Catholic Bible
Mosaico decorativo

Exodus, 26

1. 'The Dwelling itself you will make with ten sheets of finely woven linen dyed violet-purple, red-purple and crimson. You will have them embroidered with great winged creatures.

1. "Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet stuff; with cherubim skilfully worked shall you make them.

2. The length of a single sheet is to be twenty-eight cubits, its width four cubits, all the sheets to be of the same size.

2. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have one measure.

3. Five of the sheets are to be joined to one another, and the other five sheets are to be joined to one another.

3. Five curtains shall be coupled to one another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.

4. You will make violet loops along the edge of the first sheet, at the end of the set, and do the same along the edge of the last sheet in the other set.

4. And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outmost curtain in the first set; and likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outmost curtain in the second set.

5. You will make fifty loops on the first sheet and fifty loops along the outer edge of the sheet of the second set, the loops corresponding to one another.

5. Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another.

6. You will also make fifty gold clasps, and join the sheets together with the clasps. In this way the Dwelling will be a unified whole.

6. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, that the tabernacle may be one whole.

7. 'You will make sheets of goats' hair to form a tent over the Dwelling; you will make eleven of these.

7. "You shall also make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make.

8. The length of a single sheet must be thirty cubits and its width four cubits, the eleven sheets to be all of the same size.

8. The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall have the same measure.

9. You will join five sheets together into one set, and six sheets into another; the sixth you will fold double over the front of the tent.

9. And you shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent.

10. You will make fifty loops along the edge of the first sheet, at the end of the first set, and fifty loops along the edge of the sheet of the second set.

10. And you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outmost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outmost in the second set.

11. You will make fifty bronze clasps and insert the clasps into the loops, to draw the tent together and to make it a unified whole.

11. "And you shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together that it may be one whole.

12. 'Of the extra part of the sheets that overlap, half is to hang down the back of the Dwelling.

12. And the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.

13. The extra cubit on either side along the length of the tent sheets must hang down the sides of the Dwelling on either side to cover it.

13. And the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of what remains in the length of the curtains of the tent shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it.

14. 'And for the tent you will make a cover of rams' skins dyed red and a cover of fine leather over that.

14. And you shall make for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and goatskins.

15. 'For the Dwelling you will make vertical frames of acacia wood.

15. "And you shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood.

16. Each frame must be ten cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.

16. Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.

17. Each frame must have twin tenons; that is how all the frames for the Dwelling must be made.

17. There shall be two tenons in each frame, for fitting together; so shall you do for all the frames of the tabernacle.

18. You will make frames for the Dwelling: twenty frames for the south side, to the south,

18. You shall make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side;

19. and make forty silver sockets under the twenty frames, two sockets under one frame for its two tenons, two sockets under the next frame for its two tenons;

19. and forty bases of silver you shall make under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under another frame for its two tenons;

20. and for the other side of the Dwelling, the north side, twenty frames

20. and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side twenty frames,

21. and forty silver sockets, two sockets under one frame, two sockets under the next frame.

21. and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame, and two bases under another frame;

22. For the back of the Dwelling, on the west, you will make six frames,

22. and for the rear of the tabernacle westward you shall make six frames.

23. and make two frames for the corners at the back of the Dwelling;

23. And you shall make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear;

24. these must be coupled together at the bottom, and right up to the top, to the level of the first ring; this for the two frames that must form the two corners.

24. they shall be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring; thus shall it be with both of them; they shall form the two corners.

25. Thus there will be eight frames with their silver sockets: sixteen sockets; two sockets under one frame and two sockets under the next frame.

25. And there shall be eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under one frame, and two bases under another frame.

26. 'You will make crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames of the first side of the Dwelling,

26. "And you shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle,

27. five crossbars for the frames of the opposite side of the Dwelling, and five crossbars for the frames which form the back of the Dwelling, to the west.

27. and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward.

28. The middle bar must join the frames from one end to the other, halfway up.

28. The middle bar, halfway up the frames, shall pass through from end to end.

29. You will overlay the frames with gold, make gold rings for them, through which to place the crossbars, and overlay the crossbars with gold.

29. You shall overlay the frames with gold, and shall make their rings of gold for holders for the bars; and you shall overlay the bars with gold.

30. This is how you must erect the Dwelling, following the design shown you on the mountain.

30. And you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it which has been shown you on the mountain.

31. 'You will make a curtain of finely woven linen, dyed violet-purple, red-purple and crimson, and embroidered with great winged creatures,

31. "And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen; in skilled work shall it be made, with cherubim;

32. and put it on four poles of acacia wood overlaid with gold, with golden hooks for them, set in four sockets of silver.

32. and you shall hang it upon four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, upon four bases of silver.

33. You will put the curtain below the clasps, so that inside behind the curtain, you can place the ark of the Testimony, and the curtain will mark the division for you between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

33. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in thither within the veil; and the veil shall separate for you the holy place from the most holy.

34. You will put the mercy-seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Holy of Holies.

34. You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

35. You will place the table outside the curtain, and the lamp-stand on the south side of the Dwelling, opposite the table; you will put the table on the north side.

35. And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table; and you shall put the table on the north side.

36. For the entrance to the tent you will make a screen of finely woven linen embroidered with violet-purple, red-purple and crimson,

36. "And you shall make a screen for the door of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet stuff and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.

37. and for the screen you will make five poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, with golden hooks, and for them you will cast five sockets of bronze.'

37. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.



Read the Bible in a Year

Join our community and complete the entire Bible in 365 days. A structured and inspiring path to deepen your faith and knowledge of Scripture.

Join the Program Download the PDF Plan

Footnotes:

26:1-6 - The curtains of the Tabernacle are described in detail, with specific instructions regarding the materials and their construction. This precision reflects the holiness and order God requires in worship (see also Exodus 25:9 and Hebrews 8:5).

26:7-14 - The covering of skins and cloth over the Tabernacle protects the place where God would dwell among His people. This highlights God’s holiness and the need to prepare for His presence (see also Psalm 91:1 and Ezekiel 37:27).

26:15-30 - The structure of the Tabernacle is built of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, symbolizing the incorruptibility and glory of God (see also Isaiah 60:13 and Revelation 21:3).

26:31-33 - The veil separating the Holy of Holies represents the separation between God and man because of sin, pointing to the future sacrifice of Christ, which would tear that veil (see also Matthew 27:51 and Hebrews 10:19-20).

26:34-37 - The Ark of the Covenant is placed within the Holy of Holies, the center of God's presence among the people. The entrance to the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place symbolizes limited access to God's presence (see also Hebrews 9:3-5 and Revelation 11:19).

Verses related to Exodus, 26:

Exodus chapter 26 continues the instructions for the Tabernacle. How does the structure of the sanctuary reflect divine holiness? This in-depth text details the construction of the Tabernacle's curtains, coverings, boards, and veil. The chapter explores themes such as separation from the sacred, beauty in worship, and precision in obedience. Exodus 26 demonstrates the importance of details in the worship of God. Reflect with us on five biblical passages that elucidate the symbolic meanings of this architectural chapter.

Hebrews 8:5: "They serve in a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of the one in heaven. That's why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: 'Be careful to do everything according to the model shown to you on the mountain'." - This verse relates the detailed instructions for building the tabernacle in Exodus 26 to a heavenly model, giving them a deeper theological meaning.

Hebrews 9:11-12: "When Christ came as high priest of the benefits now present, he entered the greatest and most perfect tabernacle, not made by man, that is, not belonging to this creation. Not through the blood of goats and bulls, but through his own blood, he entered the Sanctuary once for all and obtained eternal redemption." - This passage interprets the tabernacle of Exodus 26 as a type of Christ's heavenly ministry.

John 1:14: "He who is the Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John uses the language of the tabernacle ("lived" literally "tabernacled") to describe the incarnation of Christ, echoing the instructions in Exodus 26.

Revelation 21:3: "And I heard a loud voice coming from the throne saying, 'Now the tabernacle of God is with men, with whom he will live. They will be your people; God himself will be with them and will be their God.'" - This heavenly vision uses the tabernacle image of Exodus 26 to describe God's eternal presence with his people.

2 Corinthians 6:16: "What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God. As God said, 'I will dwell with them and walk among them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.'" - Paul uses the tabernacle language of Exodus 26 to describe believers as the temple of God.

FAQ:

How was the Tabernacle to be built according to Exodus 26?

The Tabernacle was to be constructed of 10 curtains of fine linen, woven with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and covered with a wooden framework overlaid with gold. (Exodus 26:1, 15-30)

What did the curtains of the Tabernacle represent?

The curtains of the Tabernacle represented the separation between the Holy and the Most Holy Place, reflecting God’s holiness and separation from the people. (Exodus 26:1-6)

What was the function of the wooden boards in the Tabernacle?

The gold-overlaid wooden boards supported the curtains of the Tabernacle and formed the walls of the structure, providing stability and protection. (Exodus 26:15-30)

What was the covering of the Tabernacle like?

The Tabernacle had a covering made up of four layers: fine linen, goatskins, rams' skins dyed red, and goliath skins. (Exodus 26:7-14)

What did the structure of the Tabernacle mean to the people of Israel?

The structure of the Tabernacle symbolized God's presence among the people and the importance of worship and separation for holiness. (Exodus 26:1-30)


Bibles

Old Testament

New Testament

Follow us