Exodus 36:10 kjv
And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another.
Exodus 36:10 nkjv
And he coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.
Exodus 36:10 niv
They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five.
Exodus 36:10 esv
He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.
Exodus 36:10 nlt
Five of these curtains were joined together to make one long curtain, and the other five were joined to make a second long curtain.
Exodus 36 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 26:1-6 | "Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen..." | Divine instructions for these curtains. |
| Ex 35:11 | "the tabernacle, its tent, its covering..." | Lists the curtains among components to make. |
| Ex 40:18-19 | "So Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases... stretched the tent over the tabernacle..." | Placement of these completed curtains. |
| Ex 31:3-5 | "I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence..." | God gifts craftsmen for the Tabernacle. |
| Ex 35:30-35 | "See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel... He has filled them with skill..." | Confirmation of gifted artisans. |
| Ex 36:1-2 | "Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman... did the work, obeying all the Lord had commanded." | Workers carry out God's precise commands. |
| Ex 28:5-8 | "They shall take the gold, the blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and the fine linen..." | Fine linen and colors used for priestly garments. |
| Lev 16:4 | "He shall put on the holy linen coat; he shall have linen trousers on his body..." | Fine linen for garments of purity, especially High Priest. |
| Rev 19:8 | "it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." | Fine linen symbolizes righteousness/purity. |
| Ex 25:4 | "blue, purple, and scarlet yarns, and fine twisted linen, and goats' hair" | List of specified Tabernacle materials. |
| Ex 25:20 | "The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings..." | Cherubim guard sacred space and God's throne. |
| Gen 3:24 | "He drove out the man, and at the east of the Garden of Eden he placed the cherubim..." | Cherubim as guardians of holy presence. |
| Ezek 1:5-12 | "And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures... This was their appearance: they had a human likeness." | Cherubim associated with God's glory/throne. |
| Heb 9:5 | "Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat." | Cherubim's presence in the Most Holy Place. |
| Rev 4:6-8 | "around the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind." | Cherubim worshipping God in heaven. |
| Ex 25:9 | "According to all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it." | God provides a specific pattern. |
| Ex 25:40 | "And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown you on the mountain." | Emphasis on adherence to divine blueprint. |
| Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain." | Earthly Tabernacle reflecting heavenly reality. |
| Ex 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | Purpose of Tabernacle: God dwelling with His people. |
| Jn 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory..." | Jesus as the ultimate dwelling (tabernacle) of God. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Believers as God's spiritual temple. |
| Eph 2:21-22 | "in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | The Church as God's spiritual dwelling place. |
Exodus 36 verses
Exodus 36 10 Meaning
Exodus 36:10 details the commencement of the actual construction of the Tabernacle's core covering. It describes the skilled artisans, divinely endowed, crafting the initial set of ten curtains for the dwelling itself. These curtains were made of specific luxurious and symbolic materials: fine twisted linen woven with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and exquisitely embroidered with figures of cherubim. This verse marks a significant step in the fulfillment of God's instructions for establishing His holy dwelling place among the Israelites in the wilderness.
Exodus 36 10 Context
Exodus 36:10 falls within the detailed account of the Tabernacle's construction, following God's meticulous instructions given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 25-31) and the people's generous offering of materials (Ex 35). This verse specifically focuses on the initial set of ten main curtains that formed the inner wall of the Tabernacle proper (the Holy Place and Most Holy Place). It signifies the transition from design and material collection to tangible execution. Historically, for the Israelites, this was the fulfillment of God's promise to dwell among them after their liberation from Egypt, a direct counter-narrative to the idolatry and static temples of their former Egyptian masters, showing a mobile, living God.
Exodus 36 10 Word analysis
- All the skilled workers (וְכָל-חֲכַם לֵב, v'chol-chakham lev): Literally "all wise of heart." This signifies not mere human talent but divine endowment, wisdom given by God (Ex 31:3) to excel in craftsmanship for sacred purposes. It indicates proficiency and artistic ability for God's glory.
- among those who did the work (בְּעֹשֵׂה הַמְּלָאכָה, b'oseh ham'lachah): Highlights that these "wise-hearted" individuals were actively engaged in the assigned tasks. It points to collaborative effort under divine guidance.
- made (עָשׂוּ, asu): "They made" or "they did." Indicates the concrete action and accomplishment of the task according to instruction.
- ten curtains (עֶשֶׂר יְרִיעֹת, eser yerioat): Refers to the first set of the inner tent coverings. "Ten" can symbolize completion or divine order, forming the essential enclosure of the holy dwelling.
- of fine linen (שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר, shesh mashzar): "Twisted fine linen." This highly prized material speaks to purity, sanctity, and strength. It was labor-intensive to produce and reserved for sacred or royal use, indicating the holy nature of God's dwelling.
- woven with blue, purple and scarlet yarn (וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי, u'tcheleth v'argaman v'tola'at shani):
- Blue (תְּכֵלֶת, tekheleth): Often associated with the heavens, representing God's divinity and transcendence.
- Purple (אַרְגָּמָן, argaman): Historically a royal color, signifying majesty, kingship, and authority.
- Scarlet (תוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי, tola'at shani): Derived from a worm, signifying life, blood, and often sacrifice and atonement, foreshadowing redemption. These colors collectively symbolize God's heavenly, royal, and redemptive nature in the very fabric of His dwelling.
- with cherubim (כְּרֻבִים, cheruvim): Angelic beings associated with God's throne, glory, and holiness. Their imagery woven into the fabric emphasized the sacredness and heavenly connection of the Tabernacle, reminding the people of the unseen realm where God dwells.
- artistically worked into them (מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב, ma'aseh choshev): "Work of a skilled designer/embroiderer." This emphasizes the intricate, highly specialized, and artful craftsmanship involved, done with precision and creativity under divine inspiration, distinguishing it from simple, utilitarian work.
Exodus 36 10 Bonus section
The collaborative effort highlighted in this verse, involving "all the skilled workers," serves as a blueprint for community involvement in spiritual service. Just as God endowed various individuals with unique skills for the Tabernacle's construction, so too does He equip believers with diverse spiritual gifts for the building up of the New Testament "temple," the Church. This physical act of making the Tabernacle prefigures the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity through Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied God's glory (Jn 1:14), and continues through His Spirit dwelling within believers and the Church. The adherence to the "pattern shown" for the curtains reminds us that spiritual work is always carried out according to God's precise will, not human invention.
Exodus 36 10 Commentary
Exodus 36:10 underscores the crucial role of divinely gifted craftsmanship in establishing God's dwelling among His people. The "wise-hearted" individuals, not merely skilled but Spirit-enabled, demonstrate that human ability, when yielded to God, can create beauty and meaning that aligns with divine purpose. The choice of materials—pure linen, royal and heavenly colors (blue, purple, scarlet), and intricate cherubim imagery—speaks volumes about the nature of the God being worshipped: pure, holy, kingly, heavenly, and accessible through atonement. These curtains formed the very visible walls of God's presence, signifying both His awe-inspiring transcendence and His covenantal desire to dwell with His people. Every thread and design was intentional, revealing God's character and providing a tangible object lesson for the Israelites about His holiness and detailed requirements for approach.