Exodus 26 29

Exodus 26:29 kjv

And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

Exodus 26:29 nkjv

You shall overlay the boards with gold, make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold.

Exodus 26:29 niv

Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.

Exodus 26:29 esv

You shall overlay the frames with gold and shall make their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and you shall overlay the bars with gold.

Exodus 26:29 nlt

Overlay the frames with gold, and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Overlay the crossbars with gold as well.

Exodus 26 verses

Exodus 26 29 Meaning

Exodus 26:29 outlines specific divine instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, detailing that the upright frames and the connecting bars used in its structure must be completely covered or "overlaid" with gold. Furthermore, the rings attached to these frames, through which the bars would pass, were also to be fashioned from gold. This commandment emphasizes the complete sanctification and glorious nature of God's dwelling place, ensuring that even its foundational structural elements radiate divine splendor and holiness.

Exodus 26 29 Context

Exodus chapter 26 provides intricate architectural blueprints for the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God would dwell among the Israelites in the wilderness. The chapter details the materials, dimensions, and assembly of the Tabernacle's various components, beginning with the curtain coverings (vv. 1-14), followed by the wooden frames that formed its walls (vv. 15-25), the connecting bars and their gold overlay (vv. 26-30), and finally the veils and screen that delineated sacred spaces (vv. 31-37). Verse 29 specifically instructs on the golden adornment of the structural elements—the frames and the bars—that give the Tabernacle its solid form.

Historically, this entire elaborate construction was commanded shortly after the Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. God, having delivered His people, now sought to establish a visible, tangible representation of His presence in their midst. The precious materials, especially gold, underscored the supreme holiness and transcendent glory of the Lord, distinguishing the divine dwelling from ordinary human structures and emphasizing its sacred purpose for worship and covenant interaction.

Exodus 26 29 Word analysis

• And you shall overlay (וְצִפִּיתָ - vetsippita): This verb comes from the root tsafah (צָפָה), meaning "to cover," "to plate," or "to overlay." The active perfective conjugation indicates a definite, completed action commanded by God. It signifies a thorough covering, where the underlying material is entirely concealed by the gold, thereby transforming its outward appearance and sacred quality. This action is not a suggestion but a divine imperative, central to the Tabernacle's purpose.
• the frames (הַקְּרָשִׁים - hakkerashim): Refers to the "boards" or "planks" made of acacia wood (shittim wood), described in Ex 26:15-18. These formed the solid, upright walls of the Tabernacle, serving as its primary structural support. They symbolize the fundamental components upon which God's presence would rest. Their anointing with gold signifies the holiness and consecration of the very structure.
• with gold (זָהָב - zahav): This highly prized precious metal symbolizes divine glory, holiness, purity, majesty, kingship, and imperishability throughout the Bible and the ancient Near East. Its extensive use in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) conveyed the immense worth and the exalted nature of God and His dwelling place. Overlaying the wood (representing the earthly or human) with gold (representing the divine) transforms the mundane into the sacred, making it fit for God's holy presence.
• and make their rings (וְעָשִׂיתָ אֶת טַבְּעֹתֵיהֶם - ve'asita et tabbotêhem): This instructs the creation of circular fasteners attached to the frames. These rings were essential for securing the bars. The command to make them of gold highlights that even the smallest, functional elements must be of the highest, consecrated quality, integral to the overall divine standard.
• of gold (zahav): Reiterates that purity and divine quality must extend to every aspect, regardless of its size or role. This ensures that no part of the sacred structure is common or ordinary.
• for holders for the bars (בָּתִּים לַבְּרִיחִם - battim lavveriḥim): Literally, "houses for the bars." The rings served as sockets or conduits through which the long bars would pass. This functional detail emphasizes precision and interconnection in the Tabernacle's construction, ensuring stability and unity.
• and you shall overlay the bars (וְצִפִּיתָ אֶת הַבְּרִיחִים - vetsippita et habberiḥim): This refers to the five wooden bars described in Ex 26:26-28 that were passed horizontally through the rings, connecting and strengthening the frames of the Tabernacle walls. One central bar extended the full length of each side, uniting all the frames.
• with gold (zahav): Applying gold to the bars further signifies their sacred role. As the elements providing structural unity and strength, their golden overlay means that the very cohesion of God's dwelling is imbued with divine glory and holiness, reflecting God's unified and steadfast nature.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "overlay the frames with gold": This phrase dictates the fundamental visual and theological nature of the Tabernacle's walls. It's not just the external fabrics but the very structural foundation that must be consecrated by divine glory. The underlying acacia wood, sturdy but ordinary, is completely subsumed by the precious gold, signifying the sanctification of everything God touches and calls His own.
• "make their rings of gold for holders for the bars": This command highlights God's meticulous attention to every detail, no matter how small or practical. The rings are essential for the Tabernacle's assembly and stability. By specifying they also be made of gold, it teaches that functionality within God's service is not divorced from holiness or beauty; every aspect contributes to the Tabernacle's sacredness and divine perfection.
• "overlay the bars with gold": The bars symbolize unity, stability, and integrity for the entire structure, as they bound the frames together. Overlaying these critical connecting elements with gold indicates that the strength and coherence of God's dwelling place are divinely established and maintained by His glory and holiness. It portrays God as the unifier and the sustainer, ensuring the structure's holy and perpetual purpose.

Exodus 26 29 Bonus section

• Divine Instruction vs. Human Conception: The precision of God's commands regarding materials and dimensions, including the overlaying with gold, emphasizes that the Tabernacle was entirely God's design, not a product of human architectural innovation or aesthetic preference. It was a tangible revelation of God's holy nature and His prescribed way of communion.
• Antithetical to Idolatry: In cultures that fashioned idols from gold, God's command for the use of gold in His sanctuary was not for an object of worship itself, but as a material that symbolized His glory, a glory that dwelled within and on the sanctuary, distinguishing it from pagan temples. The Israelites were never to worship the gold-covered items but rather to worship the God who commanded their construction and whose presence consecrated them.
• Sacred Economy: The immense quantities of gold and other precious materials needed for the Tabernacle would have been largely acquired from the spoils of Egypt (Ex 12:35-36). This highlights God's providence, turning the plunder of an oppressor nation into sacred resources for His glory, showcasing His redemptive power.
• Forecasting Heavenly Perfection: The gold-laden Tabernacle foreshadows the heavenly reality and the New Jerusalem described in Revelation, where pure gold is depicted as common street material, signifying ultimate divine presence, purity, and glory permeating everything in the eternal dwelling of God with man (Rev 21:18, 21).

Exodus 26 29 Commentary

Exodus 26:29 completes the instructions regarding the foundational framework of the Tabernacle, meticulously stipulating that both the supporting frames and the uniting bars, along with their functional rings, be overlaid or constructed with gold. This detailed command is not merely about aesthetic appeal or material extravagance; it carries profound theological weight.

The transformation of common, durable acacia wood into shimmering gold represents God's intention to imbue His dwelling with His own divine nature. Wood speaks of earthly origin, human construction, and susceptibility to decay, while gold symbolizes heavenly origin, divine purity, enduring glory, and kingly majesty. By fully concealing the wood with gold, God illustrates that His holy presence would elevate and perfect even the most humble components of His dwelling, rendering it wholly dedicated to Him and reflecting His unparalleled glory. The meticulous detail, extending the gold requirement even to the small rings and internal bars, reinforces that every part, functional or visible, must conform to God's standard of holiness and radiance. This meticulous design underscores that nothing in God's presence is casual or common; all is sanctified, purified, and glorious, echoing His absolute perfection and the awe His dwelling should inspire. It prefigures the complete holiness of Christ, in whom divinity (gold) perfectly permeated humanity (wood), and of His Church, which is being built up as a holy temple unto the Lord.