Focused Passage

Exodus 38:21-31

The Altar, Basin, Courtyard, and Inventory of Tabernacle Materials

The chapter moves from the construction of the bronze altar of burnt offering, to the making of its utensils, grating, rings, and poles, to the making of the bronze basin from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting, to the construction of the courtyard curtains, posts, bases, hooks, bands, and entrance curtain, and finally to the inventory of gold, silver, and bronze used in the tabernacle work under the supervision of Ithamar, Bezalel, and Oholiab.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21 This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

22 Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses.

23 With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

24 All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary totaled 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.

25 The silver from those numbered among the congregation totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel—

26 a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

27 The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.

28 With the 1,775 shekels of silver he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them.

29 The bronze from the wave offering totaled 70 talents and 2,400 shekels.

30 He used it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar and its bronze grating, all the utensils for the altar,

31 the bases for the surrounding courtyard and its gate, and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and its surrounding courtyard.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Original words

This אֵ֣לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural is the inventory פְקוּדֵ֤י H6485 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct for the tabernacle הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ H4908 Article | Noun - masculine singular the tabernacle מִשְׁכַּ֣ן H4908 Noun - masculine singular construct of the Testimony הָעֵדֻ֔ת H5715 Article | Noun - feminine singular as אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative recorded פֻּקַּ֖ד H6485 Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singular at עַל־ H5921 Preposition Moses’ מֹשֶׁ֑ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular command פִּ֣י H6310 Noun - masculine singular construct by עֲבֹדַת֙ H5656 Noun - feminine singular construct the Levites הַלְוִיִּ֔ם H3881 Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural under the direction בְּיַד֙ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Ithamar אִֽיתָמָ֔ר H385 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּֽן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Aaron אַהֲרֹ֖ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular the priest הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ H3548 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

Bezalel וּבְצַלְאֵ֛ל H1212 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Uri אוּרִ֥י H221 Noun - proper - masculine singular the son בֶן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Hur ח֖וּר H2354 Noun - proper - masculine singular of the tribe לְמַטֵּ֣ה H4294 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֑ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular made עָשָׂ֕ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֵ֛ת H853 Direct object marker everything כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Moses מֹשֶֽׁה׃ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

With him [was] וְאִתּ֗וֹ H854 Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular Oholiab אָהֳלִיאָ֞ב H171 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Ahisamach אֲחִיסָמָ֛ךְ H294 Noun - proper - masculine singular of the tribe לְמַטֵּה־ H4294 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of Dan דָ֖ן H1835 Noun - proper - masculine singular an engraver חָרָ֣שׁ H2796 Noun - masculine singular designer וְחֹשֵׁ֑ב H2803 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular and embroiderer וְרֹקֵ֗ם H7551 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular in blue בַּתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ H8504 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular purple וּבָֽאַרְגָּמָ֔ן H713 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and scarlet yarn וּבְתוֹלַ֥עַת H8438 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct . . . הַשָּׁנִ֖י H8144 Article | Noun - masculine singular and fine linen וּבַשֵּֽׁשׁ׃ס H8336 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

All כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the gold הַזָּהָ֗ב H2091 Article | Noun - masculine singular from the wave offering הַתְּנוּפָ֗ה H8573 Article | Noun - feminine singular used הֶֽעָשׂוּי֙ H6213 Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular for the work לַמְּלָאכָ֔ה H4399 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . בְּכֹ֖ל H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . מְלֶ֣אכֶת H4399 Noun - feminine singular construct on the sanctuary הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular totaled וַיְהִ֣י׀ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . זְהַ֣ב H2091 Noun - masculine singular construct 29 תֵּ֤שַׁע H8672 Number - feminine singular . . . וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ H6242 Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural talents כִּכָּ֔ר H3603 Noun - feminine singular and 730 וּשְׁבַ֨ע H7651 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct . . . מֵא֧וֹת H3967 Number - feminine plural construct . . . וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים H7970 Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural shekels שֶׁ֖קֶל H8255 Noun - masculine singular according to the sanctuary הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular shekel בְּשֶׁ֥קֶל H8255 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • The total weight of the gold was approximately 1.1 tons or 1 metric ton.
Verse 25

Original words

The silver וְכֶ֛סֶף H3701 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct from those numbered פְּקוּדֵ֥י H6485 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct among the congregation הָעֵדָ֖ה H5712 Article | Noun - feminine singular totaled 100 מְאַ֣ת H3967 Number - feminine singular construct talents כִּכָּ֑ר H3603 Noun - feminine singular and 1,775 וְאֶלֶף֩ H505 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular . . . וּשְׁבַ֨ע H7651 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct . . . מֵא֜וֹת H3967 Number - feminine plural . . . וַחֲמִשָּׁ֧ה H2568 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular . . . וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים H7657 Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural shekels שֶׁ֖קֶל H8255 Noun - masculine singular according to the sanctuary הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular shekel בְּשֶׁ֥קֶל H8255 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • The total weight of the silver was approximately 3.79 tons or 3.44 metric tons.
Verse 26

Original words

a beka בֶּ֚קַע H1235 Noun - masculine singular per person לַגֻּלְגֹּ֔לֶת H1538 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular [that is], half מַחֲצִ֥ית H4276 Noun - feminine singular construct a shekel הַשֶּׁ֖קֶל H8255 Article | Noun - masculine singular according to the sanctuary הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular shekel בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל H8255 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct from everyone לְכֹ֨ל H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular twenty עֶשְׂרִ֤ים H6242 Number - common plural years שָׁנָה֙ H8141 Noun - feminine singular of age מִבֶּ֨ן H1121 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct or older וָמַ֔עְלָה H4605 Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person feminine singular who had crossed over הָעֹבֵ֜ר H5674 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular to עַל־ H5921 Preposition be numbered הַפְּקֻדִ֗ים H6485 Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural a total of 603,550 לְשֵׁשׁ־ H8337 Preposition-l | Number - feminine singular construct . . . מֵא֥וֹת H3967 Number - feminine plural construct . . . אֶ֙לֶף֙ H505 Number - masculine singular . . . וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת H7969 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular construct . . . אֲלָפִ֔ים H505 Number - masculine plural . . . וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ H2568 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct . . . מֵא֖וֹת H3967 Number - feminine plural men וַחֲמִשִּֽׁים׃ H2572 Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural

BSB notes

  • A beka is half a shekel, or approximately 0.2 ounces or 5.7 grams.
Verse 27

Original words

The hundred מְאַת֙ H3967 Number - feminine singular construct talents כִּכַּ֣ר H3603 Noun - feminine singular construct of silver הַכֶּ֔סֶף H3701 Article | Noun - masculine singular were וַיְהִ֗י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular used to cast לָצֶ֗קֶת H3332 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֵ֚ת H853 Direct object marker the bases אַדְנֵ֣י H134 Noun - masculine plural construct of the sanctuary הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֵ֖ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the bases אַדְנֵ֣י H134 Noun - masculine plural construct of the veil הַפָּרֹ֑כֶת H6532 Article | Noun - feminine singular 100 מְאַ֧ת H3967 Number - feminine singular construct bases אֲדָנִ֛ים H134 Noun - masculine plural from the 100 לִמְאַ֥ת H3967 Preposition-l | Number - feminine singular construct talents הַכִּכָּ֖ר H3603 Article | Noun - feminine singular one talent כִּכָּ֥ר H3603 Noun - feminine singular per base לָאָֽדֶן׃ H134 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • 100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver.
Verse 28

Original words

- וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker With the 1,775 [shekels] הָאֶ֜לֶף H505 Article | Number - masculine singular . . . וּשְׁבַ֤ע H7651 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct . . . הַמֵּאוֹת֙ H3967 Article | Number - feminine plural . . . וַחֲמִשָּׁ֣ה H2568 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular . . . וְשִׁבְעִ֔ים H7657 Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural he made עָשָׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the hooks וָוִ֖ים H2053 Noun - masculine plural for the posts לָעַמּוּדִ֑ים H5982 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural overlaid וְצִפָּ֥ה H6823 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular their tops רָאשֵׁיהֶ֖ם H7218 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and supplied bands וְחִשַּׁ֥ק H2836 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular for them אֹתָֽם׃ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • 1,775 shekels is approximately 44.6 pounds or 20.2 kilograms of silver.
Verse 29

Original words

The bronze וּנְחֹ֥שֶׁת H5178 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct from the wave offering הַתְּנוּפָ֖ה H8573 Article | Noun - feminine singular totaled 70 שִׁבְעִ֣ים H7657 Number - common plural talents כִּכָּ֑ר H3603 Noun - feminine singular and 2,400 וְאַלְפַּ֥יִם H505 Conjunctive waw | Number - md וְאַרְבַּע־ וְאַרְבַּע־ H702 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct מֵא֖וֹת מֵא֖וֹת H3967 Number - feminine plural shekels שָֽׁקֶל׃ H8255 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • The total weight of the bronze was approximately 2.67 tons or 2.42 metric tons.
Verse 30

Original words

He used it to make וַיַּ֣עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the bases אַדְנֵי֙ H134 Noun - masculine plural construct for the entrance פֶּ֚תַח H6607 Noun - masculine singular construct to the Tent אֹ֣הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֔ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular - וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the bronze הַנְּחֹ֔שֶׁת H5178 Article | Noun - feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker altar מִזְבַּ֣ח H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct and its bronze הַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁת H5178 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative - וְאֵ֖ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker grating מִכְבַּ֥ר H4345 Noun - masculine singular construct all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the utensils כְּלֵ֥י H3627 Noun - masculine plural construct for the altar הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 31

Original words

- וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the bases אַדְנֵ֤י H134 Noun - masculine plural construct for the surrounding סָבִ֔יב H5439 Adverb - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker courtyard הֶֽחָצֵר֙ H2691 Article | Noun - common singular [and] אַדְנֵ֖י H134 Noun - masculine plural construct its gate שַׁ֣עַר H8179 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . הֶחָצֵ֑ר H2691 Article | Noun - common singular and וְאֵ֨ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the tent pegs יִתְדֹ֧ת H3489 Noun - feminine plural construct for the tabernacle הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן H4908 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct - יִתְדֹ֥ת H3489 Noun - feminine plural construct its surrounding סָבִֽיב׃ H5439 Adverb courtyard הֶחָצֵ֖ר H2691 Article | Noun - common singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.