“You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure. You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent. You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling. You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it. You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
Parallel Translations
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“You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.
You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling.
You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
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And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
Show all 3 translations
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And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shalt thou make them.
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.
And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the first set, and fifty loops upon the edge of the curtain which is outmost in the second set.
And thou shalt make fifty clasps of brass, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
And as for the overhanging part that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth over shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
And the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of that which remaineth over in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red and a covering of sealskins above.
Cross-references (33)
- Exodus 36:19 (v14) He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
- Exodus 25:5 (v14) rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
- Exodus 26:14 (v7) You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
- Exodus 26:2 (vv8, 13) The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.
- Exodus 35:23 (vv7, 14) Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.
Show all 31 cross-references
- Exodus 25:4 (v7) blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
- Exodus 26:1 (v7) “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall…
- Exodus 26:3 (v11) Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
- Exodus 26:6 (v11) You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a unit.
- Exodus 26:8 (v13) The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
- Exodus 26:9 (v7) You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of…
- Exodus 26:12 (v7) The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
- Exodus 26:13 (v8) The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over…
- Exodus 35:6 (v7) blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
- Exodus 35:7 (v14) rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
- Exodus 35:26 (v7) All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair.
- Exodus 36:14-18 (v7) He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains. The length of each curtain was thirty…
- Exodus 39:34 (v14) the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
- Numbers 4:5 (v14) When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in with his sons; and they shall take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the…
- Numbers 4:10 (v14) They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.
- Numbers 4:25 (v7) they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the covering of sealskin that is on it, the screen…
- Numbers 31:20 (v7) You shall purify every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood.”
- Psalms 27:5 (v14) For in the day of trouble, he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the secret place of his tabernacle, he will hide me. He will lift…
- Psalms 45:13 (v7) The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
- Psalms 121:4-5 (v14) Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Yahweh is your keeper. Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.
- Isaiah 4:5 (v7) Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming…
- Isaiah 4:6 (v14) There will be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.
- Isaiah 25:4 (v14) For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when…
- Ezekiel 16:10 (v14) I clothed you also with embroidered work, and put sealskin sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.
- 1 Peter 3:4 (v7) but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of…
- 1 Peter 5:5 (v7) Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another;…
31 distinct cross-references across this passage (33 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv7, 9, 11, 12, 14 Lest rain and weather should mar it.
Lest rain and weather should mar it.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv7, 14 Exo 26:7 And thou shalt make curtains [of] goats’…
Exo 26:7 And thou shalt make curtains [of] goats’ [hair] to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
Ver. 7. Of goats’ hair.] The tabernacle was goats’ hair without, and gold within. God hid his Son under the carpenter’s son. "The king’s daughter is all glorious within." {Psa 45:13} And all her sons are princes in all lands. {Psa 45:16} Howbeit, they must be content to pass to heaven as Christ their Head did, as concealed men. "Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew not him." {Joh 1:10} "Our life is hid with Christ," {Col 3:4} as the life of flowers in winter is hid in the root.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv7, 9, 14 Of goats’ hair, spun, Exo 35:26, and woven into…
Of goats’ hair, spun, Exo 35:26, and woven into a stuff, like our camlet.
To be a covering; to be put next above the curtains.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v7 Moses is here ordered to make a double covering…
Moses is here ordered to make a double covering for the tabernacle, that it might not rain in, and that the beauty of those fine curtains might not be damaged. 1. There was to be a covering of hair camlet curtains, which were somewhat larger every way than the inner curtains, because they were to enclose them, and probably were stretched out at some little distance from them, Exo 26:7, etc. These were coupled together with brass clasps. The stuff being less valuable, the tacks were so; but the brass tacks would answer the intention as effectually as the golden ones. The bonds of unity may be as strong between curtains of goats' hair as between those of purple and scarlet. 2. Over this there was to be another covering, and that a double one (Exo 26:14), one of rams' skins dyed red, probably dressed with the wool on; another of badgers' skins, so we translate it, but it should rather seem to have been some strong sort of leather (but very fine), for we read of the best sort of shoes being made of it, Eze 16:10. Now observe here, (1.) That the outside of the tabernacle was coarse and rough, the beauty of it was in the inner curtains. Those in whom God dwells must labour to be better than they seem to be. Hypocrites put the best side outwards, like whited sepulchres; but the king's daughter is all glorious within (Psa 45:13); in the eye of the world black as the tents of Kedar, but, in the eye of God, comely as the curtains of Solomon, Sol 1:5. Let our adorning be that of the hidden man of the heart, which God values, Pe1 3:4. (2.) That where God places his glory he will create a defence upon it; even upon the habitations of the righteous there shall be a covert, Isa 6:5, Isa 6:6. The protection of Providence shall always be upon the beauty of holiness. God's tent will be a pavilion, Psa 27:5.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv7–14 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair,.... Jarchi…
And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair,.... Jarchi calls it the flower or down of goats, the softer and finer part of their hair, which was spun by women, as appears from Exo 35:26, and was made up into a stuff somewhat like our camelot; these curtains were coarser than the former, and were made to be put over them, to preserve them from the weather, as it follows:
to be a covering upon the tabernacle: which, by the curtains of linen coupled together, became one tabernacle, as in the preceding verse: and these curtains were to be a tent or covering over them: they were somewhat like, being made of the same matter, with the coverings with which the ancient Arabs covered their tents, which were made of goats' hair, as were the tents of Kedar alluded to in Sol 1:5, these curtains of goats' hair denote the outward appearance of Christ in human nature, who, attended with all human infirmities, excepting sin, was in the form of a servant, in great meanness and poverty, covered with reproach, and had in the greatest contempt, and especially at the time of his sufferings and death; though all rich and glorious within, full of grace, and of all the blessings of grace, of righteousness and life, of light, joy, peace, and comfort for his people; and may also denote the mean appearance of the church and people of God outwardly; being, generally speaking, a poor and an afflicted people, subject to the scorn, reproach, and persecutions of men, but all glorious within, enriched with the grace of God and righteousness of Christ; and so, in one respect, like these curtains of goats' hair, and, in another respect, like the curtains of fine linen:
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eleven curtains shalt thou make; one more than the other; the reason of which was, that there might be one at the entrance of the tabernacle, there being no linen curtain there, see Exo 26:9.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v14 Badger skins - So we translate it, but it…
Badger skins - So we translate it, but it should rather seem to have been some strong sort of leather, (but very fine) for we read of the best sort of shoes made of it. Ezek. xvi, 10.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv7, 14 Verse 7. Curtains of goats' hair] Stuff made of…
Verse 7. Curtains of goats' hair] Stuff made of goats' hair. See Clarke on Ex 25:4. This was the second covering.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v14 Exo 26:14. Badgers’ skins — So we translate it:…
Exo 26:14. Badgers’ skins — So we translate it: but it seems rather to have been some strong sort of leather, but very fine, for we read of the best sort of shoes made of it, Eze 16:10. This was the fourth covering of the tabernacle. The first was of linen, the second of goats’ hair, and the third of rams’ skins.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv13–14 A cubit. As these curtains were two cubits longer,…
A cubit. As these curtains were two cubits longer, and four broader, than those more precious ones below, they hung down to the ground. Josephus, [Antiquities?] iii. 5.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv7, 14 curtains of goats' hair--These coarse curtains were to be…
curtains of goats' hair--These coarse curtains were to be one more in number than the others, and to extend a yard lower on each side, the use of them being to protect and conceal the richer curtains.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 7. Curtains of goats’ hair — For the use…
7. Curtains of goats’ hair — For the use of this material for tents see Exo_25:4, note.
Covering upon the tabernacle — Literally, for a tent (אהל) over the tabernacle, (משׁכן.) This then was to form a regular tent cover, while the one just previously described was to serve more for interior ornamentation.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Exodus 7-13 (cf. Exo_36:14-18). The Tent over the Dwelling,…
Exodus 7-13 (cf. Exo_36:14-18). The Tent over the Dwelling, consisting of eleven curtains of cloth made of goats’ hair, each 30 cubits long, and 4 cubits wide, fastened together so as to form a single large curtain, 30 cubits broad, and 44 cubits long. The Bedawin still make their tents of goats’ hair in the same way: breadths of goats’ hair cloth, it may be ¾ yd. broad, and as long as the breadth of the tent, are stitched together, and form a covering capable of keeping out the heaviest rain (Burckh. Bedouins, i. 37; cf. DB. iv. 717): comp. Son_1:5, where their dark colour is alluded to.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 9, 12, 14 (7) To be a covering.—Literally, to be a tent.…
(7) To be a covering.—Literally, to be a tent. (See the first Note on the chapter.)
Eleven curtains—i.e., eleven breadths. (See Note 2 on Exo_26:1.)
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2. THE GOATS’-HAIR TENT-CLOTH.
(7-13) An awning such as that described in Exo_26:1-6 would have neither kept out sun nor rain. For this purpose an ordinary cloth of goats’-hair was requisite, and accordingly Moses was instructed to make a second covering, which was to be of this material, and to extend over the whole of the first, thus externally concealing it. This second covering was, like the first, to be in two portions (Exo_26:9-11), each of them made up of several “breadths,” but the two portions were not to be of the same size. Both were to be thirty cubits in length, but the hinder portion was to contain five “breadths,” while the portion in front was to contain six. Thus the outer covering was six feet broader than the inner one. The object was the protection of the inner covering, which was overlapped at both ends by the outer one (Exo_26:9; Exo_26:12).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv7–14 The goat"s skin tent-cloth (vers. 7-13).
The goat"s skin tent-cloth (vers. 7-13).
From the inner covering of the tabernacle the directions proceed to the external covering, or rather coverings, which constituted the real strength of the structure, and its protection from wet or stormy weather. Curtains of goats" hair, such as the Arabs still use, as the ordinary covering of their tents (Layard, Nin. and Bab., p. 171), were to form a true "tent" ("ohel) above the tabernacle, being supported by tent-poles, and kept taut by means of cords and pegs. (Exo_27:19 Exo_35:18) See the representation in Dr. W. Smith"s Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 3. p. 1454, which is reproduced in the Speaker"s Commentary, vol. 1. p. 376. To be a covering. In Exo_36:14, we have made curtains of goats" hair for the tent over the tabernacle," which is far better. The word used in both places is the same ("ohel) Eleven curtainsi.e. , "eleven breadths." Compare ver. 1.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v7 goats’ hair CF. Lev 16:5; Lev 16:7-10. The reference…
goats’ hair CF. Lev 16:5; Lev 16:7-10. The reference seems to be to the result of the ordinance of the two goats as "covering" (See Scofield "Lev 16:5") thus speaking of Christ in atonement See Scofield "Gen 3:21". This thought is intensified in the colour of the rams’ skins, Exo 26:14.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv7, 10, 12 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh continues telling Moses what the people must do.
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eleven ... thirty ... four
"11 ... 30 ... 4" (See: Numbers)
cubits
A cubit is 46 centimeters. (See: Biblical Distance)
translationWords
goat
tent
tabernacle
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v9 26:9 The two goat-hair curtains (26:7) totaled 45 feet…
26:9 The two goat-hair curtains (26:7) totaled 45 feet by 66 feet. The extra 6 feet were equally distributed to hang down over the front and back of the framework.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.