Exodus 26:17 kjv
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.
Exodus 26:17 nkjv
Two tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
Exodus 26:17 niv
with two projections set parallel to each other. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way.
Exodus 26:17 esv
There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together. So shall you do for all the frames of the tabernacle.
Exodus 26:17 nlt
with two pegs under each frame. Make all the frames identical.
Exodus 26 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 26:19 | And you shall make forty bases of silver under the twenty boards... | Tenons fit into bases for stability |
| Exo 36:22 | Each board had two tenons, fitted to one another... | Confirming faithful execution of the command |
| Num 4:32 | And the pillars of the court all around... their pins... | Divine attention to detail in Tabernacle items |
| 1 Kin 6:23-28 | And in the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree... | Detailed craftsmanship in Temple, like Tabernacle |
| 1 Chr 28:11-19 | Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the porch, and of the houses... | Divine blueprint for Temple, requiring precision |
| Psa 133:1 | Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! | Symbolism of unity in connected structure |
| Isa 28:16 | Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone... | Christ as the sure foundation |
| Eph 2:19 | So then you are no longer strangers... but fellow citizens... | Believers as integral parts of God's household |
| Eph 2:20 | Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone. | Christ as unifying foundation for the church |
| Eph 2:21 | In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. | Church members "fitted together" by Christ |
| Eph 4:16 | From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies... | Christ connects His body (the church) |
| 1 Cor 3:9 | For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. | Believers as God's spiritual building |
| 1 Cor 3:11 | For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. | Christ as the singular foundation for life and faith |
| 1 Cor 12:12 | For as the body is one and has many members... so also is Christ. | Unity in diversity of the church (body of Christ) |
| 1 Cor 12:20 | But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. | Many parts forming one unified spiritual entity |
| Rom 12:4-5 | For as we have many members in one body... so we, being many, are one body in Christ. | Believers united in Christ |
| Heb 8:5 | who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed... | Tabernacle as earthly copy of heavenly reality, built by divine pattern |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house... | Believers as "living stones" forming a spiritual dwelling |
| Col 2:19 | from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments... | Christ as the Head from whom the body grows together |
| Rev 21:3 | Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them... | God's ultimate dwelling among His people in the new creation |
| John 14:2-3 | In My Father’s house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you. | Foreshadows Christ's preparation of eternal dwelling |
| Acts 7:44 | Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness... made according to the pattern... | Tabernacle built exactly to divine specifications |
Exodus 26 verses
Exodus 26 17 Meaning
Exodus 26:17 describes the structural detail of the upright wooden boards (frames) used for the walls of the Tabernacle. Each board was to have two "tenons," which were projections designed to fit securely into corresponding sockets (referenced in later verses like 26:19). These tenons were to be meticulously "fitted to one another," an idiom signifying perfect alignment and interlocking precision. This precise design ensured the stability, integrity, and uniform appearance of the sacred dwelling place of God. The instruction concludes by emphasizing that this exact specification applies to every single board of the Tabernacle.
Exodus 26 17 Context
Exodus chapter 26 provides intricate divine instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God would dwell among the Israelites in the wilderness. Following detailed plans for the various curtains (Exo 26:1-14), the chapter shifts to the wooden structure that formed the core framework of the sanctuary. Verses 15-30 describe the making of the upright boards, their silver bases, the crossbars, and the division between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Verse 17 focuses specifically on the stability and precise assembly of these crucial side planks. This meticulous detail underscores that the Tabernacle was not built by human innovation or whim but strictly according to God's exact and sacred blueprint, essential for maintaining His holy presence and order among His people.
Exodus 26 17 Word analysis
- Two tenons: שְׁתֵּי יָדוֹת (sh'tei yadot).
- Yadot (plural of yad) literally means "hands" but here refers to projections or pegs. In ancient construction, tenons were extensions of wood designed to fit into mortises or sockets.
- Significance: The number two implies strength and balance. These "hands" or projections represent integral connection, signifying that each part is designed for interlocking support, not merely resting on a base. This concept of joining is critical for the stability and unity of the entire structure.
- shall be in each board: לַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד (lakkeresh ha'echad).
- Keresh (קֶּרֶשׁ) refers to the upright frame boards or planks.
- Significance: Each individual component, no matter how numerous, was divinely mandated to possess these joining features. This emphasizes uniformity and the importance of every single piece to the overall structural integrity of God's dwelling. It points to God's meticulous attention to even the smallest details.
- fitted to one another: מְשֻׁלָּבֹת אִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֹתָהּ (meshullavot isha el achotah).
- Meshullavot comes from a root implying interlacing, joining, or interlocking.
- Ishah el achotah (אִשָּׁה אֶל אֲחוֹתָהּ) is a Hebrew idiom literally meaning "a woman to her sister." It denotes a perfect fit, exact symmetry, or being parallel and complementary. It describes things perfectly matching or corresponding.
- Significance: This idiomatic expression conveys a level of precision that goes beyond mere connection. It implies perfect alignment, ensuring maximum stability and eliminating any gaps or weaknesses. This stands in contrast to haphazard, often ill-constructed idols and shrines of surrounding cultures, underscoring the divine order and perfection in God's habitation.
- Thus you shall do: כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה (ken ta'aseh).
- This is a direct divine command, emphasizing exact adherence to the specified blueprint.
- Significance: It reinforces the principle of obedient execution of God's instructions. The Tabernacle's purpose and functionality depended entirely on Moses and the craftsmen following God's design to the letter, symbolizing spiritual obedience and reverence.
- for all the boards of the tabernacle: לְכֹל קַרְשֵׁי הַמִּשְׁכָּן (l'chol karshei hammishkan).
- Karshei (plural of keresh) refers to all the frames. Mishkan (מִשְׁכָּן) is the "dwelling place" or Tabernacle.
- Significance: This phrase emphasizes universality. Every single one of the Tabernacle's structural boards had to be constructed with these specific tenons and fitted perfectly. It highlights the uniform nature of the divine design and implies that every part, large or small, contributed equally to the strength and sanctity of the whole, pointing towards the unified nature of God's spiritual house, the Church.
Exodus 26 17 Bonus section
The seemingly mundane details of Tabernacle construction reveal profound theological principles. The exacting requirements for the boards and their tenons underscore the principle of divine design over human invention. Unlike pagan shrines built with whatever materials and methods people devised, the Tabernacle was a testament to the Creator's specific revelation. This level of precise detail also foreshadows the Person of Christ as the ultimate 'connecting' element. In Christ, all things "hold together" (Col 1:17) and "are fitted together" (Eph 2:21). The fragility of human-made structures versus the stability imparted by divine command prefigures the sure and steadfast nature of God's covenant and His ultimate dwelling among His people.
Exodus 26 17 Commentary
Exodus 26:17 provides a micro-level detail in the grand design of the Tabernacle, yet it carries significant macro-level implications. The dual tenons and their "sister-like" precision fitting into corresponding sockets (as described elsewhere in the chapter) ensure the structural integrity and unwavering stability of God's dwelling place. This precision reflects God's own meticulous nature and the orderliness He requires in His service. Typologically, this detail foreshadows the stability and unity found within God's spiritual dwelling, the Church. Just as each board with its precisely fitted tenons contributed to a stable Tabernacle, so too does each believer, uniquely gifted and connected to others through Christ, contribute to the robust and unified spiritual edifice of the body of Christ. The emphasis on "all the boards" teaches that every part is crucial and designed for perfect interrelation. The careful fitting prevents swaying and collapse, symbolizing the need for a unified and unwavering spiritual body built on God's foundational truth.