Focused Passage

Exodus 38:9-20

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

9 Then he constructed the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was a hundred cubits long and had curtains of finely spun linen,

10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

11 The north side was also a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.

12 The west side was fifty cubits long and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.

13 And the east side, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits long.

14 The curtains on one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases.

15 And the curtains on the other side were also fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases as well.

16 All the curtains around the courtyard were made of finely spun linen.

17 The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.

18 The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high,

19 with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops.

20 All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 9

Original words

Then he constructed וַיַּ֖עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the courtyard הֶחָצֵ֑ר H2691 Article | Noun - common singular The south נֶ֣גֶב H5045 Noun - feminine singular . . . תֵּימָ֗נָה H8486 Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular side לִפְאַ֣ת׀ H6285 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct of the courtyard הֶֽחָצֵר֙ H2691 Article | Noun - common singular was a hundred מֵאָ֖ה H3967 Number - feminine singular cubits [long] בָּאַמָּֽה׃ H520 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular [and had] curtains קַלְעֵ֤י H7050 Noun - masculine plural construct of finely spun מָשְׁזָ֔ר H7806 Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singular linen שֵׁ֣שׁ H8336 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • 100 cubits is approximately 150 feet or 45.7 meters.
Verse 10

Original words

with twenty עֶשְׂרִ֔ים H6242 Number - common plural posts עַמּוּדֵיהֶ֣ם H5982 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and twenty עֶשְׂרִ֖ים H6242 Number - common plural bronze נְחֹ֑שֶׁת H5178 Noun - feminine singular bases וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם H134 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and with silver כָּֽסֶף׃ H3701 Noun - masculine singular hooks וָוֵ֧י H2053 Noun - masculine plural construct and bands וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖ם H2838 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural on the posts הָעַמֻּדִ֛ים H5982 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 11

Original words

The north צָפוֹן֙ H6828 Noun - feminine singular side וְלִפְאַ֤ת H6285 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct [was also] a hundred מֵאָ֣ה H3967 Number - feminine singular cubits [long] בָֽאַמָּ֔ה H520 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular with twenty עֶשְׂרִ֔ים H6242 Number - common plural posts עַמּוּדֵיהֶ֣ם H5982 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and twenty עֶשְׂרִ֖ים H6242 Number - common plural bronze נְחֹ֑שֶׁת H5178 Noun - feminine singular bases וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם H134 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural The hooks וָוֵ֧י H2053 Noun - masculine plural construct and bands וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖ם H2838 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural of the posts הָֽעַמּוּדִ֛ים H5982 Article | Noun - masculine plural were silver כָּֽסֶף׃ H3701 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

The west יָ֗ם H3220 Noun - masculine singular side וְלִפְאַת־ H6285 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct [was] fifty חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים H2572 Number - common plural cubits long בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה H520 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular [and had] curtains קְלָעִים֙ H7050 Noun - masculine plural with ten עֲשָׂרָ֔ה H6235 Number - masculine singular posts עַמּוּדֵיהֶ֥ם H5982 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and ten עֲשָׂרָ֑ה H6235 Number - masculine singular bases וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם H134 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural The hooks וָוֵ֧י H2053 Noun - masculine plural construct and bands וַחֲשׁוּקֵיהֶ֖ם H2838 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural of the posts הָעַמֻּדִ֛ים H5982 Article | Noun - masculine plural were silver כָּֽסֶף׃ H3701 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • 50 cubits is approximately 75 feet or 22.9 meters.
Verse 13

Original words

And the east קֵ֥דְמָה H6924 Adverb | third person feminine singular side וְלִפְאַ֛ת H6285 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct toward the sunrise מִזְרָ֖חָה H4217 Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular [was also] fifty חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים H2572 Number - common plural cubits [long] אַמָּֽה׃ H520 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

The curtains קְלָעִ֛ים H7050 Noun - masculine plural on אֶל־ H413 Preposition one side הַכָּתֵ֑ף H3802 Article | Noun - feminine singular [of the entrance were] fifteen חֲמֵשׁ־ H2568 Number - feminine singular construct . . . עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה H6240 Number - feminine singular cubits [long] אַמָּ֖ה H520 Noun - feminine singular with three שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה H7969 Number - masculine singular posts עַמּוּדֵיהֶ֣ם H5982 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and three שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ H7969 Number - masculine singular bases וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם H134 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • 15 cubits is approximately 22.5 feet or 6.9 meters.
Verse 15

Original words

And the curtains קְלָעִ֕ים H7050 Noun - masculine plural on the other הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית H8145 Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular side וְלַכָּתֵ֣ף H3802 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular were also fifteen חֲמֵ֥שׁ H2568 Number - feminine singular construct - עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה H6240 Number - feminine singular cubits long אַמָּ֑ה H520 Noun - feminine singular with three שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה H7969 Number - masculine singular posts עַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣ם H5982 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and three שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ H7969 Number - masculine singular bases וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם H134 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural [as well] מִזֶּ֤ה H2088 Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular . . . וּמִזֶּה֙ H2088 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular . . . הֶֽחָצֵ֔ר H2691 Article | Noun - common singular . . . לְשַׁ֣עַר H8179 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 16

Original words

All כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the curtains קַלְעֵ֧י H7050 Noun - masculine plural construct around סָבִ֖יב H5439 Adverb the courtyard הֶחָצֵ֛ר H2691 Article | Noun - common singular were made of finely spun מָשְׁזָֽר׃ H7806 Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singular linen שֵׁ֥שׁ H8336 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

The bases וְהָאֲדָנִ֣ים H134 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural for the posts לָֽעַמֻּדִים֮ H5982 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural were bronze נְחֹשֶׁת֒ H5178 Noun - feminine singular the hooks וָוֵ֨י H2053 Noun - masculine plural construct and bands וַחֲשׁוּקֵיהֶם֙ H2838 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural - הָֽעַמּוּדִ֜ים H5982 Article | Noun - masculine plural were silver כֶּ֔סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular and the plating וְצִפּ֥וּי H6826 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct for the tops רָאשֵׁיהֶ֖ם H7218 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural of the posts was silver כָּ֑סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular . . . וְהֵם֙ H1992 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural So all כֹּ֖ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the posts עַמֻּדֵ֥י H5982 Noun - masculine plural construct of the courtyard הֶחָצֵֽר׃ H2691 Article | Noun - common singular were banded מְחֻשָּׁקִ֣ים H2836 Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural with silver כֶּ֔סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 18

Original words

The curtain וּמָסַ֞ךְ H4539 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct for the entrance שַׁ֤עַר H8179 Noun - masculine singular construct to the courtyard הֶחָצֵר֙ H2691 Article | Noun - common singular . . . מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה H4639 Noun - masculine singular construct was embroidered רֹקֵ֔ם H7551 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with blue תְּכֵ֧לֶת H8504 Noun - feminine singular purple וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן H713 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and scarlet yarn וְתוֹלַ֥עַת H8438 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct . . . שָׁנִ֖י H8144 Noun - masculine singular and finely spun מָשְׁזָ֑ר H7806 Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singular linen וְשֵׁ֣שׁ H8336 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular [It was] twenty וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים H6242 Conjunctive waw | Number - common plural cubits אַמָּה֙ H520 Noun - feminine singular long אֹ֔רֶךְ H753 Noun - masculine singular and, like לְעֻמַּ֖ת H5980 Preposition-l the curtains קַלְעֵ֥י H7050 Noun - masculine plural construct of the courtyard הֶחָצֵֽר׃ H2691 Article | Noun - common singular five חָמֵ֣שׁ H2568 Number - feminine singular cubits אַמּ֔וֹת H520 Noun - feminine plural high וְקוֹמָ֤ה H6967 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular . . . בְרֹ֙חַב֙ H7341 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • 20 cubits is approximately 30 feet or 9.1 meters.
  • 5 cubits is approximately 7.5 feet or 2.3 meters.
Verse 19

Original words

with four אַרְבָּעָ֔ה H702 Number - masculine singular posts וְעַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙ H5982 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and four אַרְבָּעָ֖ה H702 Number - masculine singular bronze נְחֹ֑שֶׁת H5178 Noun - feminine singular bases וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם H134 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural Their hooks וָוֵיהֶ֣ם H2053 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural were silver כֶּ֔סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular as well as the bands וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖ם H2838 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and the plating וְצִפּ֧וּי H6826 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of their tops רָאשֵׁיהֶ֛ם H7218 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural - כָּֽסֶף׃ H3701 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

All וְֽכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct the tent pegs הַיְתֵדֹ֞ת H3489 Article | Noun - feminine plural for the tabernacle לַמִּשְׁכָּ֧ן H4908 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular and for the surrounding סָבִ֖יב H5439 Adverb courtyard וְלֶחָצֵ֛ר H2691 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular were bronze נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ס H5178 Noun - feminine 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.