Exodus 26:2 kjv
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.
Exodus 26:2 nkjv
The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. And every one of the curtains shall have the same measurements.
Exodus 26:2 niv
All the curtains are to be the same size?twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.
Exodus 26:2 esv
The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size.
Exodus 26:2 nlt
These ten curtains must all be exactly the same size ? 42 feet long and 6 feet wide.
Exodus 26 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 26:1 | "Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains..." | Introduction to the inner curtains. |
| Ex 25:9 | "According to all that I show you... so shall you make it." | God's divine pattern. |
| Ex 25:40 | "See that you make them according to the pattern..." | Strict adherence to divine blueprint. |
| Ex 36:8 | "All the skilled artisans among those who were doing the work..." | People meticulously followed the pattern. |
| Ex 36:9 | "The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits..." | Confirmation of exact dimensions. |
| Num 9:15 | "On the day that the tabernacle was raised..." | Tabernacle's role in Israel's journey. |
| Heb 8:5 | "...who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things..." | Tabernacle as a type of heavenly reality. |
| Heb 9:24 | "For Christ has not entered into holy places made with hands, a mere copy..." | Earthly tabernacle a copy, not the real thing. |
| 1 Ki 6:2 | "The house which King Solomon built for the Lord..." | Later Temple also built to specific measures. |
| 2 Chr 3:3 | "Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid..." | Another example of divine architectural detail. |
| Eze 40:3 | "He measured the threshold of the gate..." | Prophetic temple also has precise dimensions. |
| Ps 104:24 | "O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all..." | God's wisdom in creation and design. |
| Isa 40:12 | "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand..." | God's sovereign control and precision. |
| 1 Cor 12:12 | "For even as the body is one and yet has many members..." | Spiritual body (Church) has diverse but uniform function. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "...that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you..." | Call for unity, like the uniform curtains. |
| Eph 4:3 | "...diligently preserve the unity of the Spirit..." | Spiritual unity emphasized in new covenant. |
| Col 2:17 | "These are a mere shadow of what is to come..." | Old Testament regulations as shadows. |
| Jn 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us..." | Jesus as the ultimate tabernacle (pitched His tent). |
| Jn 2:21 | "But He was speaking of the temple of His body." | Christ's body as the new temple. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are a temple of God..." | Believers as the temple of the Holy Spirit. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | "For we are the temple of the living God..." | Church as God's spiritual dwelling place. |
| Rev 21:16 | "The city is square, and its length is as great as the width..." | Heavenly city also described with specific, perfect dimensions. |
Exodus 26 verses
Exodus 26 2 Meaning
This verse details the precise dimensions required for each of the inner linen curtains of the Tabernacle. Specifically, each curtain was to be twenty-eight cubits in length and four cubits in width. The phrase "all the curtains shall have the same measure" emphasizes the uniformity and precision demanded in the construction, highlighting the divine standard for God's dwelling place.
Exodus 26 2 Context
Exodus chapter 26 is part of a larger section (chapters 25-31) detailing God's specific instructions to Moses concerning the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. After providing the blueprints for the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, and the lampstand, this chapter shifts to the structural components of the Tabernacle itself, beginning with the elaborate inner curtains that formed its primary enclosure. The emphasis throughout this section is on precise divine instructions, ensuring every detail reflects God's holiness and order. Historically, the Tabernacle was a portable sanctuary, signifying God's presence dwelling among His people during their wilderness journey. Its precise dimensions and construction contrasted sharply with the chaotic and often undefined forms of pagan worship found in surrounding cultures, where deities might inhabit naturally occurring phenomena or ill-defined structures. This precision asserted the unique, orderly, and transcendent nature of Yahweh.
Exodus 26 2 Word analysis
- The length: In Hebrew, אֹרֶךְ (orek). This standard term refers to a measurement along the longest dimension. Its usage here signals that the specifications are literal and exact.
- of each curtain: The word for "curtain" is יְרִיעָה (yeri'ah). This refers specifically to woven pieces of fabric that formed the coverings of the Tabernacle. In this context, it designates the inner set of ten fine linen curtains, which were the innermost layer and thus the most sacred, reflecting the purity and holiness associated with the presence of God. Fine linen was a luxurious and pure material, often associated with priestly garments and divine service (Ex 28:6, 8; 39:2, 5, 8, 27).
- shall be twenty-eight cubits: The number twenty-eight itself is a multiple of four and seven (4x7), numbers often associated with creation/the world (4) and completeness/perfection/divine works (7). This dimension, when combined with other elements described later (Ex 26:8-12), ensures specific geometric fit for the entire structure. The cubit (אַמָּה - 'ammah) was an ancient unit of measure, roughly the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (approximately 18-21 inches or 45-53 cm). The specific divine standard, rather than human variance, is implied by the instruction.
- and the width four cubits: The number four is often symbolic of the earthly realm or completeness in creation (e.g., four cardinal directions, four seasons). Here, the four-cubit width (vertically when the curtains were hung) defined the height of the tabernacle walls formed by these curtains.
- all the curtains shall have the same measure: This phrase, literally "one measure" (אֶחָד מִדָּה - echad middah), emphasizes uniformity. This divine requirement ensures precision and symmetry in the construction of God's dwelling place, indicating an unchangeable and absolute standard. It precludes any variation or arbitrary design, reinforcing God's nature as one of order and exactness. This unity of measure symbolizes the harmonious working of divine purpose and the equality of the individual components within the divine plan.
Exodus 26 2 Bonus section
The dimensions of 28x4 cubits for each of the ten inner linen curtains mean that when these curtains were connected into two sets of five (as described in Ex 26:3), they would form a covering 28 cubits in width (the length of the individual curtains became the width when spread) and 40 cubits in length (10 curtains x 4 cubits width each). These larger combined sections (28 cubits x 20 cubits each) then perfectly covered the frame of the Tabernacle. This meticulous design highlights not just uniformity of individual parts but also how they perfectly integrate into a larger, functional whole. The selection of fine linen (שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר - shesh mashzar) for these innermost curtains points to purity, righteousness, and holiness—attributes of God Himself and qualities required for those who would approach His presence. This detail suggests a deliberate correspondence between the material, its dimensions, and the sacred purpose it served within the sanctuary, all ultimately pointing to Christ's purity and the Church's calling to holiness.
Exodus 26 2 Commentary
Exodus 26:2, though seemingly just a technical detail, reveals profound theological truths. The precise dimensions given for the Tabernacle curtains—28 cubits long and 4 cubits wide, with strict uniformity—underscore God's absolute demand for order, exactness, and perfection in all matters concerning His worship and presence. This is not arbitrary design but a reflection of divine character; God is a God of order, not confusion (1 Cor 14:33). The meticulous blueprint served as a polemic against surrounding pagan religions whose worship spaces often lacked such specific divine authorization and exactitude.
The uniformity of "all the curtains" emphasizes that every component, though distinct, was essential and had to conform to the single divine standard. This speaks to the unified purpose of God's dwelling place, where every part functions together harmoniously. Furthermore, the Tabernacle itself, built according to these divine patterns, was a physical foreshadowing, a type, of spiritual realities to come (Heb 8:5). These dimensions hint at the precision and perfect harmony found in Christ, the ultimate dwelling place of God (Jn 1:14), and ultimately in the Church, His spiritual body, where believers are being built together as a dwelling for God by the Spirit (Eph 2:21-22). The meticulous nature of this instruction suggests that God cares deeply about the details, not just the general outline, of how His presence is approached and honored.