The big picture
Exodus 26 opens in verse 1 with “Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 19 with “And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under…”, and closes in verse 37 with “And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with…” Repeated or prominent terms include tabernacle, boards, curtain, curtains, side. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Exodus · King James Version · 37Exodus 26:1-8
1–8: Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined…
Exodus 26:1–8 opens with “Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and…” and reaches “The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Exodus 26 develops its own movement around tabernacle, boards, curtain, curtains, side, with particular weight carried by curtain, curtains, cubits.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“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 number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Exodus 26:1-8
King James Version1Moreover 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.
2The 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.
3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4And 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.
5Fifty 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.
6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
7And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
8The 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.
Exodus 26:9-16
9–16: Thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by…
Exodus 26:9–16 opens with “And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt…” and reaches “Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Exodus 26 develops its own movement around tabernacle, boards, curtain, curtains, side, with particular weight carried by curtain, curtains, side.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it…” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“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 command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Exodus 26:9-16
King James Version9And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
10And 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.
11And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
13And 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.
14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
15And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
Exodus 26:17-24
17–24: Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against…
Exodus 26:17–24 opens with “Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make…” and reaches “And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Exodus 26 develops its own movement around tabernacle, boards, curtain, curtains, side, with particular weight carried by boards, sockets, board.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Exodus 26:17-24
King James Version17Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
19And 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.
20And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
21And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
23And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
24And 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.
Exodus 26:25-32
25–32: They shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen…
Exodus 26:25–32 opens with “And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under…” and reaches “And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Exodus 26 develops its own movement around tabernacle, boards, curtain, curtains, side, with particular weight carried by boards, bars, gold.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Exodus 26:25-32
King James Version25And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26And thou shalt make bars of shittim 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 two sides westward.
28And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
29And 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.
30And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32And 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.
Exodus 26:33-37
33–37: Thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in…
Exodus 26:33–37 opens with “And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the…” and reaches “And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Exodus 26 develops its own movement around tabernacle, boards, curtain, curtains, side, with particular weight carried by vail, holy, table.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.” The line’s distinctive content terms include holy, mercy, place. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.
Exodus 26:33-37
King James Version33And 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.
34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35And 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.
36And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
37And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Exodus 26:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Exodus 26:19 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Exodus 26:37 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words tabernacle, boards, curtain, curtains, side, sockets help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Isaac respond to repeated disputes?
He relocates and digs again until a well is not contested, while later accepting a negotiated peace.
What persists from Abraham's story?
The promise, altars, wells, outsider status and the dangerous sister deception.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.