Exodus 26:24 kjv
And 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 26:24 nkjv
They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners.
Exodus 26:24 niv
At these two corners they must be double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both shall be like that.
Exodus 26:24 esv
they shall be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring. Thus shall it be with both of them; they shall form the two corners.
Exodus 26:24 nlt
These corner frames will be matched at the bottom and firmly attached at the top with a single ring, forming a single corner unit. Make both of these corner units the same way.
Exodus 26 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 26:15 | You shall make frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood... | Instructions for the tabernacle frames. |
| Exo 26:22 | And for the two corners of the tabernacle in the back... | Specifically addresses the corner frames. |
| Exo 26:29 | And you shall overlay the frames with gold and make their rings of gold for holders for the bars... | Gold overlay and rings for the frames. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united... | Unity in the body of Christ. |
| Eph 4:16 | From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow... | Unity and proper functioning of the church. |
| Eph 2:20 | ...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone... | Christ as the cornerstone, uniting the structure. |
| 1 Pet 2:6 | For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." | Christ as the precious cornerstone. |
| Psa 118:22 | The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. | Foreshadows Christ, the essential uniting stone. |
| Isa 28:16 | Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation..." | God lays a secure foundation with a cornerstone. |
| Lev 26:12 | I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. | God's desire to dwell among His people. |
| Zec 10:4 | From him will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow... | God providing essential structural elements. |
| Exo 25:8-9 | Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture... | God commands a sanctuary built to precise pattern. |
| Heb 9:11 | But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent... | The greater spiritual tabernacle of Christ. |
| Col 2:19 | ...and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. | Christ as the Head, essential for the body's growth. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ... | Members of the church are united in Christ. |
| Eze 41:22 | The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length two cubits; its corners were of wood. | Refers to wooden corners in temple furnishings. |
| Num 3:36-37 | And the custody assigned to the sons of Merari was the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars, its pillars, and its bases, and all their accessories... | Merariites' duty to care for the Tabernacle's structure. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose... to put his name and make his habitation there... | God designating a specific place for His dwelling. |
| Isa 60:11 | Your gates shall be open continually... that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led in procession. | Open gates, a unified, inviting spiritual city. |
| Rev 21:2-3 | And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man." | Ultimate fulfillment: God dwelling with humanity. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them..." | Believers as the temple where God dwells. |
Exodus 26 verses
Exodus 26 24 Meaning
Exodus 26:24 details the specific instruction for how the two corner frames of the Tabernacle structure were to be joined. It stipulates that these corner boards should be coupled or united both at their lower part and at their upper end by a common feature, specified as one ring. This intricate coupling method ensured the structural integrity, stability, and unified appearance of the sacred dwelling. It underscores the divine blueprint's meticulous design for God's presence among His people.
Exodus 26 24 Context
Exodus chapter 26 is part of the extensive and detailed instructions God gave Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God would dwell among the Israelites in the wilderness. Specifically, verses 15-30 describe the construction of the wooden frames (qerashim) that formed the walls of the Tabernacle, outlining their dimensions, materials (acacia wood overlaid with gold), and the manner in which they were to be set into silver bases and held together by bars. This particular verse, Exodus 26:24, addresses the critical connection of the two corner boards, ensuring the precise and stable formation of the Tabernacle's angular sections. This meticulous attention to detail highlights God's demand for order, sanctity, and perfect execution in the building of His dwelling place. Historically, during their nomadic wanderings, the Tabernacle symbolized God's continual presence and covenant with Israel, differentiating Him sharply from the fickle, man-made gods of surrounding nations who were housed in fixed temples, often built by human caprice rather than divine blueprint. The Tabernacle's precise and unique design implicitly stood as a polemic against the arbitrary construction and idol worship of pagan deities, asserting Yahweh's sovereignty and specific commands for worship.
Exodus 26 24 Word analysis
- And they shall be coupled together:
- `coupled together`: חָבַר (ḥābar) - meaning "to join," "to unite," "to tie," "to knit together." This emphasizes an intimate, secure, and deliberate connection, not merely a loose adjacency. It denotes active assembly for stability and cohesion.
- beneath:
- `beneath`: מִלְּמַטָּה (millᵉmaṭṭāh) - meaning "from below," "downwards," "at the bottom." This indicates a joining point at the lower part of the boards, implying a secure foundation or initial connection from the base.
- and they shall be coupled together above the head of it:
- `above`: מִלְמַעְלָה (milma‘lāh) - meaning "from above," "upwards."
- `head of it`: רֹאשׁוֹ (rō'šō) - meaning "its head" or "its top." In the context of boards, this refers to the uppermost part. This dual connection (bottom and top) ensured maximum stability and structural integrity, crucial for a portable sanctuary that needed to be assembled and disassembled.
- unto one ring:
- `one ring`: הַטַּבַּעַת הָאֶחָד (hattaḇa‘at hā’eḥād) - The definite article "the" combined with "one" (אֶחָד, `eḥād`) highlights a specific, singular, and unifying ring. This single ring served as a common point of attachment or pivot for the two corner boards, reinforcing their unity at the upper part. The "one" (`eḥād`) can also subtly emphasize the concept of divine unity, as the structure is a representation of God's unified presence.
- thus it shall be for both of them:
- This phrase clarifies that the specified coupling method using the "one ring" applied to both of the corner boards at that location, emphasizing symmetry and consistent construction.
- they shall be for the two corners:
- `corners`: פִּנָּה (piynāh) - meaning "corner," "angle," "bulwark," "chief support." The use of `piynāh` highlights the boards' function as structural corners, essential for turning the walls and forming a coherent enclosure. It can also metaphorically imply a "chief stone" or "leader," a concept often linked to cornerstones in biblical wisdom and prophecy. This confirms their specific role and reinforces the precision of the Tabernacle's blueprint.
Exodus 26 24 Bonus section
The architectural details of the Tabernacle, though ancient, reveal an sophisticated understanding of construction principles. The precise instructions for materials, dimensions, and joining mechanisms (like the rings and sockets for stability and portability) demonstrate a design that ensured both stability and the ability to be quickly dismantled and reassembled during Israel's wanderings. This highly structured and divinely mandated framework contrasted sharply with common pagan religious practices where idol construction or temple building often involved less precise, more human-centric methodologies. The detailed nature of the command implicitly reinforced Yahweh's authority and distinctiveness as the true God. Furthermore, the typology of these structural elements points towards New Testament realities: Christ as the Cornerstone and unifying 'ring' (Eph 2:20, 1 Pet 2:6), and believers as "living stones" being "built up as a spiritual house" (1 Pet 2:5), signifying the spiritual body of Christ where believers are "joined and held together" in perfect unity by Him.
Exodus 26 24 Commentary
Exodus 26:24 illustrates God's exacting demand for order, unity, and stability in the Tabernacle's construction. The precise method of coupling the corner boards, both from "beneath" and "above...unto one ring," was critical for the Tabernacle's structural integrity, allowing it to be a robust, yet portable, dwelling for God amidst a nomadic people. This detailed instruction underscores that God's presence is not haphazard but is enshrined in perfect design and adherence to His holy commands. The concept of "coupling together" by "one ring" symbolizes not just physical stability, but also the spiritual unity desired within God's chosen dwelling place and, by extension, within His people. Just as the Tabernacle boards were perfectly fitted to create a cohesive whole, so too is the church, the spiritual Temple, called to be "coupled together" in unity through Christ, the ultimate cornerstone, with whom all true believers are connected. The precision reflects divine foresight, anticipating every structural need and offering a typology for spiritual truths where all parts function harmoniously under a single Head.