Exodus 26 19

Exodus 26:19 kjv

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.

Exodus 26:19 nkjv

You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons.

Exodus 26:19 niv

and make forty silver bases to go under them?two bases for each frame, one under each projection.

Exodus 26:19 esv

and forty bases of silver you shall make under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons;

Exodus 26:19 nlt

Also make forty silver bases ? two bases under each frame, with the pegs fitting securely into the bases.

Exodus 26 verses

Exodus 26 19 Meaning

Exodus 26:19 details a specific instruction for the construction of the Tabernacle's framework. It describes that forty heavy silver sockets were to be crafted, with two of these sockets serving as a stable foundation beneath each of the twenty acacia wood boards that formed the main walls of the holy dwelling. Each board, with its two projections (tenons), would firmly fit into these two silver bases, ensuring the structure's stability and support. This verse emphasizes the precise, divinely ordained structure and the significant value placed on the Tabernacle's foundation.

Exodus 26 19 Context

Exodus 26 provides the divine blueprints for the inner components of the Tabernacle, specifically focusing on the framework of the holy tent itself. Verses 15-30 describe the boards, bars, and sockets that would form the walls, providing a rigid, self-standing structure for the Tent of Meeting. Verse 19 specifies the critical foundational element: the silver sockets for the wall boards. This detailed instruction follows earlier commands for the ark, table, and lampstand, highlighting God's meticulous nature in preparing His dwelling place among His people. Historically, the Tabernacle was the portable center of Israelite worship, signifying God's presence, holiness, and a visible manifestation of His covenant with Israel during their wilderness journey. The precise divine instructions, down to the number and material of the sockets, stand in stark contrast to the human-designed, often idol-centric, religious structures prevalent in surrounding pagan cultures, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty and uniqueness.

Exodus 26 19 Word Analysis

• You shall make (וְעָשִׂיתָ - v'asita): A direct imperative command from God to Moses. This emphasizes divine instruction, not human invention, for the sacred structure. Every detail is purposeful and revealed by God.
• forty (אַרְבָּעִים - arba'im): A precise number, ensuring the correct count of foundational elements. This highlights divine order and mathematical perfection in the Tabernacle's design.
• sockets (אֲדָנִים - adaním): Plural of eden (אֶדֶן), meaning "base" or "pedestal." These were heavy, foundational blocks, designed to anchor the massive upright wooden boards. Their weight provided stability to the entire structure.
• of silver (כֶּסֶף - késef): A precious metal, weighty and pure. This silver came directly from the atonement money, a half-shekel offering from every Israelite twenty years and older (Ex 30:11-16; Ex 38:25-27). This connection signifies that the foundation of God's dwelling among His people was literally built upon their atonement and redemption. Silver often symbolizes redemption, purity, and preciousness in biblical literature.
• under: Indicating their function as foundational support. They were not merely ornamental but bore the significant weight of the structure.
• the twenty boards (הַקְּרָשִׁים - haqqerashím): These were acacia wood planks, overlaid with gold (Ex 26:29), forming the actual walls. Specifically refers to the twenty boards on each of the long north and south sides (Ex 26:18). Each board was very large and heavy (likely 10 cubits high, 1.5 cubits wide).
• two sockets under one board: Specific instruction that each heavy board required two dedicated sockets. This was crucial for distribution of weight and ensuring maximum stability, preventing the tall boards from tipping or shifting.
• for their two tenons (לִשְׁתֵּי יְדֹתָיו - lishtei yedótav): Yedotov literally means "its two hands" or "its two projections/pegs." These tenons, fixed at the bottom of each wooden board, would securely fit into corresponding mortises (holes) in the silver sockets, creating a strong, interlocked foundation.

Exodus 26 19 Bonus Section

• Immense Weight: The total silver used for the 100 sockets (for boards and curtain posts) weighed approximately 100 talents, equivalent to over 7,500 pounds or around 3,400 kg. This was an enormous weight to transport, especially for a nomadic people. It speaks to the literal and symbolic 'weight' of the foundation of God's dwelling.
• Symbolic Burden and Provision: The fact that each Israelite contributed to this silver through the half-shekel atonement money means that the very foundation of the Tabernacle, the physical manifestation of God's presence, was borne by the collective redeemed community. It was their redemption that literally provided the base for God's dwelling.
• Unseen Foundation: While the gold-covered boards and elaborate hangings would have been visible, the silver sockets, being at the very bottom and perhaps even slightly dug into the ground, would have been largely out of sight. This might symbolize the crucial yet often unseen work of atonement and God's foundational provision that undergirds all spiritual beauty and activity.

Exodus 26 19 Commentary

Exodus 26:19 is a concise yet profound verse in the architectural blueprint of the Tabernacle. It underscores that the stability of God's dwelling place rested on a weighty and costly foundation of silver. This silver was not sourced from general donations or spoils, but specifically from the "atonement money" collected from every numbered Israelite. This critical detail transforms a mere structural element into a theological statement: God's presence among His people, the very foundation of their corporate worship and access to Him, was established and maintained on the basis of atonement and redemption.

The meticulous detail—two sockets for each of the heavy, gold-covered acacia boards—highlights divine precision and wisdom in ensuring the physical integrity of the sanctuary. Spiritually, this points to the stability and surety of God's saving work. Just as the boards representing God's dwelling were firmly set upon foundations of atonement silver, the spiritual temple of the Church, or individual believers, finds its ultimate stability and foundation in the redemption purchased by Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate "foundation" and "cornerstone," the One upon whom the entire spiritual edifice of God's presence is built (1 Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20). The very nature of the Tabernacle's construction, meticulously defined by God and dependent on the sacrificial giving that facilitated atonement, serves as a prefigurement of the steadfast, atoning work of Christ which truly grounds God's enduring dwelling among His people.