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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17The 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.

18The 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,

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

20All 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 constructedוַיַּ֖עַשׂH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe courtyardהֶחָצֵ֑רH2691Article | Noun - common singularThe southנֶ֣גֶבH5045Noun - feminine singular. . .תֵּימָ֗נָהH8486Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singularsideלִפְאַ֣ת׀H6285Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructof the courtyardהֶֽחָצֵר֙H2691Article | Noun - common singularwas a hundredמֵאָ֖הH3967Number - feminine singularcubits [long]בָּאַמָּֽה׃H520Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular[and had] curtainsקַלְעֵ֤יH7050Noun - masculine plural constructof finely spunמָשְׁזָ֔רH7806Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singularlinenשֵׁ֣שׁH8336Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

with twentyעֶשְׂרִ֔יםH6242Number - common pluralpostsעַמּוּדֵיהֶ֣םH5982Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland twentyעֶשְׂרִ֖יםH6242Number - common pluralbronzeנְחֹ֑שֶׁתH5178Noun - feminine singularbasesוְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥םH134Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland with silverכָּֽסֶף׃H3701Noun - masculine singularhooksוָוֵ֧יH2053Noun - masculine plural constructand bandsוַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖םH2838Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralon the postsהָעַמֻּדִ֛יםH5982Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 11

Original words

The northצָפוֹן֙H6828Noun - feminine singularsideוְלִפְאַ֤תH6285Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct[was also] a hundredמֵאָ֣הH3967Number - feminine singularcubits [long]בָֽאַמָּ֔הH520Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularwith twentyעֶשְׂרִ֔יםH6242Number - common pluralpostsעַמּוּדֵיהֶ֣םH5982Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland twentyעֶשְׂרִ֖יםH6242Number - common pluralbronzeנְחֹ֑שֶׁתH5178Noun - feminine singularbasesוְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥םH134Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralThe hooksוָוֵ֧יH2053Noun - masculine plural constructand bandsוַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖םH2838Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralof the postsהָֽעַמּוּדִ֛יםH5982Article | Noun - masculine pluralwere silverכָּֽסֶף׃H3701Noun - masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

The westיָ֗םH3220Noun - masculine singularsideוְלִפְאַת־H6285Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct[was] fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֣יםH2572Number - common pluralcubits longבָּֽאַמָּ֔הH520Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular[and had] curtainsקְלָעִים֙H7050Noun - masculine pluralwith tenעֲשָׂרָ֔הH6235Number - masculine singularpostsעַמּוּדֵיהֶ֥םH5982Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland tenעֲשָׂרָ֑הH6235Number - masculine singularbasesוְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖םH134Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralThe hooksוָוֵ֧יH2053Noun - masculine plural constructand bandsוַחֲשׁוּקֵיהֶ֖םH2838Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralof the postsהָעַמֻּדִ֛יםH5982Article | Noun - masculine pluralwere silverכָּֽסֶף׃H3701Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

And the eastקֵ֥דְמָהH6924Adverb | third person feminine singularsideוְלִפְאַ֛תH6285Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructtoward the sunriseמִזְרָ֖חָהH4217Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular[was also] fiftyחֲמִשִּׁ֥יםH2572Number - common pluralcubits [long]אַמָּֽה׃H520Noun - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

The curtainsקְלָעִ֛יםH7050Noun - masculine pluralonאֶל־H413Prepositionone sideהַכָּתֵ֑ףH3802Article | Noun - feminine singular[of the entrance were] fifteenחֲמֵשׁ־H2568Number - feminine singular construct. . .עֶשְׂרֵ֥הH6240Number - feminine singularcubits [long]אַמָּ֖הH520Noun - feminine singularwith threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֔הH7969Number - masculine singularpostsעַמּוּדֵיהֶ֣םH5982Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland threeשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃H7969Number - masculine singularbasesוְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖םH134Conjunctive 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 curtainsקְלָעִ֕יםH7050Noun - masculine pluralon the otherהַשֵּׁנִ֗יתH8145Article | Number - ordinal feminine singularsideוְלַכָּתֵ֣ףH3802Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singularwere also fifteenחֲמֵ֥שׁH2568Number - feminine singular construct-עֶשְׂרֵ֖הH6240Number - feminine singularcubits longאַמָּ֑הH520Noun - feminine singularwith threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֔הH7969Number - masculine singularpostsעַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣םH5982Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland threeשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃H7969Number - masculine singularbasesוְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖םH134Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural[as well]מִזֶּ֤הH2088Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular. . .וּמִזֶּה֙H2088Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular. . .הֶֽחָצֵ֔רH2691Article | Noun - common singular. . .לְשַׁ֣עַרH8179Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 16

Original words

Allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe curtainsקַלְעֵ֧יH7050Noun - masculine plural constructaroundסָבִ֖יבH5439Adverbthe courtyardהֶחָצֵ֛רH2691Article | Noun - common singularwere made of finely spunמָשְׁזָֽר׃H7806Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singularlinenשֵׁ֥שׁH8336Noun - masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

The basesוְהָאֲדָנִ֣יםH134Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine pluralfor the postsלָֽעַמֻּדִים֮H5982Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine pluralwere bronzeנְחֹשֶׁת֒H5178Noun - feminine singularthe hooksוָוֵ֨יH2053Noun - masculine plural constructand bandsוַחֲשׁוּקֵיהֶם֙H2838Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural-הָֽעַמּוּדִ֜יםH5982Article | Noun - masculine pluralwere silverכֶּ֔סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singularand the platingוְצִפּ֥וּיH6826Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructfor the topsרָאשֵׁיהֶ֖םH7218Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralof the posts was silverכָּ֑סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singular. . .וְהֵם֙H1992Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine pluralSo allכֹּ֖לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe postsעַמֻּדֵ֥יH5982Noun - masculine plural constructof the courtyardהֶחָצֵֽר׃H2691Article | Noun - common singularwere bandedמְחֻשָּׁקִ֣יםH2836Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine pluralwith silverכֶּ֔סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 18

Original words

The curtainוּמָסַ֞ךְH4539Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructfor the entranceשַׁ֤עַרH8179Noun - masculine singular constructto the courtyardהֶחָצֵר֙H2691Article | Noun - common singular. . .מַעֲשֵׂ֣הH4639Noun - masculine singular constructwas embroideredרֹקֵ֔םH7551Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwith blueתְּכֵ֧לֶתH8504Noun - feminine singularpurpleוְאַרְגָּמָ֛ןH713Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularand scarlet yarnוְתוֹלַ֥עַתH8438Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct. . .שָׁנִ֖יH8144Noun - masculine singularand finely spunמָשְׁזָ֑רH7806Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singularlinenוְשֵׁ֣שׁH8336Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular[It was] twentyוְעֶשְׂרִ֤יםH6242Conjunctive waw | Number - common pluralcubitsאַמָּה֙H520Noun - feminine singularlongאֹ֔רֶךְH753Noun - masculine singularand, likeלְעֻמַּ֖תH5980Preposition-lthe curtainsקַלְעֵ֥יH7050Noun - masculine plural constructof the courtyardהֶחָצֵֽר׃H2691Article | Noun - common singularfiveחָמֵ֣שׁH2568Number - feminine singularcubitsאַמּ֔וֹתH520Noun - feminine pluralhighוְקוֹמָ֤הH6967Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular. . .בְרֹ֙חַב֙H7341Preposition-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 fourאַרְבָּעָ֔הH702Number - masculine singularpostsוְעַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙H5982Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland fourאַרְבָּעָ֖הH702Number - masculine singularbronzeנְחֹ֑שֶׁתH5178Noun - feminine singularbasesוְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥םH134Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralTheir hooksוָוֵיהֶ֣םH2053Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralwere silverכֶּ֔סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singularas well as the bandsוַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖םH2838Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland the platingוְצִפּ֧וּיH6826Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof their topsרָאשֵׁיהֶ֛םH7218Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural-כָּֽסֶף׃H3701Noun - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

Allוְֽכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructthe tent pegsהַיְתֵדֹ֞תH3489Article | Noun - feminine pluralfor the tabernacleלַמִּשְׁכָּ֧ןH4908Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularand for the surroundingסָבִ֖יבH5439Adverbcourtyardוְלֶחָצֵ֛רH2691Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singularwere bronzeנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃סH5178Noun - 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.