Exodus 38 20

Exodus 38:20 kjv

And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.

Exodus 38:20 nkjv

All the pegs of the tabernacle, and of the court all around, were bronze.

Exodus 38:20 niv

All the tent pegs of the tabernacle and of the surrounding courtyard were bronze.

Exodus 38:20 esv

And all the pegs for the tabernacle and for the court all around were of bronze.

Exodus 38:20 nlt

All the tent pegs used in the Tabernacle and courtyard were made of bronze.

Exodus 38 verses

Exodus 38 20 Meaning

Exodus 38:20 meticulously details specific structural elements of the Tabernacle's outer court. It states that the twenty support pillars, which held the linen hangings of the courtyard fence on its longer sides, along with their foundational bases (sockets), were made from bronze. Furthermore, the connecting elements – specifically the hooks from which the curtains were suspended and the binding rods or fillets that joined the pillars – were crafted from silver. This verse is part of the extensive inventory confirming that the Tabernacle was constructed precisely according to God's divine blueprint, accounting for all materials used.

Exodus 38 20 Context

Exodus 38:20 is situated within chapters 35-40 of the book of Exodus, which detail the execution and completion of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, adhering precisely to the instructions God had previously given Moses (Ex 25-31). Specifically, Chapter 38 serves as an accounting, summarizing the types and amounts of materials—gold, silver, and bronze—that were contributed by the Israelites and used in the construction. It describes the bronze altar, the bronze laver, and then moves to the components of the Tabernacle's outer court. Verse 20 focuses on the construction of the court's perimeter, detailing the specific metals used for its pillars, their sockets, hooks, and fillets. This precision emphasizes the holiness, order, and divine authority underpinning every aspect of God's dwelling place and worship, highlighting that nothing was left to human discretion or creativity. The contrast in materials (bronze for foundation, silver for connections) hints at ascending levels of purity and specific functions within the divinely appointed access pathway to God's presence.

Exodus 38 20 Word analysis

• "And" (וְ – wĕ): This conjunction links the verse to the preceding descriptions, indicating that it is a continuation of the detailed inventory and description of the Tabernacle's outer court structure.
• "the twenty pillars" (וְעַמּוּדָיו הָעֶשְׂרִים – wəʿammūḏāw hāʿeśrīm):
  • Pillars (עַמּוּד – ʿammud): Refers to the upright support columns. In the Tabernacle court, these pillars held the linen hangings, forming the boundary. They signify strength, stability, and structure, as well as providing separation for the sacred space.
  • Twenty (הָעֶשְׂרִים – hāʿeśrīm): This precise numerical specification underlines God's meticulous instructions and the Israelites' faithful adherence. It points to divine order and completeness.
• "thereof": Refers to a specific side (likely one of the longer 100-cubit sides) of the Tabernacle court, which required twenty pillars according to God's earlier design specifications (Ex 27:10).
• "and their sockets" (וְאֲדָנֵיהֶם – wəʾăḏānêhem):
  • Sockets (אֲדָנִים – ʾădānim): These are the bases or pedestals into which the pillars were set. They provided the foundational support and stability for the entire structure. The plural form signifies a strong and widespread foundation.
• "were of brass" (נְחֹשֶׁת – nəḥōšet):
  • Brass (or bronze): This refers to copper or, more commonly in this context, bronze (an alloy of copper and tin). It is a durable, weighty metal used extensively for elements of the Tabernacle's outer court, notably the altar of burnt offering and the laver. Symbolically, bronze is often associated with judgment, enduring strength, and the trials faced at the entrance to God's presence. Its use for the foundational pillars and sockets emphasizes the reality of divine justice that must be confronted when approaching a holy God.
• "the hooks of the pillars" (וָוֵי הָעַמּוּדִים – wāwê hāʿammūḏîm):
  • Hooks (וָוִים – wāwîm): Literally meaning "vavs" (as the Hebrew letter vav visually resembles a hook). These were small, hook-shaped clasps used to hang the Tabernacle's linen court hangings from the pillars. They represent the practical means of connection and attachment.
• "and their fillets" (וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶם – waḥašūqêhem):
  • Fillets (חֲשֻׁקִים – ḥašuqim): These were most likely connecting rods or bands, perhaps decorative or structural, that ran between the pillars at their tops or along their length. They signify binding, unity, completion, and the careful adornment and securing of the structure.
• "were of silver" (כָּסֶף – kāsef):
  • Silver: A precious metal, less valuable than gold but more so than bronze. In the Tabernacle's symbolism, silver prominently signifies redemption, atonement, or payment (e.g., the half-shekel temple tax in Ex 30:11-16, used to fund the Tabernacle's silver components). Its use for the hooks and fillets, which connect and bind, implies that redemption is the basis for connection, unity, and completion within God's holy dwelling place. It highlights the divine provision required to establish and maintain access to holiness.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "twenty pillars...sockets...of brass": This phrase emphasizes the external, foundational, and publicly accessible part of the Tabernacle courtyard. The heavy, durable brass for the core supports points to the solidity of God's establishment and the initial encounter with divine justice and truth at the entrance to His presence.
  • "hooks...fillets...of silver": These smaller, connective elements made of silver signify the process and means of access and unity within the sacred space. Silver's association with redemption highlights that connection and proper alignment with God's dwelling are only possible through a divinely provided ransom or atonement. This arrangement subtly illustrates a theological progression: approaching God involves confronting sin (brass/judgment) and then experiencing connection and unity through redemption (silver).

Exodus 38 20 Bonus section

• Progression of Materials: The Tabernacle exhibits a deliberate progression in the use of metals from the outer court inward: Bronze (outer court elements like the altar, laver, courtyard pillar sockets) -> Silver (connecting elements, inner Tabernacle pillar sockets, decorative adornments) -> Gold (Holy Place and Most Holy Place furnishings, inner Tabernacle structural elements). This sequence visually represents an increasing degree of sanctity and proximity to God's presence, from the accessible but weighty outer court (judgment) to the most holy inner sanctuary (glory and holiness).
• The Weight and Significance: Exodus 38:29-31 directly links these specific materials to the contributions, showing a direct correlation between the half-shekel redemption tax collected and the use of silver in the Tabernacle's construction. This financial detail further emphasizes that silver, as a 'redemption metal', underpinned crucial connective elements of the Tabernacle, solidifying the theme of atonement being central to the entire structure.
• Waw and Connection: The Hebrew word for "hooks" (wawim) is the same as the name of the Hebrew letter "Vav," which often functions as a conjunction meaning "and" – literally "linking" words and concepts. This linguistic connection subtly reinforces the purpose of these physical hooks: to link and unify the components of God's holy dwelling.

Exodus 38 20 Commentary

Exodus 38:20 serves as a powerful testament to the precision, holiness, and theological depth embedded in the Tabernacle's design. The use of different metals is not arbitrary; it illustrates a divinely ordained hierarchy and purpose. Bronze, for the sturdy, foundational elements of the outer court's pillars and sockets, points to the essential truth that the pathway to God begins with the reality of judgment for sin, symbolized by the bronze altar within this same court. It is a solid, enduring metal for the common space. Conversely, silver, used for the connecting hooks and fillets, speaks profoundly of redemption. Just as the half-shekel atonement money (Ex 30) funded the silver components of the Tabernacle, so here silver signifies that it is through a 'price paid' that access to God's presence, unity among His people, and proper completion of His work are enabled. The exact enumeration of parts reinforces God's meticulous care for every detail concerning His dwelling place and worship, emphasizing divine order over human ingenuity.

This divine blueprint foreshadows New Testament truths. The bronze-for-judgment points to Christ enduring judgment for us. The silver-for-redemption speaks to His shed blood, which perfectly redeems us, bringing us into communion and unity with God and fellow believers.

• Practical application: Just as the Tabernacle had firm foundations and elements connecting parts, so too the Church (as God's dwelling today) must stand firm on biblical truths (represented by brass/foundations) and foster unity among its members (represented by silver/connections) through the redemptive work of Christ. Every seemingly small detail in our spiritual walk and communal life should reflect God's intended order and purpose, built upon the cornerstone of Christ and connected by His saving grace.