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Exodus 26

Exodus book home•Chapter 26 of 40•37 verses

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Exodus 26 Overview

Exodus 26 gives the architectural pattern for the tabernacle. Ten fine-linen curtains with cherubims form the inner covering, with additional goat-hair curtains and protective coverings above them. Acacia boards overlaid with gold and fitted into sockets form the supporting structure. A veil separates the holy place from the most holy place, where the ark is placed behind it. A hanging forms the entrance. The chapter’s detailed measurements, clasps, loops, bars, and materials emphasize that Israel’s sanctuary is to be constructed exactly as God directs.

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26Chapter

37Verses

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Before you read Exodus 26

Coming from

Exodus 25 introduces the sanctuary purpose and gives the ark, table, and lampstand patterns.

In this chapter

The chapter constructs the sacred space that will house those furnishings and establishes a veil separating the most holy place.

Leads into

Exodus 27 moves outside to the bronze altar, courtyard, and oil for the lamp.

Key understanding

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

The tabernacle is ordered sacred space, not an improvised tent for religious gatherings.

Truth 2

The veil creates a real boundary between the holy place and the most holy place.

Truth 3

Beauty and craftsmanship are built into God’s design through fine linen, cherubims, gold, colors, and carefully joined structure.

Truth 4

The mobile construction suits a people traveling through the wilderness while preserving a stable pattern of worship.

Truth 5

Every major element is governed by divine specification.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Hebrews 9 explains the first and second tabernacle spaces and the restricted access beyond the veil.

Connection 2

Matthew 27 records the temple veil being torn at Jesus’ death, a later event rich with access significance.

Connection 3

Hebrews 10 explicitly connects the veil with Christ’s flesh in teaching believers’ bold access.

Connection 4

Numbers describes the transport and care of the tabernacle during Israel’s journeys.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

The detailed measurements should not be dismissed as irrelevant; they demonstrate ordered obedience and support later biblical theology of sanctuary and access.

Keep this clear 2

At the same time, the text does not authorize assigning a secret doctrinal meaning to every socket, loop, and board.

Keep this clear 3

The veil’s significance is later interpreted in Hebrews; that inspired interpretation should take priority over imaginative symbolism.

Keep this clear 4

The tabernacle is temporary and movable, but that does not make its holiness casual.

Read Exodus 26 watching for…

The layers of curtains and coverings.

The gold-covered boards and sockets.

The function of the veil.

Placement of ark, table, and lampstand.

The recurring precision of dimensions and joining instructions.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-14Curtains and coverings for the tabernacle 15-30Boards and sockets for the tabernacle 31-35The veil and the division of the holy places 36-37The hanging for the tabernacle door

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.

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.

The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.

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.

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.

And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.

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.

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.

And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.

Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.

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.

And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.

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.

And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:

And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

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.

And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

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.

And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

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.

And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.

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:

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.

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.

And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

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.

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.

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.

STUDY THIS VERSE

Exodus 26:16

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