Exodus 26:26 kjv
And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 26:26 nkjv
"And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 26:26 niv
"Also make crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 26:26 esv
"You shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle,
Exodus 26:26 nlt
"Make crossbars of acacia wood to link the frames, five crossbars for the north side of the Tabernacle
Exodus 26 26 Cross References
(as heading h2)
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:8-9 | And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them... exactly according to all that I show you... | Purpose of the Tabernacle: God's dwelling. |
| Exod 26:15-18 | You shall make boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood... twenty boards for the south side... | Describes the boards themselves for which bars are needed. |
| Exod 26:27-28 | and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the back... and the middle bar, in the midst of the boards, shall reach from end to end. | Elaboration on the number and function of the bars. |
| Exod 36:31-33 | He made bars of acacia wood... five for the boards of one side... | Record of the construction following divine command. |
| Num 3:36-37 | The appointed charge of the sons of Merari: the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars... | Levites' responsibility for carrying the Tabernacle parts. |
| Num 4:31-32 | Their burden will be the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars... | Explicit command for the Merarites to transport these items. |
| Deut 10:3 | So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two tables of stone... | Confirms acacia wood as divinely specified holy material. |
| 1 Kgs 6:7 | When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built. | Meticulous building of God's house, even in Temple period. |
| Ps 122:3 | Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together. | Figurative expression of unity and stability in God's city. |
| Matt 16:18 | And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. | Christ building His church with inherent strength. |
| Jn 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory... | Christ is the ultimate "Tabernacle" (dwelt/pitched His tent). |
| 1 Cor 3:9-11 | For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. ...no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. | Believers as God's building; Christ as the essential foundation. |
| 1 Cor 12:12-20 | For just as the body is one and has many members... so it is with Christ. ...But now there are many members, yet one body. | Spiritual unity and cohesion in the Body of Christ. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ... | The Church's unified yet diverse structure, similar to Tabernacle's components. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | So then you are no longer strangers... but you are fellow citizens... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. | Believers built into a spiritual house, a dwelling place for God. |
| 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... | Christ as the head, binding His body together for growth. |
| Col 2:6-7 | Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith... | Growth and stability in faith, analogous to a firm structure. |
| 1 Pet 2:4-5 | As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house... | Believers are living stones forming a spiritual dwelling. |
| Heb 8:5 | They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” | The Tabernacle's earthly reality reflecting a heavenly pattern. |
| Heb 9:1-2 | Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the first section... | Description of the earthly sanctuary and its significance. |
| Rev 21:3 | And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. | Ultimate fulfillment of God's dwelling among His people. |
Exodus 26 verses
Exodus 26 26 Meaning
(as heading h2)The Lord commanded Moses to construct five horizontal crossbars for each side of the Tabernacle's wooden frame, using durable acacia wood. These bars were crucial for binding the individual upright boards together, ensuring the structural stability, strength, and unity of God's dwelling place in the wilderness.
Exodus 26 26 Context
(as heading h2)Exodus 26 details the intricate blueprint for the construction of the Tabernacle's components. Following instructions for the curtains and coverings, the Lord moves to the internal structure. Verses 15-25 specify the upright acacia wood boards that form the walls. Verse 26, therefore, follows logically, providing instructions for the bars that would bind these boards together, ensuring the structural integrity of the entire portable sanctuary. Historically, this divine meticulousness contrasts sharply with human-devised places of worship, emphasizing that God alone dictates how He is to be approached and where He chooses to dwell among His people. It speaks to the ordered, holy, and set-apart nature of Israel's worship in the wilderness.
Exodus 26 26 Word analysis
(as heading h2)
- And you shall make (וְעָשִׂיתָ - v'asita): A direct divine imperative given to Moses, highlighting the authoritative origin of the Tabernacle's design and Moses' role as the divinely appointed craftsman. It emphasizes active obedience in implementing God's precise commands for worship.
- bars (בְּרִיחִים - berichim): Plural of בָּרִיחַ (bariach), meaning a bolt or bar. These were structural components, crucial for binding and providing lateral stability. Their function is unification, ensuring the numerous individual boards form a single, sturdy wall. Symbolically, they represent the essential unity and stability within a divinely constructed dwelling.
- of acacia wood (עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים - atzei shittim): Literally "wood of shittim," referring to acacia, a hardwood tree prevalent in the desert regions where Israel journeyed. It is known for its durability, resistance to rot, and strength, making it ideal for the desert environment. God's specific choice of this material highlights its suitability for sacred use and enduring strength.
- five (חֲמִשָּׁה - chamishah): A specific, divinely appointed number for the bars on each wall side. Exod 26:28 clarifies that one of these was a "middle bar" (running through the boards for the full length of the wall), providing immense structural integrity, while the other four were positioned on the outside, two above and two below. This precise number and arrangement demonstrate divine architectural perfection for maximum stability.
- for the boards (לְקַרְשֵׁי - l'karshai): Refers to the vertical wooden frames or panels (boards) that constituted the main walls of the Tabernacle. These boards were carefully crafted (as detailed in Exod 26:15-25), and the bars were essential for connecting and bracing them, creating a unified and strong outer shell.
- of the one side (צֶלַע - tzela): Lit. "side" or "rib." This emphasizes the repetitive and symmetrical nature of the Tabernacle's construction. Each of the three solid walls (north, south, and west) received an identical set of five bars, ensuring uniform strength and appearance for the entire structure.
- of the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּן - hammishkan): The "dwelling place" or "sanctuary." This term is central to understanding the purpose of the entire structure: a portable habitation for the Divine Presence amidst His people. The bars, though seemingly minor components, were integral to making this sacred dwelling a reality.
Exodus 26 26 Bonus section
(as heading h2)The five bars can be seen as representing the full integrity and unity of the Tabernacle's walls, highlighting how distinct components are knit together to form a whole. In ancient Near Eastern architecture, the use of horizontal bars to brace vertical planks was a common and effective method for creating sturdy temporary or portable structures, indicating God's design was both transcendent and perfectly suited to its practical context. The emphasis on acacia wood (often translated 'shittim wood' from the Hebrew) consistently across Tabernacle implements underscores its exclusive holy usage, reinforcing that all elements serving God's dwelling must meet His precise divine standards.
Exodus 26 26 Commentary
(as heading h2)Exodus 26:26 provides a specific, precise instruction in the intricate design of the Tabernacle. The five acacia wood bars for each wall served a critical function: to unite the twenty individual boards of the side into a single, cohesive wall, creating a remarkably stable and robust structure for God's portable sanctuary. The selection of acacia wood underscores its resilience and suitability for enduring God's sacred purpose in a harsh desert environment, pointing to the endurance of God's dwelling and His covenant. The precise number and placement, especially the distinctive middle bar mentioned later, reflect divine foresight and engineering brilliance, ensuring that even under shifting conditions, God's dwelling place remained perfectly sound. Beyond its practical necessity, this command implicitly conveys deeper theological truths about the strength, unity, and divinely ordained order of God's presence and people. The bars bind, secure, and stabilize, echoing spiritual principles of unity in Christ's body and the foundational truths that uphold faith.