Exodus 27:15 kjv
And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exodus 27:15 nkjv
And on the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and their three sockets.
Exodus 27:15 niv
and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.
Exodus 27:15 esv
On the other side the hangings shall be fifteen cubits, with their three pillars and three bases.
Exodus 27:15 nlt
The curtain on the left side will also be 22 1?2 feet long, supported by three posts set into three bases.
Exodus 27 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." | Divine command to build the Tabernacle |
| Exod 27:9 | "And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side..." | Preceding instructions for court boundaries |
| Exod 27:14 | "The curtains of the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits..." | Description of the first gate-side curtain |
| Exod 27:16 | "And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits..." | Dimensions for the main gate curtain itself |
| Exod 35:10 | "And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded." | Call to skilled labor for construction |
| Exod 38:14-15 | "The curtains of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits... and for the other side, fifteen cubits..." | Account of actual construction matching plan |
| Exod 40:33 | "And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar..." | Completion of Tabernacle court erection |
| Lev 1:1-2 | "The LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle..." | God's communication from the completed Tabernacle |
| Num 3:25-26 | "The charge of the sons of Gershon... the curtains of the court, and the hangings for the door..." | Levites' duty concerning court furnishings |
| Num 4:26 | "...and the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court..." | Levites responsible for court maintenance |
| Deut 12:5-6 | "But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose... thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings..." | Emphasizes one designated place for worship |
| Psa 48:12 | "Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof." | Significance of God's dwelling, orderliness |
| Psa 84:10 | "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere." | Value and desirability of God's dwelling place |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." | Principle of divine order and arrangement |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." | Importance of order in all things sacred |
| Heb 8:5 | "who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent..." | Tabernacle as a type pointing to heavenly reality |
| Heb 9:1-2 | "Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up..." | Overview of the physical Tabernacle and its ordinances |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints... in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." | Believers as spiritual dwelling for God |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood..." | Believers forming God's spiritual temple |
| Rev 21:16 | "And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city, twelve thousand furlongs..." | Future heavenly city with divine measurements |
Exodus 27 verses
Exodus 27 15 Meaning
Exodus 27:15 specifies the dimensions and support structure for the curtain on one of the two fifteen-cubit sections flanking the main gateway on the eastern side of the Tabernacle courtyard. It details that this specific curtain section, on what is identified as the second side or "wing" of the entrance area, must be fifteen cubits long, supported by three pillars rooted in three corresponding sockets. This precision highlights the meticulous nature of God's instructions for the Tabernacle's construction.
Exodus 27 15 Context
Exodus 27:15 is situated within a broader passage (Exod 27:9-19) that details the dimensions and components of the outer court of the Tabernacle. This court, measuring 100 cubits long and 50 cubits wide, surrounded the Tabernacle proper and the brazen altar, enclosing a sacred space where the Israelites could approach God through prescribed rituals. Verses 14-15 specifically address the specifications for the eastern entrance of this court, which featured a large, prominent gate flanked by two smaller curtain sections. Verse 15 details one of these side sections (the southern one), leading into the gate.
Historically, this detailed blueprint was given to Moses by God during Israel's nomadic wandering in the wilderness. It was the divine pattern for the portable sanctuary, a visible symbol of God's presence among His people. In contrast to the often arbitrary and chaotic nature of pagan worship places, the Tabernacle's meticulous design emphasized God's holy, orderly, and accessible nature, clearly setting His dwelling apart from any other.
Exodus 27 15 Word analysis
And for the other side curtain (וְלַכָּנָף הַשֵּׁנִית, ve-lakhanâf hash-shenith):
- "And for the other side": The Hebrew kanaf (כָּנָף) means "wing" or "corner," often referring to an extremity or side. Here it points to one of the two smaller sections of the eastern entrance that flank the central gateway. It distinguishes this segment from the main gate hanging itself and from the other 15-cubit section. This "second wing" is generally understood to be the one on the southern side of the gateway as one faces the eastern entrance.
- "curtain": Refers to the fine twined linen hangings that formed the walls of the courtyard (Exod 27:9), distinguishing the sacred space from the surrounding encampment. It speaks of purity and separation.
of the gate: This phrase explicitly connects the curtain section to the entry point of the courtyard. While not the main gate hanging (described in v.16), it is an integral part of the overall gateway structure. It frames the entrance and funnels entry.
fifteen cubits (חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה, hamesh esreh ammah):
- "fifteen": A specific numerical dimension, highlighting divine precision in design. It signifies that exact obedience to God's instructions was crucial.
- "cubits": A unit of measurement, roughly from elbow to fingertip (approximately 18-21 inches or 45-52 cm). This exact length dictates the precise form and extent of the sacred enclosure.
their pillars three (עַמּוּדֵיהֶם שְׁלֹשָׁה, ammudeyhem sheloshah):
- "their pillars": These are the upright supports for the curtains, made of brass/bronze (implied from Exod 27:10). They provide the necessary framework for the hangings.
- "three": A divinely specified quantity. While often symbolic of divine completeness or witness in other biblical contexts, here it primarily functions to indicate the required number of supports for a 15-cubit span, ensuring stability and adherence to the pattern.
and their sockets three (וְאַדְנֵיהֶם שְׁלֹשָׁה, ve'adnêhem shloshah):
- "their sockets": These were the bases (made of brass/bronze, from Exod 27:10) into which the pillars were set. They provided stability and firm foundation, securing the upright pillars into the ground.
- "three": Directly corresponds to the number of pillars, signifying that each pillar had a dedicated foundational socket, ensuring stability and strength for the entire structure.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
"And for the other side curtain of the gate, fifteen cubits": This phrase precisely defines the length of a specific section of the Tabernacle's eastern entrance. It points to one of the "wings" or shorter wall segments (15 cubits) that frame the wider central gate (20 cubits). The exact dimension underscores the meticulous attention God commanded for His sacred dwelling.
"their pillars three, and their sockets three": This phrase details the support system required for this 15-cubit curtain segment. The repetition of "three" emphasizes the structural integrity and foundational strength. Every aspect of the sacred space, including its stability, was mandated by God. It highlights that proper worship and approach to God requires a secure and divinely sanctioned framework.
Exodus 27 15 Bonus section
The entire eastern side of the Tabernacle courtyard measured 50 cubits (half the total width of the court). Exodus 27:14 and 15 describe two separate 15-cubit curtain sections (15 + 15 = 30 cubits). This leaves exactly 20 cubits (50 - 30 = 20 cubits) for the actual gateway curtain mentioned in Exodus 27:16. This consistency demonstrates the integrated and divinely perfected blueprint for the Tabernacle's layout. The use of brass/bronze for the pillars and sockets (mentioned in earlier verses like 27:10) symbolizes strength and judgment, highlighting the serious and enduring nature of the boundaries for God's holy presence. The gateway, though allowing access, was guarded and specified, foreshadowing Christ as the gate and the Way, offering precise and divinely ordained access to God.
Exodus 27 15 Commentary
Exodus 27:15 offers a microcosm of God's character revealed in the Tabernacle's design: precise, orderly, and intentional. The meticulous instruction for a specific 15-cubit curtain section with its three pillars and three sockets, though seemingly mundane, underscores divine expectation for obedience in detail. Every measurement and component contributed to the integrity and holiness of the Tabernacle court, marking a boundary between the common and the sacred. This detail reinforces that access to God was not haphazard but according to His divine pattern, preparing Israel for a relationship built on reverence and submission to His revealed will. It reflects a God who cares about structure and foundation for the flourishing of worship and sacred space.