Chapter 26
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
2The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
7And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
8The 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.
9And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
10And 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.
11And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
13And 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.
14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
15And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.
17Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.
19And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
20And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:
21And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.
23And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
24And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.
28And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.
29And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.
30And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
35And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
36And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
37And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
“And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.”
Overview
God gives detailed instructions for the tabernacle structure itself. Ten curtains of fine linen in blue, purple, and scarlet, woven with cherubim, form the inner covering. Eleven curtains of goats' hair form a tent over the tabernacle, covered further by rams' skins dyed red and badgers' skins. The framework consists of boards of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in silver sockets. A veil of blue, purple, and scarlet fine linen, embroidered with cherubim, separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant rests. A screen of the same materials covers the entrance.
Key Themes
The Beauty and Order of God's Dwelling
Every detail of the tabernacle — the colors, materials, dimensions, and arrangement — reflects God's character of beauty, order, and intentional design.
The Veil: Separation Between God and Man
The thick, embroidered veil separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, declaring that sinful humanity cannot freely access God's presence — a barrier stands between.
Layers of Covering: From Glory to Protection
The tabernacle's four layers of covering move from inner beauty (fine linen with cherubim) to outer protection (badgers' skins), teaching that God's glory is both revealed and veiled.
Study Questions
What does the intricate beauty of the tabernacle's inner curtains — fine linen with blue, purple, and scarlet cherubim — reveal about God's nature and His desire for beauty in worship?
Why is the veil between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place so significant, and what does it represent about humanity's access to God?
What is the significance of the silver sockets (v. 19) that form the foundation of the tabernacle structure?
How does the combination of precious and common materials (gold and acacia wood, fine linen and goats' hair) reflect the union of the divine and human?
What does the level of detail God gives for the tabernacle teach about how God views worship and the care He expects in approaching Him?
Connection to Christ
The veil that separated man from God's presence was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died (Matthew 27:51), declaring that through His sacrificial death, the way into God's presence is now open. Hebrews 10:20 says Christ's flesh is the veil — His body was broken so that we could enter the Most Holy Place. The tabernacle's beauty veiled by plain outer coverings mirrors Christ, who had 'no form nor comeliness' outwardly (Isaiah 53:2) yet contained the fullness of divine glory.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Exodus 26. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?