶ֣שֶׂרten
ʾeserH6235 →176 times
יְרִיעֹ֑תcurtains
yeriotH3407 →54 times
שֵׁ֣שׁfine linen
sheshH8336 →41 times
מָשְׁזָ֗רtwisted
mashezarH7806 →21 times
וּתְכֵ֤לֶתand violet stuff
utekheletH8504 →49 times
וְאַרְגָּמָן֙and purple
veargamanH713 →38 times
וְתֹלַ֣עַתand scarlet stuff of
vetolaatH8438 →43 times
שָׁנִ֔יscarlet
shaniH8144 →42 times
כְּרֻבִ֛יםcherubim
keruvimH3742 →91 times
מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה[the] work of
maasehH4639 →236 times
חֹשֵׁ֖בa skillful worker
choshevH2803 →124 times
תַּעֲשֶׂ֥הyou will make
taasehH6213 →2628 times
אֹתָֽם׃<obj.> them
ʾotamH853 →10935 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Exodus 26:31Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
it leads to
- Matthew 27:51
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Chronicles 3:14
He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it.
- Exodus 36:35
Next, he made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
- Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he…
- Matthew 27:51
Through
Exodus 25:18Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
it leads to
- Hebrews 9:5
Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
- Ezekiel 10:20
These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the River Kebar, and I knew that they were cherubim.
- 1 Kings 8:6–7
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.
- Hebrews 9:5
Through
Exodus 26:36For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.
it leads to
- Exodus 36:37
For the entrance to the tent, he made a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen,
- Exodus 36:37
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this chapter
About Exodus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 7; Gregory the Dialogist, 40 Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 38; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.