Exodus 38 28

Exodus 38:28 kjv

And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them.

Exodus 38:28 nkjv

Then from the one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made bands for them.

Exodus 38:28 niv

They used the 1,775 shekels to make the hooks for the posts, to overlay the tops of the posts, and to make their bands.

Exodus 38:28 esv

And of the 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the pillars and overlaid their capitals and made fillets for them.

Exodus 38:28 nlt

The remaining 45 pounds of silver was used to make the hooks and rings and to overlay the tops of the posts.

Exodus 38 verses

Exodus 38 28 Meaning

The verse specifies the final portion of the silver gathered from the Israelites, amounting to one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels. This silver was meticulously utilized for vital components of the Tabernacle courtyard: crafting hooks for its surrounding pillars, overlaying the decorative capitals (tops) of these pillars, and forming their connecting bands or fillets. This precise accounting highlights the complete and intentional use of all donated materials in the construction of God’s dwelling place, leaving nothing to waste and ensuring every detail conformed to the divine blueprint.

Exodus 38 28 Context

Exodus 38:28 is situated within the latter chapters of Exodus (chapters 35-40), which meticulously recount the construction of the Tabernacle and its associated furnishings and courtyard. This particular verse falls under a detailed accounting section (Exo 38:21-31), providing a precise inventory of the gold, silver, and bronze used and how each metal was specifically allocated. Historically, this phase occurs immediately after the Exodus from Egypt and the covenant establishment at Mount Sinai, where Moses received the detailed divine blueprint for the Tabernacle. This portable sanctuary was designed to serve as God's dwelling place amidst the nomadic Israelites during their wilderness journey, providing a tangible symbol of His presence, a center for worship, and a constant reminder of His covenant relationship with them. The exhaustive recording of materials highlights the sacredness and value of the project, driven by direct divine instruction rather than human design.

Exodus 38 28 Word analysis

• and of the 1,775 shekels: This precise measurement (Hebrew: v'et ha'elef u'sheva me'ot v'chamishim v'chamishah) denotes a specific quantity of silver. It represents the residual amount after the main allocation of silver for the sanctuary's sockets, demonstrating meticulous financial accountability and that no material was considered too small or insignificant to be used in God’s work.

• he made: The Hebrew verb vayya'as (וַיַּעַשׂ), often translated "he did" or "he made," typically refers to the divinely gifted artisans, Bezalel and Oholiab, who performed the physical labor under the direct guidance and oversight of Moses according to the precise instructions given by Yahweh.

• hooks: (Hebrew: vavim – וָוִים). These were functional metallic fasteners, specifically small hooks or pegs. Their purpose was to secure and hang the elaborate fine linen curtains that formed the enclosing wall of the Tabernacle courtyard, ensuring the boundary was both functional and aesthetically consistent with the sacred space.

• for the pillars: (Hebrew: la'ammudim – לָעַמֻּדִים). Refers to the sixty freestanding wooden pillars, which were likely overlaid with bronze (Exo 27:10), that demarcated the sacred courtyard perimeter. The silver elements would have adorned the top parts of these pillars and held the courtyard hangings.

• and overlaid: (Hebrew: vechipah – וְחִפָּה). This term signifies the process of covering a base material with a thin layer of a more valuable substance. In this context, the capitals of the pillars, likely bronze-overlaid wood, were further adorned with silver, contributing to the visual sanctity and sacred beauty of the Tabernacle.

• their capitals: (Hebrew: ro'sheyhem – רָאשֵׁיהֶם). Literally meaning "their heads" or "their tops," these were the decorative uppermost parts of the courtyard pillars. Being overlaid with silver indicated the preciousness of these seemingly minor components, underscoring the overall holiness of the Tabernacle's design.

• and made fillets for them: (Hebrew: v'chishukim – וְחִשֻּׁקִים). The translation "fillets" (or "bands"/ "connecting rods") derives from a Hebrew root signifying "to connect" or "to bind." These were likely silver crossbars, rings, or decorative connecting rods that ran horizontally between the tops of the courtyard pillars, providing stability, structural integrity, and a continuous support for the hanging curtains of the court. This detail emphasizes God’s concern for both aesthetic beauty and structural soundness.

• Words-group analysis

  • hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them: This tripartite phrase encapsulates the specific, functional, and decorative purposes for which the final portion of the Tabernacle silver was employed. Each element (hooks, overlaid capitals, fillets) contributes to the integrity and holiness of the Tabernacle's outer courtyard, highlighting how even seemingly smaller, exterior components were made of valuable silver and fashioned with divine precision. This demonstrates the completeness of God's instructions and the perfect use of all resources, with every detail contributing to the boundary, stability, and aesthetic order of the consecrated space where God dwelt among His people. The use of silver, derived from the atonement money, connects the very structure of the sacred enclosure to the redeemed status of the community.

Exodus 38 28 Bonus section

The historical and numerical exactitude presented in Exodus 38:28, down to the last shekel, serves as a testament to the factual nature and meticulous record-keeping implied by the biblical account. Such precise figures are a distinguishing feature of the Tabernacle descriptions. A shekel's weight in antiquity varied but was generally around 11-12 grams. Therefore, 1,775 shekels would translate to approximately 20-22 kilograms (or about 44-48 pounds) of silver. This substantial amount, while small compared to the 100 talents, was deemed important enough to be fully utilized and recorded. The silver for these elements derived from the census "ransom" (Exo 30:11-16), collected from every male Israelite. This implies that the very structure delineating the sacred space was physically built upon the contributions that symbolically secured the atonement and redemption of the individual Israelite, making the people themselves literally part of the Tabernacle's support system for God's presence.

Exodus 38 28 Commentary

Exodus 38:28 vividly illustrates the precise execution of God's divine architectural plan for the Tabernacle. This verse details the final allocation of the silver collected from the Israelites' atonement money, revealing that even the precise "leftover" sum of 1,775 shekels was specifically purposed. It highlights the divine economy, where no material was wasted, and every part, down to the hooks and decorative bands of the courtyard pillars, had a specific function and contributed to the Tabernacle's sacred integrity. This reflects the perfection of God's instructions and the faithfulness in their obedience by the artisans, Bezalel and Oholiab. The meticulous accounting underlines the value and holiness God ascribed to His dwelling place among His people, reinforcing the principle that all aspects of worship and service should be conducted with utmost care, intentionality, and according to His explicit commands. The very structure that delimited God's presence was literally upheld by the physical representation of His people's atonement.