Exodus 27:14 kjv
The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 27:14 nkjv
The hangings on one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.
Exodus 27:14 niv
Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases,
Exodus 27:14 esv
The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and three bases.
Exodus 27:14 nlt
The courtyard entrance will be on the east end, flanked by two curtains. The curtain on the right side will be 22 1?2 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases.
Exodus 27 14 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Exod 25:9 | "According to all that I show you... so shall you make it." | Divine instruction for the Tabernacle design. |
Exod 27:9 | "You shall make the court of the tabernacle..." | Beginning of courtyard specifications. |
Exod 27:10 | "...the sockets shall be of bronze, the hooks of the pillars and their bands of silver." | Details of materials for sockets and hooks. |
Exod 27:11 | "Likewise for the north side... there shall be hangings of a hundred cubits long..." | Describes a longer side with pillars/sockets. |
Exod 27:15 | "And for the other side of the gate, five pillars with their sockets..." | Refers to the opposite short side of the courtyard. |
Exod 35:17 | "...the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets;" | Summary of items needed for the courtyard. |
Exod 38:10 | "...their hooks of silver and their bands of silver, and their sockets of bronze." | Confirmation of materials during construction. |
Exod 39:42 | "According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work." | Emphasis on obedience to divine commands. |
Exod 40:16 | "Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did." | Moses' exact fulfillment of instructions. |
Num 3:36 | "...the appointed charge of the sons of Merari was the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the sockets..." | Levi's specific responsibility for these parts. |
1 Sam 2:8 | "...for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world." | God's sovereignty as ultimate sustainer/pillar. |
Prov 9:1 | "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out her seven pillars." | Pillars as supporting wisdom/structure. |
Isa 6:4 | "...the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice..." | Shaking foundations implying divine presence/power. |
1 Tim 3:15 | "...the house of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth." | The Church as a spiritual pillar for truth. |
Gal 2:9 | "And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars..." | Apostles as influential pillars in the church. |
Eph 2:20 | "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." | Christ as the ultimate foundation. |
Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned..." | Tabernacle as a shadow of heavenly realities. |
Heb 9:1 | "Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary." | Earthly sanctuary as designed by God. |
Rev 3:12 | "The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God..." | Believers become permanent pillars in God's presence. |
Exodus 27 verses
Exodus 27 14 Meaning
Exodus 27:14 details specific structural components for the Tabernacle's outer courtyard: "And five pillars with their hooks on the one side; and five sockets for them." This verse specifies the exact number of supporting pillars, their associated connectors (hooks), and their stabilizing bases (sockets) required for one particular short side of the courtyard enclosure. It emphasizes the meticulous precision and divine blueprint for every part of the sacred structure where God would dwell among His people.
Exodus 27 14 Context
Exodus chapter 27 focuses on the precise specifications for the outer components of the Tabernacle: the altar of burnt offering, its utensils, and the court of the Tabernacle. This sacred tent served as God's dwelling place among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings, a tangible symbol of His presence, and the divinely appointed place for prescribed worship. Verses 9-19 meticulously describe the court's dimensions, materials, and structure, including the hangings, pillars, and their bronze sockets. This particular verse (Exod 27:14) specifies the elements for one of the two shorter sides of the rectangular courtyard, emphasizing God's call for order, detail, and exact obedience in building His sanctuary. Every measurement, material, and piece of hardware was by divine command, highlighting the holiness of the space and the gravity of approaching a perfect God.
Exodus 27 14 Word Analysis
- And: Connects this instruction to the preceding ones, indicating a continuation of the detailed structural specifications for the Tabernacle's courtyard. It shows an uninterrupted, cohesive divine plan.
- five: This specific number emphasizes the divine precision required. Unlike human projects that allow for variability, God's blueprint for His dwelling was exact. The number five frequently appears in the Tabernacle's measurements, indicating divine intention and completeness for specific sections.
- pillars (עַמֻּדִים,
ammudim
): These were the upright supports, likely made of wood (acacia, as for other Tabernacle components, though not specified for these particular pillars) overlaid with bronze, which held up the linen hangings of the courtyard (Exod 27:16). They symbolized stability, support, and the demarcation of sacred space. In the broader biblical context, pillars represent strength, steadfastness, and foundational support (1 Tim 3:15, Gal 2:9). - with their hooks (וָוֵיהֶם,
vavvehem
): These were fastening devices, specifically made of silver for the courtyard pillars (Exod 27:10). The hooks were used to suspend the white linen curtains, which formed the perimeter of the courtyard (Exod 27:9). They highlight the interconnectedness and functionality of the design, ensuring the enclosure was complete and secure. - on the one side: This phrase delineates one of the shorter dimensions of the Tabernacle court, ensuring that the assembly process would create a perfectly rectangular enclosure according to divine specification. This specific reference contributes to the comprehensive description of each part of the court.
- and five sockets (אֲדָנֵיהֶם,
adaneihem
): These were heavy bronze bases or foundations (Exod 27:10) into which the bronze-overlaid pillars were firmly set. The sockets provided stability, grounding, and support, anchoring the entire structure despite its portability for the wilderness journey. The weight and material of the bronze sockets indicate the need for firm foundational support. - Word-groups:
- "five pillars...and five sockets": This pairing demonstrates the critical relationship between support structures and their foundations. Every pillar had its designated base, emphasizing order, balance, and complete provision in God's design. This underlines the concept of being properly founded and upheld.
- "pillars with their hooks": This group illustrates the functional integration of different components. The hooks were essential for the pillars to fulfill their purpose of holding the courtyard curtains, signifying how individual parts work together within a larger divine system.
Exodus 27 14 Bonus Section
- Typological Significance: The Tabernacle elements, including the courtyard pillars, hooks, and bronze sockets, are rich with typological meaning pointing to Christ and the Church. The pillars signify the strength and steadfastness found in Christ, who upholds all things. The hooks, connecting the various hangings, can symbolize the unity that believers have in Christ (Eph 4:3-6) or the functional means by which we are joined to His body. The heavy bronze sockets, forming the foundation of the courtyard structure, signify Christ as our unshakable foundation and the importance of His truth as the base for all spiritual reality. Bronze itself often symbolized judgment, which was borne by Christ.
- Meticulous Divine Command: The constant reiteration of specific numbers and precise components throughout the Tabernacle instructions (not just in Exod 27:14) reveals the meticulousness of God's nature and the sanctity He demands for worship and relationship with Him. It wasn't about aesthetics but about adhering to a heavenly pattern, impressing upon the Israelites the solemnity and particularity of approaching a holy God. This level of detail in instruction differentiates God's covenant with Israel from surrounding pagan cults, which often involved human-devised, syncretistic, and morally corrupt practices.
Exodus 27 14 Commentary
Exodus 27:14 is a snapshot of God's extraordinary attention to detail in the construction of the Tabernacle, His wilderness dwelling place. It isn't just a practical blueprint for assembly; it carries profound theological weight. The divine instruction for "five pillars with their hooks... and five sockets" for "one side" underscores several critical truths. Firstly, it highlights the divine blueprint and precise obedience required for all spiritual matters. God provided exact measurements and materials, leaving no room for human creativity or deviation in worship. This pattern emphasizes that true worship and access to God are on His terms, not ours. Secondly, the components—pillars for support, hooks for connection, and sockets for a stable foundation—collectively symbolize the firmness and order of God's redemptive plan. The Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, relied on these stable elements. This foreshadows Christ, the ultimate "pillar and ground of truth" (1 Tim 3:15), who provides the solid "foundation" upon which His Church is built (Eph 2:20). Every component, seemingly minor, contributed to the sacred boundary that both separated and invited people into God's presence, signifying a holy God who dwells among His people in an ordered, intentional, and accessible way.