Exodus 36:29 kjv
And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.
Exodus 36:29 nkjv
And they were coupled at the bottom and coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus he made both of them for the two corners.
Exodus 36:29 niv
At these two corners the frames were double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both were made alike.
Exodus 36:29 esv
And they were separate beneath but joined at the top, at the first ring. He made two of them this way for the two corners.
Exodus 36:29 nlt
These corner frames were matched at the bottom and firmly attached at the top with a single ring, forming a single corner unit. Both of these corner units were made the same way.
Exodus 36 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 26:17 | "Two tenons shall there be in one board..." | Boards designed for connection. |
| Exo 26:19 | "...forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards..." | Boards rested on foundational sockets. |
| Exo 26:28 | "And he shall put the bars into the rings..." | Bars and rings ensured lateral stability. |
| Exo 35:10 | "And every wise hearted among you shall come..." | Divine call for skilled builders. |
| Exo 35:25 | "And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands..." | Gifted hands for intricate work. |
| Exo 39:32 | "Thus was all the work of the tabernacle... finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses..." | Meticulous obedience to divine blueprint. |
| Num 9:15-16 | "On the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered..." | Tabernacle as God's visible presence. |
| 1 Kin 6:1 | "And it came to pass... Solomon began to build the house of the LORD." | Temple as the permanent structure, continuity of pattern. |
| Ps 133:1 | "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" | Spiritual unity analogous to physical joining. |
| Zech 4:7 | "...shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." | Christ as the ultimate cornerstone. |
| Isa 28:16 | "...Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone..." | Christ as the chosen cornerstone/foundation. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "Now therefore ye are no more strangers... but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." | Church as God's spiritual temple, joined in Christ. |
| 1 Cor 3:9 | "For we are God's fellowworkers: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." | Believers as God's spiritual building. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" | Believers' bodies as temple for Holy Spirit. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house..." | Believers as living stones in God's spiritual house. |
| 1 Pet 2:6 | "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious..." | Christ is the foundational cornerstone. |
| Eph 4:16 | "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth..." | Christ unifies His Body, the Church. |
| Col 2:19 | "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered..." | Head (Christ) supplies unity and growth to body. |
| Heb 8:5 | "...who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." | Tabernacle as earthly copy of heavenly reality. |
| Heb 9:11 | "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle..." | Christ as the perfect reality foreshadowed by Tabernacle. |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." | God tabernacling (dwelling) with humanity in Christ. |
| Phil 2:2 | "Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." | Call for spiritual unity among believers. |
Exodus 36 verses
Exodus 36 29 Meaning
Exodus 36:29 describes the precise and vital method by which the corner boards of the Tabernacle were constructed and joined. These corner boards, unique in their structural role, were securely coupled together both at their base and at their apex, converging upon a single, central ring. This specific coupling technique was applied identically to both corner boards, ensuring the maximum stability, integrity, and unified structure of God’s dwelling place in the wilderness.
Exodus 36 29 Context
Exodus 36:29 is part of a detailed account describing the skilled artisans Bezalel, Oholiab, and other inspired craftsmen as they begin constructing the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priestly garments, meticulously following the divine instructions given to Moses. Specifically, this verse elaborates on the intricate engineering of the Tabernacle's structural frames (boards) that formed its walls. These planks of acacia wood were designed with precise specifications for joining to ensure stability. The corner boards were particularly complex due to their role in uniting two walls, requiring enhanced reinforcement. Historically, this phase marks the physical manifestation of God's dwelling place among His people in the wilderness, emphasizing the paramount importance of strict adherence to the divine pattern for the sanctuary to function as a place of meeting between a holy God and His people.
Exodus 36 29 Word analysis
- And they were coupled (חֻבְּרוּ - ḥubbĕrû): Derived from the Hebrew verb חָבַר (chabar), meaning "to join, bind together, unite, associate." The passive form here indicates they were made to join. This signifies a strong, deliberate, and seamless connection, vital for the structural integrity of the Tabernacle. It speaks of intentional fusion, forming a complete unit.
- beneath, and coupled together at the top of it: This indicates the thoroughness of the connection along the vertical dimension of the boards. The coupling was not just at one point but spanned the entire height of the connection. This dual coupling ensured complete stability, preventing any part from shifting, warping, or detaching, contributing to the overall rigidness of the structure. It highlights completeness in the union.
- to one ring (אֶל־הַטַּבַּעַת הָאַחַת - ʾel-haṭṭabbaʿaṯ hāʾaḥaṯ): This specifies the unifying mechanism. The "ring" served as the central point or conduit for connecting the parts of the corner boards. While bars passed through rings for lateral stability (Exo 26:28), this phrase suggests a unique, singular ring for these crucial corner pieces, binding them into a single, cohesive unit. Symbolically, this "one ring" can represent the singular purpose, divine truth, or a unifying principle, foreshadowing Christ as the central unifier of His people.
- thus he did to both of them: This emphasizes uniformity and precision. The identical method of construction applied to both corner sections underscores the demand for perfection and consistency in God's sanctuary. There was no deviation in the meticulous execution of the divine blueprint.
- in both the corners (בִּשְׁנֵי הַמִּקְצֹעוֹת - bišnê hammīqṣōʿōṯ): The "corners" (from קָצַע - qatsa', edge/end) are points of intersection and high structural stress. The Tabernacle, having three sides made of boards, had two such "corners" (Exo 26:22-24 lists 6 boards for the back and two boards for each of its corners). The unique, reinforced coupling of these specific corner boards was paramount for the stability and cohesion of the entire portable sanctuary. They bore significant load and joined the two intersecting walls, making their connection critical for the integrity of the whole structure.
Exodus 36 29 Bonus section
- Architectural Significance: In ancient construction, corners were typically the weakest yet most critical points for overall structural integrity. The special instructions for the corner boards emphasize their foundational role in the stability of the entire tent-like structure, ensuring it could withstand the stresses of being moved and re-erected in the wilderness.
- Divine Inspiration in Craftsmanship: The builders, Bezalel and Oholiab, and those they inspired, were filled with the Spirit of God for this very task (Exo 31:3; 35:30-35). This suggests that the minute details of construction, including specific joinery like that in Exodus 36:29, were not merely human ingenuity but divinely guided and empowered work, reflecting God's perfect wisdom.
- Typological Harmony: The physical, intricate joining of the Tabernacle’s parts prefigures the spiritual joining of believers within the Body of Christ. Each believer is a "lively stone," not haphazardly placed, but meticulously "fitly framed together" and united by Christ, forming a cohesive spiritual building (Eph 2:21; 4:16). The strength of the cornerboards, specifically coupled, speaks to the crucial role certain individuals or aspects of truth play in upholding the entire spiritual edifice, unified by Christ.
Exodus 36 29 Commentary
Exodus 36:29 provides a micro-level detail with profound macro-level implications. It underscores God’s meticulous nature and His demand for absolute precision in the construction of His dwelling place. The "coupling" (חָבַר) of the corner boards "to one ring" signifies not just mechanical strength but symbolic unity and indivisibility. These corner pieces, structurally vital as they bore the stress of two converging walls, required enhanced reinforcement, thus being coupled "beneath, and at the top" to a singular unifying point. This divine architectural design, executed flawlessly by Spirit-empowered craftsmen, paints a powerful picture of order, stability, and unified purpose. It foreshadows the Church as the spiritual temple, built upon the foundation of Christ, the chief cornerstone (Isa 28:16; Eph 2:20). Believers, as "living stones," are perfectly fitted and joined together by Christ, the unifying "Head," and by the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:16; 1 Pet 2:5). Just as the "one ring" united the critical corner boards of the Tabernacle, so Christ brings diverse believers into a single, strong, and stable spiritual dwelling for God's glory.