Exodus 36:27 kjv
And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
Exodus 36:27 nkjv
For the west side of the tabernacle he made six boards.
Exodus 36:27 niv
They made six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle,
Exodus 36:27 esv
For the rear of the tabernacle westward he made six frames.
Exodus 36:27 nlt
He made six frames for the rear ? the west side of the Tabernacle ?
Exodus 36 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | God's desire to dwell among His people. |
| Ex 26:15-25 | Details dimensions and structure of the Tabernacle boards. | Prior instruction on Tabernacle boards. |
| Ex 35:10 | "Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded..." | Calling of skilled workers for Tabernacle. |
| Ex 38:27 | "From the hundred talents of silver were cast the bases for the frames... and the bases for the pillars." | Silver sockets for boards, signifying redemption. |
| Ex 39:32 | "Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished; and the people of Israel had done all according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did." | Completion of work as commanded by God. |
| Lev 26:11-12 | "I will make my dwelling among you... I will walk among you and will be your God..." | God promises to dwell with obedient people. |
| Num 9:15 | "On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle..." | God's presence manifest in the Tabernacle. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | "...but to the place that the LORD your God will choose... to put his name there, you shall seek and go..." | Central place of worship later specified. |
| 1 Kgs 6:7 | "When the house was built, it was built with stones prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron was heard..." | Care in Temple building, contrasting tools for holiness. |
| 1 Chr 28:11-12 | David gives Solomon the "pattern" of the Temple. | Divine blueprints for sacred structures. |
| Isa 57:15 | "...I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit..." | God's presence transcends physical dwelling. |
| Ezek 37:26-27 | "...I will make a covenant of peace with them... I will set my sanctuary in their midst forever." | Future dwelling of God among His people. |
| Zech 2:10-11 | "...For behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD." | God promises to dwell among Zion. |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory..." | Christ as the ultimate Tabernacle/dwelling. |
| John 2:19-21 | Jesus spoke of destroying and raising the temple (His body). | Christ as the new Temple. |
| 1 Cor 3:10-11 | "...Let each one take care how he builds upon it... For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." | Spiritual building on Christ's foundation. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "...you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 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." | The Church as a spiritual dwelling place for God. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house..." | Believers as spiritual stones in God's house. |
| 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... 'See that you make everything according to the pattern...'" | Tabernacle as shadow of heavenly reality. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people..." | God's eternal dwelling with humanity. |
Exodus 36 verses
Exodus 36 27 Meaning
Exodus 36:27 details the construction of the Tabernacle, specifically prescribing the use of six wooden boards for its western (rear) side. This instruction is part of the comprehensive divine blueprint given to Moses and executed by Bezalel and Oholiab, ensuring God's dwelling place among His people was built according to precise, sacred specifications. It underscores the methodical and ordered nature of God's command in establishing His presence.
Exodus 36 27 Context
Exodus 36:27 falls within the portion of Exodus describing the actual construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, led by Bezalel and Oholiab. Following the detailed divine instructions in Exodus 25-31, chapters 35-40 outline the Israelites' willing contributions and the skilled craftsmanship put into effect. This particular verse addresses the specific requirement for the Tabernacle's structural support: the boards for the western end of the sanctuary. The entire structure of the Tabernacle was designed to be portable, serving as a physical manifestation of God's presence as the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, and signifying the unique relationship between God and His chosen people. The precise architectural details were not merely aesthetic but imbued with symbolic meaning concerning God's holiness, order, and provision.
Exodus 36 27 Word analysis
- And for (וְלִירְכְּתֵי֙ - ve-li-yirketei): The initial "and" (וְ - vav) connects this instruction to the previous ones regarding the northern and southern sides of the Tabernacle. It signifies a continuation of the same structural components, demonstrating a complete and cohesive design.
- the rear (לִירְכְּתֵי֙ - li-yirketei): Derived from the Hebrew word yarek (ירך), typically meaning "thigh" or "loins," but in a construction context, it refers to a side or, more specifically, the hinder part or rear end of a structure. In this case, it precisely denotes the back wall of the Tabernacle, opposite the entrance.
- of the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן - ham-mishkan): The definite article "the" emphasizes it is the unique dwelling place of God. "Mishkan" itself comes from the root shakan (שכן), meaning "to dwell," highlighting its purpose as the sacred dwelling for the divine presence amidst His people.
- westward (יָ֔מָּה - yammāh): Literally "to the sea" or "seaward." Since the Mediterranean Sea lay to the west of Israel, this term reliably indicates the western direction. This confirms the Tabernacle's orientation, with its entrance always facing east, meaning the Holy of Holies was towards the west.
- you shall make (תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה - ta'aseh): This verb is singular and directed at Moses, representing the collective effort of the craftsmen working under divine command. It highlights that the work was not self-initiated but executed according to God's precise instruction and design.
- six boards (שִׁשָּׁ֥ה קְרָשִׁ֖ים - shishshah qerashim): "Six" is a specific, divinely ordained number for this wall. These qerashim were solid, thick planks, explicitly commanded to be made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold (Ex 26:15, 29). These boards provided the vertical support for the Tabernacle's walls, standing upright and secured in silver sockets. Each board had specific dimensions (10 cubits long and 1.5 cubits wide), representing sturdy, divinely provided stability.
Exodus 36 27 Bonus section
The orientation of the Tabernacle, with its entrance facing east and the Holy of Holies to the west, where these boards were placed, holds theological significance. Many ancient pagan temples faced east, but the Tabernacle's eastward entrance allowed for the glory of the LORD (the Shekinah cloud/fire) to enter from the direction of the sunrise (symbolizing new beginnings and God's glory) and move towards the innermost sanctuary, contrasting with the worship of the rising sun itself. Furthermore, the boards rested in silver sockets (Ex 38:27), which were made from the silver collected from the census atonement money. This detail implicitly links the Tabernacle's very stability and structure to the concept of redemption and atonement, underpinning the entire edifice with a reminder of God's redemptive work. The construction wasn't merely about shelter but about symbolizing profound theological realities.
Exodus 36 27 Commentary
Exodus 36:27 is a granular detail within the monumental task of constructing the Tabernacle. Far from being an insignificant specification, it emphasizes God's meticulous nature and His desire for everything related to His dwelling place to be built exactly according to His perfect will. The specification of "six boards" for the western side (with additional corner boards mentioned elsewhere for structural integrity) showcases divine order and precision, leaving no room for human deviation or interpretation in foundational elements.
The acacia wood, native to the desert environment, signifies resilience and endurance, while the gold overlay speaks to the Tabernacle's preciousness, holiness, and the glory of God. This divine instruction for every part of the Tabernacle points to profound spiritual truths: God is precise in His will, His dwelling must be pure and perfect, and His presence is central to His people. In the New Testament, these physical constructs serve as types and shadows of a greater reality: Christ Himself as the true Tabernacle where God tabernacled among humanity, and the Church as His spiritual house, built by "living stones" on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. Every detail, down to the number of boards, testifies to God's blueprint for salvation and communion with Him.