Exodus 38 31

Exodus 38:31 kjv

And the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about.

Exodus 38:31 nkjv

the sockets for the court all around, the bases for the court gate, all the pegs for the tabernacle, and all the pegs for the court all around.

Exodus 38:31 niv

the bases for the surrounding courtyard and those for its entrance and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and those for the surrounding courtyard.

Exodus 38:31 esv

the bases around the court, and the bases of the gate of the court, all the pegs of the tabernacle, and all the pegs around the court.

Exodus 38:31 nlt

Bronze was also used to make the bases for the posts that supported the curtains around the courtyard, the bases for the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard, and all the tent pegs for the Tabernacle and the courtyard.

Exodus 38 verses

Exodus 38 31 Meaning

Exodus 38:31 meticulously details the specific components for which the remaining silver was used in the construction of the Tabernacle's court. This verse, therefore, affirms the completion of the Tabernacle project, underscoring the precise obedience to divine specifications. It specifically accounts for the silver designated for the foundational sockets of the court's perimeter and its gate, and for all the securing pins or pegs used for both the main Tabernacle structure and the outer court enclosure. The provision of these numerous, yet crucial, smaller items demonstrates comprehensive and complete adherence to God's detailed instructions, ensuring the stability and security of God's dwelling place among His people.

Exodus 38 31 Context

Exodus chapter 38 forms part of the lengthy section detailing the construction of the Tabernacle, beginning from chapter 35, following the divine instructions given in chapters 25-31. After a general summary of the materials gathered by the people (Ex. 35:4-29), the text systematically describes the craftsmanship of the various components. Chapter 38 focuses specifically on the brazen altar for burnt offerings, the bronze laver, and the vast court that enclosed the Tabernacle proper. Crucially, the final verses of Chapter 38 (vv. 21-31) provide a detailed, almost meticulous, accounting of all the materials – gold, silver, and bronze – that were collected and used for the entire Tabernacle and its furnishings. This highlights not only the abundance of the people's offerings but also the precise, accountable management of these consecrated resources, underscoring the importance of every detail in fulfilling God's sacred architectural plan. Verse 31 specifically summarizes the last remaining allocation of silver, emphasizing the court's stability and the foundational integrity provided by the pegs and sockets, components essential yet often overlooked, for the divine dwelling.

Exodus 38 31 Word analysis

• and for the sockets (וּלְאַדְנֵי, ūləʾadnê): The word adnê (אַדְנֵי) refers to bases or sockets, typically hollow molds into which posts or pillars are inserted to provide stability. These were foundational elements for the upright boards or posts of the Tabernacle and its court. Here, they are specifically mentioned for the court. As established in Ex. 38:27, these sockets for the sanctuary (and by implication for the court as part of the total silver use) were made of silver, derived from the atonement money. This detail highlights that the very support structure of God's dwelling was rooted in the redemption of His people.
• of the court (הֶחָצֵר, heḥāṣēr): This refers to the large outer enclosure or courtyard surrounding the tent of meeting. It was a crucial, highly visible part of the Tabernacle complex, accessible to all Israelites, where many of the rituals and sacrifices took place. Its detailed construction, down to the sockets, reinforces the sacredness and functionality of this preparatory space.
• round about (סָבִיב, sāḇîḇ): This adverb emphasizes the completeness and encirclement. The sockets were placed all along the entire perimeter of the court, ensuring comprehensive stability for the curtains and posts forming its boundary.
• and for the sockets (וּלְאַדְנֵי, ūləʾadnê): The repetition reinforces the vital importance of these foundational elements, specifying their role at the very entrance.
• of the court gate (שַׁעַר הֶחָצֵר, šaʿar heḥāṣēr): This indicates the main entrance to the Tabernacle court. Gates, in biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts, were highly significant points—for entry, control, and often symbolic representation of authority or access. The careful construction of its sockets signifies the guarded and proper entry required to approach God's presence.
• and for all the pins (וּלְכָל הַיְתֵדֹת, ūləḵol hayəṯēḏōṯ): The word yəṯēḏōṯ (יְתֵדֹת) refers to pegs, tent-pegs, or stakes. These were driven into the ground to anchor the ropes or cords that held the tent structure (Tabernacle) and the court curtains securely in place against wind and tension. As mentioned in Ex. 38:30, all these pegs for the court were made of bronze, though other sections might imply silver from the main treasury, here it relates to bronze/silver as specified. In this verse, particularly linking back to 38:29-30 and the comprehensive accounting in 38:25-31, the focus is on silver from the atonement offering, meaning these pegs for the tabernacle structure were silver too, from the earlier summation. "All" (כָל, kol) indicates an exhaustive inventory, signifying completeness and the crucial nature of even small components for overall integrity.
• of the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּן, hammišḵān): This refers specifically to the main tent-dwelling of God, comprising the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Even this central sacred structure required external stabilization through pegs.
• and for all the pins (וּלְכָל הַיְתֵדֹת, ūləḵol hayəṯēḏōṯ): The repeated phrase for pins highlights their universal application to both the central sanctuary and the court.
• of the court round about (הֶחָצֵר סָבִיב, heḥāṣēr sāḇîḇ): Again, emphasizing that pegs secured the entire outer court structure.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "for the sockets of the court round about, and for the sockets of the court gate": This phrase group meticulously outlines the foundational supports of the entire sacred complex's outer perimeter. The emphasis on "sockets" underscores stability and order. That these were silver (from atonement money) indicates that the very basis of approaching God's dwelling was redemption. The court was the boundary that separated sacred space from the common, and the gate was the only allowed entrance; their stability, therefore, was paramount to the established order of worship.
• "for all the pins of the tabernacle, and for all the pins of the court round about": This group specifies the anchoring elements that secured both the Holy Dwelling (Tabernacle) and its outer boundary (Court). The word "all" twice emphasized the completeness and meticulousness required. Pins, or pegs, though seemingly minor components, were crucial for practical stability, especially for a portable tent structure exposed to weather elements. Spiritually, they symbolize God's desire for His presence to be securely established among His people, with every detail contributing to this foundational security.

Exodus 38 31 Bonus Section

• Redemption Foundation: The consistent theme throughout Exodus, and reiterated here, is that the silver used for the foundational sockets was derived from the atonement money (the half-shekel tax levied on every Israelite male census Ex. 30:11-16; 38:25-28). This links the very physical stability of God's dwelling to the concept of redemption and propitiation. It highlights that approaching God or building His dwelling is not based on human merit or mere giving, but on atonement. This foreshadows Christ, the ultimate atonement and the very foundation of God's true spiritual temple (1 Cor. 3:11).
• Meticulous Divine Order: The sheer volume of detail provided for the Tabernacle's construction, and the specific accounting in this chapter, underscores the perfect order and specificity of God's character. He is not a God of chaos, but of precise design, even in the smallest pegs. This challenges any notion that worship or spiritual life can be haphazard; rather, it demands intentionality, obedience, and faithfulness in every aspect.
• Corporate Responsibility: The fact that all the materials were voluntary offerings from the Israelites (Ex. 35:21-29) means that every detail of the Tabernacle, down to the last peg, was a collective contribution. This foster a sense of shared ownership and corporate responsibility for God's dwelling among His people.
• Polemics Against ANE Beliefs (Indirect): Unlike the grand, unmoving temples of surrounding pagan cultures (e.g., Egyptian or Mesopotamian), the Israelite Tabernacle was portable, yet meticulously constructed and securely anchored. Its portability showed God's willingness to journey with His people, not being confined to one fixed location. Yet, its intricate, divinely-prescribed stability, emphasized by the pins and sockets, countered any notion that their God was fleeting or disorganized, standing in contrast to the capricious and often ill-defined worship spaces of surrounding nations.

Exodus 38 31 Commentary

Exodus 38:31 offers a final, meticulous accounting of the materials used in the Tabernacle's construction, specifically highlighting the distribution of the silver for the court's structural integrity. This verse is not merely an architectural detail but profoundly reveals divine order and human obedience. The foundational "sockets" for the court's perimeter and gate, made from the silver derived from the atonement half-shekel (Ex. 30:11-16; 38:25-28), symbolically represent that the very ground and access to God's presence are built upon the redemption of His people. These sockets anchored the upright posts, symbolizing the stability that arises from a redeemed foundation.

Equally significant are the numerous "pins" or pegs for both the Tabernacle proper and its surrounding court. These seemingly small components were vital for anchoring the massive tent structure and its curtains, providing stability against wind and stress. Their inclusion in this precise inventory emphasizes that in God's dwelling, no detail is too small to escape divine command or to lack importance. Every part contributes to the whole, signifying God's demand for thoroughness and the people's comprehensive dedication. The Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, had to be stable amidst their journeys, reflecting God's steadfast presence with them.

In essence, the verse underscores complete compliance with God's blueprint, providing full structural security from foundation (sockets) to anchorage (pins) for His sacred dwelling. This precision prefigures the truth that the Church, as the spiritual dwelling of God (Eph. 2:19-22), is built on a secure foundation, with every member contributing to its stability and spiritual integrity.