Exodus 38 27

Exodus 38:27 kjv

And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

Exodus 38:27 nkjv

And from the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil: one hundred sockets from the hundred talents, one talent for each socket.

Exodus 38:27 niv

The 100 talents of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and for the curtain?100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base.

Exodus 38:27 esv

The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil; a hundred bases for the hundred talents, a talent a base.

Exodus 38:27 nlt

The hundred bases for the frames of the sanctuary walls and for the posts supporting the inner curtain required 7,500 pounds of silver, about 75 pounds for each base.

Exodus 38 verses

Exodus 38 27 Meaning

Exodus 38:27 specifies the precise use of a significant portion of the silver contributed for the construction of the Tabernacle. It states that all hundred talents of silver were specifically melted and cast to form the hundred foundational bases (sockets) for the sanctuary’s wooden frames and for the posts of the inner veil. This meticulous accounting emphasizes that each base was formed from exactly one talent of silver, highlighting divine order and precision in God's dwelling place.

Exodus 38 27 Context

Exodus chapter 38 forms part of the detailed record of the Tabernacle's construction, immediately following the divine commands given on Mount Sinai. This chapter provides a summary of the materials used and how they were applied, focusing on the metallic elements like bronze, gold, and silver. Verse 27 specifically accounts for the massive quantity of silver collected through the half-shekel census tax (Exo 30:11-16), designated as "atonement money" from every Israelite man twenty years and older. This silver was not used for superficial decoration but for the foundational elements, such as the bases of the vertical frames of the Tabernacle and the posts supporting the sacred veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, underscoring its crucial role in establishing stability and divine presence.

Exodus 38 27 Word analysis

• And (וְ – ve): A simple conjunction, connecting this specific detail to the preceding enumeration of materials.
• of (מֵ – mē): Indicates the source or origin of the material.
• the hundred talents (מֵאַחַת מֵאָה כִּכְּרֵי – mēʾaḥat mēʾâ kikkərê):
  • Hundred (מֵאָה – mēʾâ): Precisely specifies the number.
  • Talents (כִּכְּרֵי – kikkārê): Refers to a specific weight unit, approximately 75 pounds (about 34 kilograms) in the ancient Near East. One hundred talents equates to around 3.4 metric tons of silver, an enormous quantity that signifies both Israel's abundance and the scale of God's dwelling. This substantial offering was for fundamental components.
• of silver (הַכֶּסֶף – hakkeseph):
  • Silver (כֶּסֶף – kesep): A precious metal, here denoting the valuable material specifically used. Its application for foundational bases indicates permanence, value, and stability, as opposed to cheaper materials for core structural elements. This silver came from the "atonement money" (Exo 30:16), making the Tabernacle's very foundation a symbol of redemption.
• were cast (הָיוּ יְצוּקִים – hāyû yəṣûqîm):
  • Cast (יְצוּקִים – yātsaq): Means to pour out, melt down, and mold. This implies an intentional, precise manufacturing process, highlighting the skilled craftsmanship guided by divine instruction. It's not raw silver but expertly processed metal for a specific structural purpose.
• the bases (אֲדָנֵי – ʾădānê):
  • Bases (אֲדָנִים – ʾădānîm): Literally "sockets" or "pedestals." These were heavy, solid foundations into which the wooden frames (Exo 26:19-21) and the veil's posts (Exo 26:32) would be fitted. Their function was to provide stability, support, and to elevate the holy structure from the wilderness ground. Their precious material signifies the divine value placed on even foundational elements of God's house.
• of the sanctuary (הַמִּשְׁכָּן – hammiškan):
  • Sanctuary (מִשְׁכָּן – mishkan): Refers to the Tabernacle, the portable dwelling place of God. This indicates that these bases formed part of the very structure where God manifested His presence among His people.
• and (וְ – ve): Another conjunction.
• the bases of the veil (אֲדָנֵי הַפָּרֹכֶת – ʾădānê happārōketh):
  • Veil (פָּרֹכֶת – pārōket): The thick curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant resided. The bases for its supporting posts were equally critical, emphasizing the sanctity and division of divine space.
• a hundred bases (מֵאָה אֲדָנִים – mēʾâ ʾădānîm):
  • Hundred (מֵאָה – mēʾâ): Reinforces the exact count of the bases made.
• for the hundred talents (לְמֵאָה הַכִּכָּרִים – ləmēʾâ hakkikkārîm):
  • For (לְ – lə): Indicates direct correspondence.
  • Talents (כִּכָּרִים – kikkārîm): The weight unit.
• a talent for a base (הַכִּכָּר לָאֶדֶן – hakkikkār lāʾeḏen):
  • Talent (כִּכָּר – kikkār): Unit of weight.
  • Base (אֶדֶן – ʾeden): Single base.
  • This phrase confirms the precise ratio, explicitly stating one talent of silver was used to create each individual base, highlighting divine symmetry, exactness, and consistency in the Tabernacle's construction.

Exodus 38 27 Bonus section

The act of 'casting' the silver into bases is significant. Unlike wood or fabric, silver needed to be melted at high temperatures and poured into molds, indicating advanced metallurgical skills among the Israelites, divinely enabled by Bezaleel and Aholiab. The fact that the foundational elements were made of silver, while the rings and connecting bars were often gold (Exo 36:20-30), signifies the specific importance placed on stability and bearing weight. The weight of these silver bases would have made the Tabernacle extremely heavy and thus stable, difficult to move unintentionally, representing God's secure presence. This verse also implicitly communicates divine sufficiency and provision; despite being in the wilderness, God's people had more than enough to fulfill His detailed requirements, providing materials not through exploitation but through free-will offerings and a divinely ordained census.

Exodus 38 27 Commentary

Exodus 38:27 highlights God's demand for meticulousness and order in the construction of His dwelling place. The considerable amount of silver—collected through a universal census tax that served as atonement money (Exo 30:16)—was allocated to the crucial, foundational bases of the Tabernacle's structure and its sacred veil. This was not a superficial use of precious material, but its application to elements that provided stability, support, and permanence. The explicit statement that "a talent for a base" demonstrates an astounding level of precision and uniformity in craftsmanship, mirroring God's own orderliness. Theologically, this detail underscores that the very foundations of God's presence among His people are rooted in redemption (through the atonement money), preciousness, and steadfastness. It also shows a communal contribution to establish God's worship, with every eligible individual having a part in supporting the Tabernacle. This foreshadows Christ as the true, precious, and unshakeable foundation for God's ultimate dwelling with humanity.