Exodus 27:9 kjv
And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:
Exodus 27:9 nkjv
"You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side.
Exodus 27:9 niv
"Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen,
Exodus 27:9 esv
"You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side.
Exodus 27:9 nlt
"Then make the courtyard for the Tabernacle, enclosed with curtains made of finely woven linen. On the south side, make the curtains 150 feet long.
Exodus 27 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 27:1-8 | "You shall make the altar of acacia wood...and the utensils..." | Preceding context for the courtyard furniture. |
| Exod 38:9 | "Then he made the court: for the south side the hangings were..." | Fulfillment of this command during construction. |
| Exod 26:1-14 | "Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains..." | Contrast with inner Tabernacle's intricate coverings. |
| Lev 16:2 | "The Lord said to Moses: Tell Aaron your brother not to come at all times..." | Emphasizes boundaries and restricted access to sacred space. |
| Num 3:36 | "The responsibility of the Merarites...the posts of the court all around..." | Details of Merarite family's care for court posts. |
| Ezek 40:5 | "And behold, there was a wall outside the temple all around..." | Temple vision, illustrating God's dwelling requires boundaries. |
| Zech 2:5 | "For I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord..." | God's divine protection around His people, echoing sanctuary security. |
| Hag 2:7 | "And I will shake all the nations, so that the treasures of all nations will come..." | Future glory of God's house exceeding initial splendor. |
| Heb 9:1-2 | "Now even the first covenant had regulations...a tabernacle was prepared..." | New Testament description of Tabernacle parts, including the court. |
| Heb 9:24 | "For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, but into heaven itself..." | Points to Christ entering the true heavenly sanctuary, beyond earthly one. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house..." | Believers as part of God's new spiritual temple. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "You are no longer strangers...but are fellow citizens...built on the foundation..." | Believers form the dwelling place of God in the Spirit. |
| John 2:19-21 | "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'..." | Jesus referring to His body as the true temple. |
| Rev 11:2 | "But do not measure the court outside the temple; leave it out..." | Symbolic separation of a future temple's outer court. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man..." | God's ultimate presence with humanity, fulfilling the tabernacle's purpose. |
| 1 Cor 3:16-17 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Believers' bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | "For we are the temple of the living God..." | Direct affirmation of the Church as God's temple. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace..." | New Covenant access to God, contrasted with limited access to the earthly tabernacle. |
| Exod 40:8 | "And you shall set up the court all around and hang the screen for the gate of the court." | Moses completing the entire Tabernacle, including the court. |
| Psa 84:10 | "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere." | The spiritual value of being in God's presence, yearning for His courts. |
| Jer 7:11 | "Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers..." | Judgment against profanation of God's house, indicating its sacredness. |
Exodus 27 verses
Exodus 27 9 Meaning
Exodus 27:9 describes the dimensions and materials for the south side of the Tabernacle's outer court. It specifies that this court enclosure is to be made of hangings (curtains) of fine twined linen, with a length of one hundred cubits (approximately one hundred and fifty feet). This detail emphasizes the precise divine blueprint for God's dwelling place and the sacred boundary around the central tent of meeting.
Exodus 27 9 Context
Exodus 27 details the instructions for the Tabernacle's outer court, specifically its perimeter, gateway, and the implements within (the bronze altar and its utensils). This follows chapters detailing the Ark, Table, Lampstand (Exod 25), and the Tabernacle structure itself and its inner coverings (Exod 26). The court served as the primary and largest space of the Tabernacle complex, separating the sacred precinct from the common desert. It enclosed the Tent of Meeting and the Altar of Burnt Offering, marking a crucial boundary for access and worship. Historically, the Tabernacle was a portable sanctuary, representing God's presence dwelling among His people during their wilderness journey and before the permanent Temple was built. The meticulous instructions underscored God's holiness and His precise requirements for approaching Him, contrasting sharply with the arbitrary, often chaotic, worship of surrounding pagan cultures which had no concept of a singular, holy God requiring such purity and order.
Exodus 27 9 Word analysis
- You shall make: (wəʿāśîṯā, וְעָשִׂיתָ) - This is a divine imperative, an unambiguous command from God to Moses, indicating no room for deviation in the Tabernacle's construction. It highlights the divine authority behind every detail.
- the court: (heḥāṣēr, הֶחָצֵר) - Refers to the enclosed open space surrounding the Tent of Meeting. It served as a buffer, delineating the sacred area and preparing worshippers to enter a more holy space. The term ḥāṣēr can mean an enclosed yard or settlement.
- for the south side: (liḵṯēf-nɛgɛv, לִכְתֵף-נֶגֶב) - "South shoulder." Nɛgɛv often refers to the Negev desert, south of Judah. This specifies a particular orientation, reinforcing the Tabernacle's divinely ordained placement.
- the hangings: (qəlāʿîm, קְלָעִים) - Curtains or woven fabrics. Distinct from the heavier coverings of the Tabernacle tent, these provided a visual barrier and defined the court's perimeter.
- of fine twined linen: (šēš mašzār, שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר) - "Fine linen" (šēš) suggests Egyptian linen, prized for its quality and purity. "Twined" (mašzār) means twisted or woven together, indicating strength and fine craftsmanship. This material signifies purity, royalty, and righteousness (Rev 19:8).
- a hundred cubits long: (mēʾâ bāʾammâ ʾōreḵ, מֵאָה בָּאַמָּה אֹרֶךְ) - Approximately 150 feet or 45 meters. The precision of this measurement emphasizes the exactness required in all aspects of God's dwelling and the perfect order He establishes.
- for the one side: (laṣṣad haʾeḥāḏ, לַצַּד הָאֶחָד) - Literally, "for the one side." This indicates that these specifications apply to a single designated side, implying that the other sides would have similar or different measurements as detailed later. It underscores the systematic construction.
Exodus 27 9 Bonus section
The dimensions and materials of the Tabernacle's court also serve as a striking polemic against contemporary pagan practices. Unlike the chaotic, often sexually explicit, rituals performed in pagan temples, the Tabernacle's court, defined by its pure white linen hangings, promoted order, cleanliness, and a profound sense of awe and reverence. The very existence of such precise instructions demonstrated that Israel's God was not like the local deities whose worship often lacked moral rectitude or structured devotion. The deliberate exclusion of people from entering beyond designated points through the court reinforced the unique holiness of Yahweh and His absolute sovereignty, teaching humility and the concept of a transcendent God who must be approached on His own terms, not human whims. This intricate divine architecture was a visual theology, communicating profound truths about God's nature and humanity's relationship with Him.
Exodus 27 9 Commentary
Exodus 27:9 outlines the perimeter of the Tabernacle's courtyard, a sacred enclosure set apart from the surrounding wilderness. The court's primary purpose was to create a demarcated space for worship and to house the brazen altar, the laver, and the Tent of Meeting itself. The "hangings of fine twined linen" symbolize purity and separation, marking this area as distinct and holy. Linen, known for its pristine white appearance, visually conveyed the clean and righteous environment appropriate for approaching God. The substantial length of 100 cubits (about 150 feet) on one side, alongside specific heights (verse 18) and a single gate, ensured that entry was controlled and intentional, reinforcing God's majesty and the need for reverent approach.
This detailed specification highlights God's demand for order, beauty, and separation in worship, teaching Israel that worship is not arbitrary but according to His precise design. It establishes the outer boundary of God's dwelling place among His people, serving as a constant reminder of His presence and the holiness required to enter His immediate presence, prefiguring the New Testament concept that holiness is prerequisite for seeing God (Heb 12:14) and that Christ's perfect sacrifice now provides access through a new and living way (Heb 10:19-20), ultimately pointing to believers themselves as a holy dwelling place for God's Spirit.