Exodus 36:23 kjv
And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:
Exodus 36:23 nkjv
And he made boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side.
Exodus 36:23 niv
They made twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle
Exodus 36:23 esv
The frames for the tabernacle he made thus: twenty frames for the south side.
Exodus 36:23 nlt
He made twenty of these frames to support the curtains on the south side of the Tabernacle.
Exodus 36 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 26:18 | And for the south side southward there shall be twenty boards. | God's original command for these specific boards. |
| Ex 35:30-31 | "...Bezalel...filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom..." | The divine empowerment of the craftsmen for their work. |
| Ex 39:32 | Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished... | Affirmation of the overall completion of the Tabernacle. |
| Ex 40:16 | Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. | Overall principle of Moses' and Israel's obedience. |
| Ex 36:20 | And they made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up. | General statement about the construction of the Tabernacle boards. |
| Ex 25:8 | And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. | The ultimate purpose of the Tabernacle's construction. |
| Lev 26:11-12 | And I will set my tabernacle among you...I will walk among you... | God's promised dwelling and presence with His people. |
| 1 Kgs 6:12-13 | Concerning this house which thou art in building...I will dwell among the children of Israel... | God's conditions for dwelling in the Temple (later fulfillment). |
| Ps 26:8 | LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. | Expression of devotion to God's dwelling place. |
| Ps 132:13-14 | For the LORD hath chosen Zion...This is my rest for ever... | God's chosen dwelling place, connecting to the principle of presence. |
| Isa 57:15 | For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity...I dwell in the high and holy place... | God's omnipresent nature extends beyond physical structures. |
| Isa 66:1-2 | Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne...but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor... | God's immense nature and where He truly dwells. |
| Deut 5:32 | Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you... | General biblical imperative for precise obedience to God. |
| Josh 1:7-8 | ...observe to do according to all the law...that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. | Emphasizes the importance of exact adherence to God's law. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings...as in obeying the voice of the LORD? | Obedience valued above mere ritual. |
| Heb 8:5 | ...who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God...make all things according to the pattern... | The Tabernacle's divine pattern and the necessity of precision. |
| Jn 14:15 | If ye love me, keep my commandments. | New Testament emphasis on obedience as a demonstration of love. |
| Jn 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us... | Jesus' incarnation as God 'tabernacling' among humanity. |
| Jn 2:19-21 | Jesus answered...Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up...he spake of the temple of his body. | Jesus Himself is the ultimate Temple. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? | Believers as the temple of God in the New Covenant. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | ...for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them... | The community of believers as God's dwelling place. |
| Rev 21:3 | Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people... | The ultimate and eternal dwelling of God with humanity. |
Exodus 36 verses
Exodus 36 23 Meaning
The verse states that the skilled craftsmen, supernaturally enabled by God's Spirit, precisely constructed twenty boards specifically designated for the south side of the Tabernacle. This brief yet precise declaration is part of the extensive record of the Tabernacle's construction, affirming the faithful and exact execution of God's detailed divine instructions for His holy dwelling place in the wilderness. It emphasizes meticulous adherence to the divine blueprint and the order required in God's service.
Exodus 36 23 Context
Exodus 36:23 is part of a large section (chapters 35-40) detailing the execution of the divine instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priestly garments. This phase immediately follows God's initial blueprints (Exodus 25-31) and the covenant renewal after the golden calf incident. Specifically, this verse focuses on the south side of the Tabernacle's wooden framework. Historically, the construction of the Tabernacle occurred during Israel's forty-year journey through the wilderness, providing a physical manifestation of God's presence, a central place for worship, and a means of atonement as God prepared them for the promised land. The repeated accounts of the Tabernacle's making affirm Israel's faithful obedience after a period of rebellion.
Exodus 36 23 Word analysis
- And: Hebrew: vav (ו). Serves as a conjunction, connecting this specific action to the continuous process of construction narrated in the preceding verses. It indicates a progressive fulfillment of the divine commands.
- they made: Hebrew: vai-ya'asu (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ). This verb highlights the action of creating or building. The subject "they" refers to Bezalel, Oholiab, and the skilled workers they led (Ex 31:1-6; 35:30-35), who were specifically empowered by God's Spirit with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge for all manner of craftsmanship required for the Tabernacle.
- twenty: Hebrew: esrim (עֶשְׂרִים). This numerical quantifier emphasizes the precise quantity of boards constructed, directly fulfilling God's exact instructions for the Tabernacle's dimensions and structure as outlined in Ex 26:18. Such specific numerical details throughout the Tabernacle accounts underscore God's orderly nature.
- boards: Hebrew: k'rashim (קְרָשִׁים). These were large, upright planks, primarily made of acacia (shittim) wood (Ex 26:15), a durable desert timber. They formed the robust framework or walls of the portable Tabernacle. Each board was also overlaid with gold (Ex 26:29), indicating the sacredness and divine glory of the structure.
- for the south side: Hebrew: li-f'at Negev (לִפְאַת נֶגֶב). Lif'at (לִפְאַת) means "to the side of" or "for the edge of." Negev (נֶגֶב) literally translates to "south" and also refers to a southern region. This phrase precisely designates the specific wall of the Tabernacle for which these twenty boards were intended, maintaining accurate orientation.
- southward: Hebrew: teymanah (תֵּימָנָה). This adverb literally means "towards the south" or "in a southerly direction." It functions to emphasize and reinforce the preceding directional specification "for the south side," eliminating any possible ambiguity and underscoring the extreme precision required in the Tabernacle's construction. This kind of double-direction phrasing is typical in ancient Near Eastern technical instructions for clarity.
- "And they made twenty boards for the south side southward": This complete phrase, faithful to the divine command in Ex 26:18, showcases the builders' meticulous and exact obedience. The seemingly redundant "south side southward" accentuates the divine expectation for uncompromising accuracy in replicating the divine pattern, signifying the utmost reverence for God's holy presence and instruction. It highlights the fact that every single detail, even the orientation and quantity of specific materials, held importance in the eyes of the divine Architect.
Exodus 36 23 Bonus section
- The wood for these boards was acacia (shittim) wood, known for its hardness and resistance to decay, suitable for a portable structure in a harsh desert environment, underscoring God's foresight in material selection.
- These twenty boards (along with six for the west and twenty for the north) formed the solid walls of the Tabernacle, into which rings and bars were inserted to hold them together, providing stability for God's dwelling place.
- The precise instructions and their detailed fulfillment serve as a textual pattern for spiritual discipline and the necessity of aligning human endeavors, especially in worship and service, with divine directives.
- The Tabernacle, and thus its individual boards, was built according to a "pattern" shown to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 25:9, 40), signifying that it was a divinely revealed design, reflecting heavenly realities (Heb 8:5).
Exodus 36 23 Commentary
Exodus 36:23 is a succinct verse that, within its broader context, signifies more than just a mundane construction update. It demonstrates the meticulous obedience of Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other gifted artisans, empowered by God's Spirit, in replicating the precise divine blueprint for the Tabernacle. The reiteration of the instruction and its execution in such granular detail highlights several crucial themes: God's demand for holiness and order, the importance of faithful stewardship in His work, and the reality that every seemingly small detail matters when consecrated to the Almighty. The very boards, although of wood, were precious when covered with gold and stood upon foundations of silver from the atonement money, symbolizing God's glory resting upon a foundation of redemption. This serves as a timeless example of how dedication and obedience in tangible actions are integral to worshipping and serving the living God.