Exodus 38 12

Exodus 38:12 kjv

And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

Exodus 38:12 nkjv

And on the west side there were hangings of fifty cubits, with ten pillars and their ten sockets. The hooks of the pillars and their bands were silver.

Exodus 38:12 niv

The west end was fifty cubits wide and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

Exodus 38:12 esv

And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their ten pillars, and their ten bases; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.

Exodus 38:12 nlt

The curtains on the west end of the courtyard were 75 feet long, hung with silver hooks and rings and supported by ten posts set into ten bases.

Exodus 38 verses

Exodus 38 12 Meaning

Exodus 38:12 describes the construction of the south side of the tabernacle court, detailing its dimensions, structural elements, and the materials used for each part. This verse emphasizes the precise, divinely ordained blueprint for God's dwelling place among His people in the wilderness, underscoring order, purity, and the materials signifying atonement and judgment.

Exodus 38 12 Context

Exodus chapter 38 forms part of the detailed record of the tabernacle's construction, meticulously fulfilling the divine instructions given to Moses in chapters 25-31. After chapters describing the people's disobedience with the golden calf (Ch 32) and renewal of the covenant (Ch 34), these final chapters (Ch 35-40) emphasize Israel's obedience in constructing God's dwelling. Verse 12 specifically describes the south side of the tabernacle's outer court, mirroring the blueprint laid out in Exodus 27. This meticulous description highlights the precision required for the sacred space, functioning as the primary location for Israel's worship, sacrifices, and interaction with God's holiness. Historically, the tabernacle served as a portable, earthly dwelling for Yahweh, setting apart Israel's worship practices from surrounding pagan cults, which often involved less defined or impure sacred spaces and deities associated with chaos.

Exodus 38 12 Word analysis

• And for the south side southward:

  • south: (Heb. negev - נֶגֶב). Refers to the geographical south, often associated with dryness or the wilderness, as the Negev desert lies to the south of Judah. Its specification highlights the precise orientation required for the tabernacle, leaving nothing to human arbitrary choice.
  • side southward: This double emphasis on "south" or "negev" reinforces exactness in direction and layout, stressing the deliberate conformity to God's blueprint. It signals complete and unwavering adherence to divine command.

• the hangings were a hundred cubits:

  • hangings: (Heb. qela'im - קְלָעִים). These were the linen curtains forming the enclosure of the court, defining the boundary between the sacred and the profane. Though not explicitly stated in this verse, elsewhere (Exod 27:9, Exod 38:9) they are specified as "fine twined linen," symbolizing purity and righteousness. The enclosure served as a visual and physical barrier.
  • hundred cubits: (Approx. 150 feet or 45 meters). This exact dimension underscores the absolute order and precision required in God's service. It illustrates that every detail, down to the measurements, was divinely ordained, symbolizing the order and boundaried nature of access to God.

• and their pillars were twenty:

  • pillars: (Heb. ammudim - עַמּוּדִים). These were the vertical supports for the court hangings. They represent strength, stability, and the means by which the veil of separation was upheld. Numbering "twenty" highlights the uniformity and comprehensive nature of the tabernacle's structure.

• and their sockets of brass twenty:

  • sockets: (Heb. adanîm - אֲדָנִים). These were the heavy bases or foundations into which the pillars were set. Their function was to provide stability and support for the entire court structure, signifying a firm grounding for the sacred enclosure.
  • brass: (Heb. nechoshet - נְחֹשֶׁת). This term usually refers to copper or bronze in the Old Testament. In the tabernacle, bronze was predominantly used for elements related to the outer court, such as the altar of burnt offering, the laver, and these pillar sockets. This material is consistently associated with judgment, divine wrath against sin, and the earthly realm from which sacrifice must ascend. Its weight provided necessary stability.

• the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver:

  • hooks: (Heb. wavim - וָוִים). Small fasteners or pegs, often hooks or clasps, used to hang the linen curtains from the pillars. Their presence implies meticulous attention to securing and connecting the elements.
  • fillets: (Heb. chashuqim - חֲשֻׁקִים). These were connecting rods or bands, often interpreted as linking rails or decorative bands that may have run along the top of the pillars, joining them and providing additional stability and a means to stretch the hangings taught. They signify interconnection and unified support.
  • silver: (Heb. kesef - כֶּסֶף). In the tabernacle, silver held significant symbolic value, most notably being used for the "atonement money" or "ransom" (Exod 30:11-16) and thus widely associated with redemption, purification, and reconciliation. Its use for connecting elements implies that access to and the cohesion of the sacred space (and by extension, the community within it) is established and maintained through redemption.

Exodus 38 12 Bonus section

The construction of the tabernacle, and especially its court described here, directly contrasted with pagan temples of the time. These pagan temples were often built according to human preference, to appease various deities through diverse and often chaotic rituals. Yahweh's dwelling, conversely, emphasized precision, order, specific materials, and a single pathway for approaching Him, thus serving as a silent polemic against contemporary polytheistic and anarchic religious practices. This meticulous detail also demonstrates that true worship is not chaotic but structured, pointing towards a God of order, not confusion. The repeating motif of identical elements like "twenty pillars" and "twenty sockets" on each long side underscores uniformity and a collective access, unlike the personalized, often esoteric access in pagan religions.

Exodus 38 12 Commentary

Exodus 38:12 is more than a mere architectural specification; it's a testament to divine design and the precise order required in drawing near to God. The southern side of the court, like all other sections, was constructed according to specific dimensions and materials. The "fine twined linen" of the hangings (though detailed in related verses like 27:9, 38:9) pointed to purity and Christ's spotless righteousness, essential for fellowship with a holy God.

The distinction in materials for the supporting elements—bronze sockets at the base and silver hooks and fillets at the top—carries profound theological significance. The heavy bronze sockets, buried in the ground and bearing the weight of the pillars, symbolize judgment against sin, earthly foundation, and the cost of rebellion against God, particularly when considering bronze's association with the brazen altar of sacrifice. Sin must be judged, and its weight is considerable. Conversely, the silver hooks and fillets, at a higher level, speak to redemption. Silver, often derived from atonement money, connects and completes the structure. This suggests that while access to God's presence passes through the sphere of judgment (bronze altar in the court), it is ultimately by means of divine redemption (silver). This interplay of bronze and silver signifies that every aspect of approach to God's holiness must be based on atonement and purity, pointing ultimately to Christ, who fulfilled both the requirements of judgment (bearing sin on the cross) and provided the means of redemption.

The precise dimensions and countless identical parts emphasize God's absolute holiness and demand for specific obedience in worship. The Tabernacle, a precursor to Christ and the New Covenant community, teaches that spiritual life and access to God are not arbitrary but established through divine ordinance and redemption.