Exodus 36:15 kjv
The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.
Exodus 36:15 nkjv
The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains were the same size.
Exodus 36:15 niv
All eleven curtains were the same size?thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.
Exodus 36:15 esv
The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains were the same size.
Exodus 36:15 nlt
These eleven curtains were all exactly the same size ? 45 feet long and 6 feet wide.
Exodus 36 15 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Ex 26:1-6 | "Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen..." | Details initial instructions for these specific curtains. |
Ex 26:7-13 | "You shall also make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle..." | Compares dimensions with other layers of Tabernacle coverings. |
Ex 25:8-9 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern..." | God's command for specific design for His dwelling. |
Ex 31:1-6 | "See, I have called by name Bezalel...and I have filled him with the Spirit of God...to devise designs..." | Divine enablement for the Tabernacle's precise construction. |
Ex 35:30-35 | "Then Moses said to the people of Israel, 'See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel...he has filled them with skill...'" | Divine inspiration ensuring craftsmen follow precise patterns. |
Num 3:25-26 | "The duties of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting were the tabernacle and the tent..." | Highlights the portable nature of the Tabernacle parts including curtains. |
1 Kgs 6:2-6 | "The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide..." | Comparison with the larger, permanent Temple structure's specified measurements. |
Ezek 40:5 | "And behold, there was a wall outside the temple all around, and the length of the measuring reed was six long cubits..." | God's future temple vision emphasizes precise measurements, linking divine order across sanctuaries. |
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 shown you on the mountain.'" | The earthly Tabernacle reflects a divine, heavenly pattern; emphasizes the importance of following instructions precisely. |
Heb 9:1-2 | "Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table..." | References the components and structure of the Tabernacle built according to specifications. |
Jn 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory..." | "Dwelt" (εσκηνωσεν, eskēnōsen) means "tabernacled," symbolizing Christ as God's ultimate dwelling place among humanity, embodying divine design. |
Col 2:9 | "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily..." | Christ is the true and complete dwelling of God, reflecting the Tabernacle's purpose. |
1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Believers collectively form God's temple, reflecting divine order and unity, analogous to the perfectly fitted Tabernacle. |
Eph 2:20-22 | "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord." | Emphasizes the church as a perfectly fitted, growing spiritual temple, echoing the precise construction of the Tabernacle. |
Rev 21:15-17 | "And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and its wall... The city lies foursquare, its length and breadth are equal..." | Divine measurements and specific dimensions are also crucial for the New Jerusalem, symbolizing perfection and God's design for His eternal dwelling. |
Isa 40:12 | "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure..." | God is the ultimate measurer and designer of creation, from which Tabernacle's precision originates. |
Prov 8:27 | "When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep," | God's original act of creation involves design and establishment, a macrocosm of the Tabernacle's detailed plan. |
Psa 19:1 | "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." | God's precision and design evident in creation points to His meticulousness in the Tabernacle's construction. |
Heb 11:10 | "For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." | Reinforces God as the ultimate architect of all perfect dwellings, whether earthly or heavenly. |
Zec 4:10 | "For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel." | God's meticulous attention to even "small things" in construction, assuring the completion of His design. |
Exodus 36 verses
Exodus 36 15 Meaning
Exodus 36:15 describes the exact dimensions for each of the ten innermost curtains of the Tabernacle: thirty cubits in length and four cubits in breadth. The verse emphasizes that "all the curtains had one measure," highlighting the divine demand for precise uniformity and meticulous adherence to the heavenly blueprint for God's dwelling place. This precision ensured perfect fit and reflected the ordered nature of God's sanctuary.
Exodus 36 15 Context
Exodus chapter 36 initiates the detailed account of the Tabernacle's construction by the skilled artisans Bezalel and Oholiab, and other inspired craftsmen. Having received overwhelming offerings from the Israelites, they began working precisely according to the blueprints given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. Verses 8-19 of Exodus 36 focus specifically on the various sets of curtains: the innermost, most precious ones (this verse being about those), made of fine twisted linen with cherubim, and the outer coverings of goats' hair, ram skins dyed red, and porpoise skins. Exodus 36:15 particularizes the exact dimensions of the ten curtains that formed the inner lining of the Tabernacle, constituting its spiritual core where God's presence would dwell. This immediate context underscores the faithfulness and meticulousness in executing divine commands. Historically and culturally, this level of precision for a portable sanctuary was unprecedented among surrounding nations, whose religious structures often relied on more arbitrary or less specified designs. The uniformity (מִדָּה אֶחָת
- middah eḥat) ensured that the components fit together perfectly to form a unified, sacred space, distinct from pagan worship which sometimes involved more fluid or less organized ritual structures.
Exodus 36 15 Word analysis
- The length: `אָרֹךְ` (arok), referring to physical length or straightness. Here it signifies the exact measurement. This word underscores that God's plan included precise spatial attributes for every component of His dwelling place.
- of each curtain: `הַיְרִיעָה הָאַחַת` (hay'ri'ah ha'aḥat), meaning "the one curtain." This highlights that the specified dimension applies individually to every single one of the ten innermost curtains. It signifies individual perfection within a collective unity. The Hebrew word for curtain, `יְרִיעָה` (yeriah), specifically refers to a fabric panel or tent curtain.
- was thirty cubits: `שְׁלֹשִׁים בָּאַמָּה` (sh'loshim ba'ammah). A "cubit" (`אַמָּה`, ammah) was an ancient unit of length, typically the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18-21 inches (approximately 45-53 cm). Thirty cubits translates to approximately 45-52.5 feet (13.7-16 meters), indicating a substantial size for these fabric panels, fitting for the grandeur of the Lord's dwelling. This exact number is a direct command from God, signifying order and completeness.
- and the breadth: `וְרֹחַב` (w'roḥav), referring to the width or breadth. Like "length," this term specifies another critical dimension, vital for the curtains to meet perfectly when sewn together.
- of each curtain: Repeated `הַיְרִיעָה הָאַחַת` (hay'ri'ah ha'aḥat). Reinforces the meticulousness: each curtain must conform to both the length and breadth specifications.
- four cubits: `אַרְבַּע בָּאַמָּה` (arba' ba'ammah). Four cubits equates to approximately 6-7 feet (1.8-2.1 meters). This narrower width compared to the length means that multiple panels (six for one section, four for the other) were needed to cover the entire space.
- all the curtains: `כָּל הַיְרִיעֹת` (kol hay'ri'ot), meaning "all the curtains," emphasizing the entire set of ten. This reiterates the rule for every piece.
- had one measure: `מִדָּה אֶחָת` (middah eḥat), meaning "one standard," "one unit," or "the same measurement." This phrase is pivotal, stressing the absolute uniformity required. No variations were permitted. This ensured that the curtains would fit perfectly when joined, contributing to the Tabernacle's unified and harmonious appearance, and signifying the unity and order characteristic of God's presence.
- The length...four cubits: This phrase precisely defines the dimensions. This mathematical exactness indicates divine wisdom and design. No guesswork or approximation was allowed; these specific dimensions were integral to the Tabernacle's form and function as a dwelling for the Holy God.
- all the curtains had one measure: This group of words emphasizes perfect standardization across all components. This uniformity was essential for assembly (sewing curtains together, attaching loops and clasps), preventing imperfections that might mar the holiness or appearance of the Tabernacle. Spiritually, it signifies the coherence and unity God desires within His people and His presence.
Exodus 36 15 Bonus section
The uniformity (מִדָּה אֶחָת
) of these curtains was not just aesthetic but profoundly practical. When ten curtains of these precise dimensions were combined (five making one set, and five another set, which were then joined together), they would perfectly enclose the Tabernacle's frame (Exodus 26:2-6). This flawless fit, enabled by the exact dimensions and uniform measure, symbolized the complete and harmonious way in which God dwells among His people. It demonstrated that divine plans are always complete, orderly, and perfectly suited for their purpose, demanding the utmost faithfulness from human executors. The repetition of measurements and the phrase "one measure" across Exodus and other Tabernacle passages underlines the critical nature of these divine instructions for ancient Israel.
Exodus 36 15 Commentary
Exodus 36:15 offers a window into the divine meticulousness applied to the construction of the Tabernacle. The specified dimensions for the ten innermost curtains—thirty cubits by four cubits—are not arbitrary but reflect God's demand for order, precision, and perfect conformity to His blueprint. The phrase "all the curtains had one measure" is critical, underlining that uniformity was non-negotiable. This exactitude ensured not only the physical coherence and structural integrity of God's portable sanctuary but also served as a profound spiritual statement. It symbolized that every detail mattered in the worship and dwelling place of a Holy God, contrasting with human approximations. This divine design ethos permeates the biblical narrative, foreshadowing God's ultimate desire to dwell among a people refined and perfected according to His will, ultimately fulfilled in Christ and His unified Body, the Church, where every member is precisely placed by divine design.