Exodus 27 13

Exodus 27:13 kjv

And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.

Exodus 27:13 nkjv

The width of the court on the east side shall be fifty cubits.

Exodus 27:13 niv

On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide.

Exodus 27:13 esv

The breadth of the court on the front to the east shall be fifty cubits.

Exodus 27:13 nlt

The east end of the courtyard, the front, will also be 75 feet long.

Exodus 27 verses

Exodus 27 13 Meaning

Exodus 27:13 details the precise width of the eastern side of the Tabernacle's outer court, specifying it to be fifty cubits. This verse is part of God's meticulous instructions to Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle and its surrounding courtyard, underscoring the divine demand for order, precision, and adherence to specific design principles for sacred spaces where He would dwell among His people.

Exodus 27 13 Context

Exodus chapter 27 focuses on the detailed divine blueprints for the Tabernacle's outer courtyard, specifically its dimensions, materials, and fixtures (Exo 27:9-19). This follows the instructions for the Tabernacle proper (Exo 26), and precedes directives regarding its service (Exo 27:20-21). Historically, this context places the Israelites newly freed from Egypt, at Mount Sinai, receiving the foundational laws and sacred structures from God, preparing them to be a holy nation set apart to Him. The court was the designated space where the people could come before the Lord, offering sacrifices and worship, with access only through the single gate on the east. The meticulous measurements served to demarcate sacred from common, ensuring specific pathways and structures for a holy God to dwell among His people.

Exodus 27 13 Word analysis

• And (וְ - wə): A conjunction, continuing the ongoing description of the Tabernacle courtyard. It links this instruction directly to the preceding ones, indicating a coherent and contiguous set of divine commands for the entire sacred space.
• the breadth (רֹחַב - rokhāv): Refers to the width or horizontal dimension. The specific use of rokhāv rather than length ('orek) emphasizes that this instruction is for the transverse measurement, signifying an exact and precise spatial allocation.
• of the court (הֶחָצֵר - hechātser): "The court" refers to the enclosed open space surrounding the tent of meeting (the Tabernacle tent). This area acted as a boundary, physically separating the sacred inner sanctuary from the common outer world, reinforcing the holiness of God's dwelling place. The definite article 'the' indicates it's a specific, already introduced entity.
• on the east side (לִפְאַת קֵדְמָה - lipha'at qedmah):
  • lipha'at (to the side of, on the quarter of) specifies direction.
  • qedmah (east, eastward) is derived from qedem, meaning 'front' or 'ancient,' as the east is where the sun rises, perceived as the 'front' of the world.
  • The eastern orientation was crucial; the Tabernacle's single entrance was always on the east (Exo 27:16). This oriented worshippers towards the sanctuary as they entered, and symbolically towards the sunrise. It might also subtly counteract common pagan practices where people faced the rising sun to worship, instead inviting people into God's house from the east, implying God is the source of all light, not the sun itself.
• shall be (יִהְיֶה - yihyeh): A verb in the Qal imperfect, meaning "it shall be," "it will be." This is a divine declaration, not a suggestion or an option. It signifies God's absolute decree and Moses's responsibility to ensure its precise fulfillment, indicating divine authority and the necessity of exact obedience.
• fifty cubits (חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה - khamishshīm 'ammah):
  • khamishshīm (fifty): The number 50 has various symbolic resonances in the Bible, associated with completion, deliverance, new beginnings (e.g., Pentecost, Jubilee). Here, its primary significance is as a precise measurement, part of the exact numerical specifications given by God.
  • 'ammah (cubit): An ancient unit of length, generally based on the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18 inches (45 cm) in Hebrew measure. The specific number underscores God's absolute control over every detail of the sacred space.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the breadth of the court": Emphasizes a specific dimension (width) of the outer perimeter, differentiating it from length and height, showing that every aspect of the Tabernacle's boundary was divinely specified.
• "on the east side": Pinpoints the exact geographical and directional aspect of this measurement. The east was significant as the sole entrance and focal point for divine glory or judgment (e.g., Gen 3:24, Ez 10:19, 43:1).
• "shall be fifty cubits": This fixed numerical dimension represents divine order, precision, and authority. It left no room for human alteration or interpretation regarding the sacred space, reinforcing the idea that God's plan is exact and complete. This detail contributes to the overarching sense of perfection in the divine design.

Exodus 27 13 Bonus section

The precise measurements of the Tabernacle components, including this verse's mention of the court's eastern breadth, served as a profound object lesson for Israel. It conveyed that God's holiness permeated every detail, from the most sacred ark to the ropes and pins of the court (Exo 38:20). This detailed instruction eliminated human conjecture in matters of worship and served as a pre-incarnate representation of Christ. Just as the Tabernacle, perfect in every divine dimension, housed God's presence, so Christ, perfect in every way, became the true dwelling place of God (Col 2:9). The very structure preached a message of an accessible yet holy God who demands exactness and purity. Furthermore, the number "fifty" appears elsewhere in the Law of Moses for periods of spiritual completion and liberty, like the Day of Pentecost (fifty days after Passover) and the Year of Jubilee (every fifty years). While here it's a spatial measure, the inherent sense of sufficiency and divine establishment can be subtly seen in the specific nature of these numbers God employs.

Exodus 27 13 Commentary

Exodus 27:13 is more than a simple dimension; it reflects the profound nature of God and His expectations for humanity's interaction with Him. The precise fifty-cubit width for the east side of the Tabernacle court signifies God's meticulousness, sovereignty, and the ordered holiness He demands in worship. Every measurement, down to the cubit, underscores that the Tabernacle was not of human devising but a divine pattern (Heb 8:5). The eastern orientation of the entrance ensured a single, uniform way for all to approach, foreshadowing Jesus Christ as "the Way" (Jn 14:6) and the one access point to God. This adherence to divine specification contrasts with arbitrary human constructions or pagan temples, where dimensions might be influenced by convenience or earthly aesthetic preference. For the Israelites, this strict blueprint taught them reverence, obedience, and the recognition that approaching a holy God requires adhering to His prescribed method. This order found in physical construction translates to the spiritual order God desires for His people—a life lived according to His Word, with all things "done decently and in order" (1 Cor 14:40).