Exodus 36:18 kjv
And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
Exodus 36:18 nkjv
He also made fifty bronze clasps to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
Exodus 36:18 niv
They made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the tent together as a unit.
Exodus 36:18 esv
And he made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together that it might be a single whole.
Exodus 36:18 nlt
He also made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the long curtains together. In this way, the tent covering was made of one continuous piece.
Exodus 36 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 26:11 | "You shall make fifty bronze clasps for the loops..." | Direct command for the bronze clasps |
| Ex 35:11 | "...the tent and its covering, its clasps..." | Included in items for Tabernacle construction |
| Ex 36:13 | "And he made fifty golden clasps, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps: so it became one tabernacle." | Golden clasps for inner linen curtains |
| Lev 8:2 | "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;" | Consecration requiring complete Tabernacle |
| Num 4:24 | "This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying:" | Implies structure ready for transport |
| Deut 33:25 | "Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be." | Bronze for strength and durability |
| Zech 6:1 | "Behold, four chariots were coming forth from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze." | Bronze often associated with strength |
| Rev 1:15 | "...His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been fired in a furnace..." | Christ's steadfastness and judgment |
| Isa 54:2 | "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; do not spare; lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs." | Expansion and unity of God's people's "tent" |
| Ps 133:1 | "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!" | Theme of unity and oneness |
| Eph 4:3-6 | "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body..." | Spiritual unity of the Body of Christ |
| 1 Cor 12:12 | "For just as the body is one and has many members..." | Church as a unified body, many parts one whole |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For just as we have many members in one body..." | Believers forming one body in Christ |
| Col 3:14 | "Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." | Love as the unifying bond |
| 1 Pet 2:4-5 | "...you yourselves as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house..." | Believers building God's spiritual dwelling |
| Heb 3:6 | "but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are..." | Believers are God's dwelling |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Individual believers as God's dwelling |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | "For we are the temple of the living God..." | Believers as collective temple of God |
| Acts 7:44 | "Our fathers had the tent of testimony in the wilderness..." | Remembers the Tabernacle as a unified structure |
| Ex 25:9 | "According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall make it." | God's precise blueprint, requiring exact assembly |
Exodus 36 verses
Exodus 36 18 Meaning
Exodus 36:18 details a crucial aspect of the Tabernacle's construction: the making of fifty bronze clasps (or hooks) to effectively join the two distinct sets of the outer goat hair curtains. These clasps ensured that the "tent" (אוֺהֶל - ohel), which served as an overarching protective layer for the dwelling (מִשְׁכָּן - mishkan), would form a single, unified, and structurally sound covering. This verse highlights the precision of divine architectural instruction, emphasizing the necessity of cohesion for the entire portable sanctuary.
Exodus 36 18 Context
Exodus 36:18 is situated within the narrative detailing the construction of the Tabernacle, specifically following the meticulous instructions given by God in chapters 25-31. Chapter 36 specifically records the work carried out by Bezalel, Oholiab, and other skilled craftsmen, whose hearts the Lord had stirred to perform the various tasks for the sacred dwelling. This particular verse describes the completion of the goat hair curtains, which formed the outer covering of the Tabernacle (the ohel or "tent"), providing essential protection from the harsh desert elements. The construction narrative emphasizes not just the grandeur of the Tabernacle but also its functional integrity and portability, enabled by precise joins like these clasps. It showcases human craftsmanship divinely inspired, faithfully executing God's specific blueprint for His earthly dwelling place amidst His people.
Exodus 36 18 Word analysis
- And he made (וַיַּעַשׂ - vayya’as): Refers to Bezalel, the chief artisan, along with Oholiab and other skilled craftsmen (Ex 36:1). This emphasizes faithful execution of divine instruction. It highlights that human skill is brought to bear on divine purposes.
- fifty (חֲמִשִּׁים - chamishshim): This numerical consistency (also seen with loops for linen curtains in Ex 26:4-5, and boards for walls in Ex 26:16, 26:19) suggests a divinely ordained, precise measure for structural integrity and balance, ensuring all parts aligned perfectly.
- bronze (נְחֹ֤שֶׁת֙ - něchōšet): This material contrasts with the "gold" clasps used for the inner fine linen curtains (Ex 26:6, 36:13). Bronze, being less precious than gold but durable, strong, and resistant to corrosion, was aptly used for the outer layer. The "altar of burnt offering" (Ex 27:1-2) and the "laver" (Ex 30:18) were also made of bronze, often associating it with aspects of judgment, cleansing, and enduring strength needed for interaction with the common and harsh outside environment.
- clasps (מִכְרְוָרֶ֨י - michrevarei): Literally means "hooks" or "fasteners." These were critical connecting devices. Their purpose was to perfectly interlock the two sections of the goat hair covering, forming a unified whole.
- to couple (לְחַבֵּ֥ר - lěchabbēr): Derived from the root chabar, meaning "to join," "to bind," "to unite," or "to league together." This verb stresses the action of bringing disparate parts into a single, cohesive unit. It signifies a complete and effective merger, crucial for the functionality and symbolism of the Tabernacle.
- the tent (הָאֹ֖הֶל - ha'ōhel): This refers specifically to the outermost layer, the goat hair covering. In Hebrew, the Tabernacle has several designations: mishkan (dwelling place/habitation), referring to the inner sacred space, and ohel (tent), referring to the covering over the mishkan. This ohel protected the mishkan from weather and wear.
- together (כְּאֶחָֽד - kě'echad): From k (as, like) and echad (one). This phrase strongly emphasizes the desired outcome: the two parts were not merely attached but truly functioned "as one whole." It speaks to perfect unity and functionality.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And he made fifty bronze clasps": This phrase underlines the quantity and specific material dictated by God for this external component. The bronze indicates resilience and suitability for an exposed structure.
- "to couple the tent together": This clarifies the purpose of the clasps: to physically join the separate goat hair curtain segments. It emphasizes the function of forming a cohesive unit.
- "that it might be one whole": This expresses the ultimate goal and theological significance of the precise construction. The division into two sets of curtains (five and six panels) and then their precise joining symbolized completeness and the divinely ordered unity of God's dwelling place.
Exodus 36 18 Bonus section
The careful design of the clasps, allowing the Tabernacle to be erected and dismantled repeatedly, speaks to its portable nature. This nomadic structure foreshadowed the journey of God's people and the flexible way His presence moved with them, unlike later static temples. The contrast between gold and bronze clasps also serves as a pedagogical tool: different materials denote different functions and values, teaching Israel about purity, holiness, and the necessity of both sacred inner life and robust outer resilience in their faith journey. The unified tent covering was not just functional but visually expressed completeness and protection, assuring the Israelites of God's comprehensive provision and order over chaos.
Exodus 36 18 Commentary
Exodus 36:18 may appear as a simple technical detail in the lengthy description of the Tabernacle's construction, but it carries profound meaning. It signifies the absolute necessity of precision and unity in carrying out God's divine will. The choice of fifty bronze clasps for the outer, more common goat hair tent, contrasted with fifty gold clasps for the inner, more sacred linen dwelling, underscores a deliberate design principle reflecting the degrees of holiness and practical functionality within the Tabernacle structure. Bronze, typically associated with durability, strength, and even aspects of judgment or atonement (like the bronze altar), appropriately secured the layer exposed to the elements, enduring the wilderness conditions.
The very act of "coupling... that it might be one whole" speaks to the divine order and the integrity required for God's presence among His people. It ensures that the various components, though distinct in material and function, form a unified, coherent sanctuary. Theologically, this prefigures the New Testament concept of the Church as one unified body of Christ, where diverse members are joined together by divine design (Ephesians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27), with love as "the perfect bond of unity" (Colossians 3:14). Just as the Tabernacle, piece by piece, came together to form a singular dwelling place for God, so too are believers, "living stones," built into a spiritual house for His dwelling (1 Peter 2:5). The unity formed by these clasps points to the harmonious dwelling of God amidst a unified people, achieved through faithful adherence to His divine blueprint.