Exodus 36 38

Exodus 36:38 kjv

And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.

Exodus 36:38 nkjv

and its five pillars with their hooks. And he overlaid their capitals and their rings with gold, but their five sockets were bronze.

Exodus 36:38 niv

and they made five posts with hooks for them. They overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold and made their five bases of bronze.

Exodus 36:38 esv

and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals, and their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze.

Exodus 36:38 nlt

This curtain was hung on gold hooks attached to five posts. The posts with their decorated tops and hooks were overlaid with gold, and the five bases were cast from bronze.

Exodus 36 verses

Exodus 36 38 Meaning

Exodus 36:38 describes the completion of the five pillars forming the entrance to the Tabernacle's Holy Place. These pillars were fitted with gold hooks for hanging the entrance screen, and their ornate tops (capitols) and connecting rods (fillets) were overlaid with pure gold, signifying the holiness and preciousness of access to God’s dwelling. The stability of these pillars was secured by five foundational sockets made of bronze, indicating a material less precious than gold, supporting elements that stood outside the most holy areas yet provided a crucial gateway.

Exodus 36 38 Context

Exodus 36 details the execution of the Tabernacle’s construction, as commanded by God. The chapter emphasizes the collective effort, skill, and generosity of the Israelites in bringing God’s precise design into reality. After outlining the making of the curtains for the Tabernacle proper, the coverings, and the frames, this verse specifically describes the final elements of the entrance screen for the Holy Place, which would separate the court from the tent of meeting itself. Historically, the Tabernacle served as God’s temporary dwelling place in the wilderness, allowing His presence to reside among His people. Every detail, down to the materials and dimensions, was divinely specified to signify God's holiness, His desire to dwell with His people, and the required means of approach. This detailed record underscores the meticulous obedience demanded in divine service.

Exodus 36 38 Word analysis

• And its five pillars (וְעַמֻּדָיו הַחֲמִשָּׁה – və`ammūḏāw haḥămiššâ):
  • Pillars (עַמֻּדָיו – `ammûḏāw): From the root עָמַד (amad), meaning "to stand, to stand still, to be present." These were load-bearing structures made of acacia wood (Ex 26:37), providing vertical support and demarcation. In ancient cultures, pillars often symbolized strength, stability, and enduring presence. Their existence emphasizes God's presence as being firm and established.
  • Five (הַחֲמִשָּׁה – haḥămiššâ): The number five in the Bible is often associated with grace or divine completeness in certain contexts, e.g., the five offerings in Leviticus, the five loaves of bread, etc. Here, it denotes a specific numerical boundary. The Holy Place had five pillars at its entrance, in contrast to the four pillars separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, hinting at distinct levels of access.
• with their hooks (וָוֵיהֶם – vāvêhem):
  • Hooks (וָוֵיהֶם – vāvêhem): Literally "nails" or "pegs." These small but crucial elements, made of gold, were used to hang the elaborate screen (curtain) that served as the "door" to the Holy Place (Ex 26:37). They highlight God's attention to every minute detail and the functionality required for worship.
• and he overlaid (וְצִפָּה – vəṣippâ): From the root צָפָה (ṣāpâ), meaning "to overlay, to plate." This indicates that a precious material (gold) was meticulously applied over the underlying acacia wood structure, not that the entire component was solid gold. This foreshadows Christ's human nature (wood) being glorified by His divine nature (gold).
• their capitols (רָאשֵׁיהֶם – rā’šêhem): Literally "their heads" (from רֹאשׁ - ro’sh). This refers to the decorative or crowning elements at the very top of each pillar. They signify prominence and completion.
• and their fillets (וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶם – vaḥăšuqêhem):
  • Fillets (וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶם – vaḥăšuqêhem): These were bands or rods, often translated as "moldings," "rims," or "connecting rods," which reinforced or beautified the pillars, likely holding them together or serving as a decorative trim. Their overlaying with gold indicates the overall preciousness of the entrance.
• with gold (זָהָב – zāhāḇ):
  • Gold (זָהָב – zāhāḇ): The most precious metal in the Tabernacle. It consistently symbolizes divine glory, holiness, purity, wealth, and God's unblemished nature. Anything associated with gold in the Tabernacle indicated direct relation to God’s holy presence and glory. The use of gold on these pillars speaks to the sacredness of the entryway into God's dwelling place.
• but their five sockets (וַאֲדָנֵיהֶם הַחֲמִשָּׁה – va’ăḏānêhem haḥămiššâ):
  • Sockets (אֲדָנֵיהֶם – ăḏānêhem): From the root אָדָן ('adan), meaning "foundation, base, socket." These were heavy bases designed to secure the pillars and bear their weight, providing stability on the desert floor. They represent a firm foundation.
• were of bronze (נְחֹשֶׁת – nəḥōšet):
  • Bronze (נְחֹשֶׁת – nəḥōšet): A strong, durable metal, less precious than gold or silver. In the Tabernacle, bronze was used for the altar of burnt offering, the laver, and the sockets of the court pillars. It often symbolizes strength, judgment (as in the bronze serpent, Num 21:9), and the earthly, yet crucial, foundation upon which the holy elements stood. The contrast between gold (heavenly glory) and bronze (earthly foundation, judgment met) is significant for access to God.

Word Group Analysis:

• "its five pillars with their hooks": The five acacia wood pillars, foundational elements, equipped with gold hooks, indicate the precision and functionality required for the divine dwelling. They symbolize steadfastness and access.
• "he overlaid their capitols and their fillets with gold": This highlights the beauty and sacredness applied to the most visible parts of the pillars. The use of gold underscores divine glory and purity associated with approaching God's presence.
• "but their five sockets were of bronze": The contrast here is crucial. While the visible and upper parts were glorious gold, the unseen foundation (sockets) was durable bronze. This might symbolize the earthly foundation of the Tabernacle's operations, or even the judgment necessary to approach God's holiness (the altar of bronze stood at the entrance to the outer court). This ground-level material is strong but not glorious, representing the basis of physical support.

Exodus 36 38 Bonus section

The distinction between the five pillars of the Holy Place entrance having bronze sockets and the four pillars leading to the Most Holy Place having silver sockets (Ex 36:36) is significant. Silver often symbolized redemption (e.g., the atonement money, Ex 30:16). This suggests that deeper access into God's presence, into the very Holy of Holies, was predicated not merely on the strength symbolized by bronze, but on redemption. The entrance pillars in this verse (bronze sockets) denote a more general, yet still holy, point of entry into the first main section of the Tabernacle, requiring a robust, firm grounding. This precision in material application speaks volumes about the gradations of holiness and the journey of drawing near to God.

Exodus 36 38 Commentary

Exodus 36:38 provides a final, detailed glimpse into the meticulous construction of the Tabernacle's Holy Place entrance. It highlights God's demand for specific materials and craftsmanship, emphasizing both the functional necessity and symbolic meaning of each element. The pillars themselves provide a visible structure, while the contrast between the glorious gold (representing divinity, glory, and Christ's deity) covering the visible parts, and the sturdy bronze (representing strength, endurance, or even judgment/atonement, and Christ's humanity) for the foundational sockets, speaks volumes. This detailed account reinforces God’s exact specifications for worship, reminding the Israelites – and us – that access to God is on His terms, carefully ordained, yet beautifully appointed. Every element pointed to a divine purpose and a greater reality, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the true door, the way, and the foundation. The divine blueprint ensured holiness, order, and effective separation of sacred spaces.