Exodus 26:16 kjv
Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
Exodus 26:16 nkjv
Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board.
Exodus 26:16 niv
Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,
Exodus 26:16 esv
Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.
Exodus 26:16 nlt
Each frame must be 15 feet high and 27 inches wide,
Exodus 26 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:9 | According to all that I show you... so shall you make it. | Divine pattern for sanctuary |
| Exod 25:40 | See that you make them according to the pattern... | Exact adherence to divine blueprint |
| Exod 26:15 | You shall make boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood... | Specifies material (acacia wood) |
| Exod 26:17 | There shall be two tenons in each board... | Details for joining the boards |
| Exod 39:42 | According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. | Fulfillment of God's commands in construction |
| Num 8:4 | ...this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work. | Other instances of precise divine design |
| 1 Chr 28:11-19 | David gave Solomon the plan... all this he made clear by the writing from the hand of the LORD. | God gives precise plans for the Temple |
| Isa 54:2 | Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations... | Figurative enlargement, dwelling with God |
| Eze 40:5-42:20 | Detailed measurements for the new Temple vision. | Future temple's exact dimensions |
| Zech 6:12 | Behold, the man whose name is the Branch... he shall build the temple of the LORD. | Christ building the spiritual temple |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... | Christ 'tabernacled' among humanity |
| John 2:19-21 | Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."... He was speaking about the temple of his body. | Christ as the true Temple/Dwelling place |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? | Believers as God's spiritual temple |
| 1 Cor 3:10 | According to the grace of God given to me, like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation... | Importance of careful, precise building (spiritual) |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them." | God dwelling among His people today |
| Eph 2:19-22 | ...you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God... a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. | The Church as a spiritual dwelling |
| Heb 3:3-6 | For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses... For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. | Christ builds a greater house (His people) |
| Heb 8:2 | a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. | Heavenly tabernacle/true dwelling of God |
| Heb 8:5 | ...who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed... to make everything according to the pattern. | Earthly tabernacle as a shadow of heavenly reality |
| Heb 9:11-12 | But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent... | Christ ministering in the superior Tabernacle |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house... | Believers built into God's spiritual house |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them..." | Ultimate fulfillment: God dwelling with humanity in New Jerusalem |
Exodus 26 verses
Exodus 26 16 Meaning
Exodus 26:16 precisely details the dimensions for each plank forming the framework of the Tabernacle. Each board was to be ten cubits in length and one and a half cubits in breadth, ensuring uniformity and stability for the sacred dwelling place.
Exodus 26 16 Context
Exodus chapter 26 is part of a detailed architectural blueprint given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, outlining the construction of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God would dwell among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. This specific verse (26:16) falls within the instructions for the Tabernacle's structural framework, focusing on the precise dimensions of the individual acacia wood boards that formed the walls. This precision emphasizes the divine origin of the design, contrasting with human-devised religious structures. The Tabernacle was not merely a building but a visual theology, symbolizing God's presence, holiness, and the path to communion with Him, foreshadowing later divine dwelling places like the Temple, Christ, and the Church.
Exodus 26 16 Word analysis
- Ten (`עֶשֶׂר`, 'esher): This numerical term indicates the length. The number ten holds significant biblical meaning, often representing completeness, divine order, and responsibility (e.g., Ten Commandments). Here, it signifies a precise, God-ordained measure, implying perfection and a structured design from a perfect Creator.
- cubits (`אַמָּה`, 'ammah): A cubit was an ancient unit of linear measure, typically based on the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately 18-21 inches (45-53 cm). The use of such a human-scale measure made the instructions relatable to the builders, yet the specific dimensions were divinely revealed, not arbitrary human choices. It highlights God's practical instruction for constructing His dwelling.
- shall be the length (`יִהְיֶה אֹרֶךְ`, yihyeh 'orekh): This phrase establishes a command and defines the primary dimension of the boards. "Length" refers to the vertical extent when the boards stood upright, forming the walls of the Tabernacle.
- of a board (`לַקָּרֶשׁ`, laqeresh): "Board" (`קֶרֶשׁ`, qeresh) refers to a wooden plank. Although not stated in this specific verse, Exodus 26:15 specifies these boards were to be made of "acacia wood" (`עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים`, atzei shittim), known for its durability and resistance to decay, common in the wilderness. This incorruptible nature subtly prefigures the incorruptible nature of Christ and His Church.
- and a cubit and a half (`וְאַמָּה וָחֵצִי`, ve'ammah vachetzi): This gives the breadth measurement. The half-cubit dimension ensures a precise, specific width for each board. This exacting detail underscores God's meticulousness and His desire for an ordered and perfect dwelling place.
- shall be the breadth (`רֹחַב יִהְיֶה`, rochav yihyeh): Specifies the width. This combination of length and breadth, consistently applied to each board, was crucial for the structural integrity and uniformity of the Tabernacle walls.
- of each board (`לַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד`, laqeresh ha'echad): This phrase emphasizes the identical nature of all the boards. Each piece, regardless of its position, must conform to the exact same measurements. This uniformity is vital for stability and symbolizes the unity required within God's dwelling place, foreshadowing the Church as a unified body built of many individual, equally important parts. This divine insistence on precision starkly contrasts with ancient pagan worship structures, often built by human estimation and reflecting human whims.
Exodus 26 16 Bonus section
The uniformity dictated by these specific dimensions ensured the Tabernacle's stability and portability. Every board had to fit together perfectly, signifying divine craftsmanship and the necessity of individual conformity to God's pattern for the collective good. The combination of precise measurements and the choice of durable acacia wood spoke of permanence and divine presence, even in a temporary structure. The total area derived from these boards contributed to a sanctuary with fixed, harmonious proportions, reflecting the ordered nature of God Himself.
Exodus 26 16 Commentary
Exodus 26:16 reveals God's meticulous attention to detail in the construction of the Tabernacle. The specified dimensions – ten cubits by one and a half cubits for each board – highlight divine order, precision, and the necessity of exact adherence to God's blueprint. This uniformity of parts was crucial for the structural integrity of the portable sanctuary, a symbolic lesson for the community of faith; just as each board had to meet exact divine specifications for the Tabernacle to stand firm, so too must each believer align with Christ, the chief cornerstone, contributing precisely to the building up of His spiritual dwelling (the Church). These precise measurements also point to God's unchangeable character and His expectation of holiness and order in all things related to His presence, setting the Tabernacle apart from human-conceived designs for worship.