WEB
Exodus 38
1He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its breadth was five cubits, and its height was three cubits.
2He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with brass.
3He made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of brass.
4He made for the altar a grating of a network of brass, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.
5He cast four rings for the four ends of brass grating, to be places for the poles.
6He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with brass.
7He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
8He made the basin of brass, and its base of brass, out of the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
9He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
10their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.
11For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
12For the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
13For the east side eastward fifty cubits.
14The hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
15and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
16All the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen.
17The sockets for the pillars were of brass. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver; and the overlaying of their capitals, of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.
18The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. Twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, like to the hangings of the court.
19Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of brass; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.
20All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of brass.
21This is the amount of material used for the tabernacle, even the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
22Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
23With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen.
24All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents, and seven hundred thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
25The silver of those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents, and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
26a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone who passed over to those who were numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty men.
27The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; one hundred sockets for the one hundred talents, a talent for a socket.
28Of the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them.
29The brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand four hundred shekels.
30With this he made the sockets to the door of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, all the vessels of the altar,
31the sockets around the court, the sockets of the gate of the court, all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins around the court.
Study This Passage
Key Words and Topics
These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.
Key Words in This Passage
Select a word to open the full concordance search.
Related Topics
Ahisamach: Father of Aholiab Exodus 38:23
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.
Aholiab: An Artificer of the Tabernacle Exodus 38:23
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.
Altar in the Tabernacle: Constructed by Bezaleel Exodus 38:1–7
Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. / He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze. / He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.
Altar in the Tabernacle: Furniture of Exodus 38:3–7
He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans. / He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom. / At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles.
Arts of The: Embroiderer Exodus 38:23
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.
Basin: Made of Brass (Bronze) Exodus 38:3
He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.
Bekah: A Half Shekel, About Thirty-One Cents Exodus 38:26
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.
Bezalel: A Divinely-Inspired Mechanic and Master Workman Who Built the Tabernacle Exodus 38:1–7, 22
Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. / He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze. / He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.
Brass: Articles Made of Altar, Vessels, and Other Articles of the Tabernacle and Temple Exodus 38:28–31
With the 1,775 shekels of silver he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them. / The bronze from the wave offering totaled 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. / 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,
Brass: Articles Made of Mirrors Exodus 38:8
Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Census: A Poll Tax to be Levied at Each Exodus 38:26
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.
Census: The Numbering of Israel by Moses Exodus 38:26
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.
Church: Holy Place Exodus 38:24
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.
Colors: Blue: Symbol of Deity Exodus 38:18
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,
Colors: These Colors Figured Largely in the Symbolisms of the Tabernacle Furnishing Exodus 38:18, 23
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, / 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.
Copper Brass: Made Into: Mirrors Exodus 38:8
Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Copper Brass: Made Into: Sockets fPillars Exodus 38:10, 11, 17
with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. / 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. / 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.
Copper Brass: Offerings of, fthe Tabernacle Exodus 38:29
The bronze from the wave offering totaled 70 talents and 2,400 shekels.
Embroidery: Bezaleel and Aholiab Divinely Inspired For, in the Work of the Tabernacle Exodus 38:22, 23
Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses. / 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.
Firepan: General Scriptures Concerning Exodus 38:3
He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.
Fleshhook used in the Tabernacle Exodus 38:3
He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.
Grate: General Scriptures Concerning Exodus 38:4, 5
He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom. / At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles.
Hooks: Made of Silver Exodus 38:10–12, 17, 19
with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. / 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. / 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.
Hur: A Son of Caleb Exodus 38:22
Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses.
Select a topic to open the full topical search.
Bible Dictionary
Related Dictionary Terms
Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.
Commentary Insights
Study and Reflection
Explore devotional and study commentary connected to this passage.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Exodus 38:1 Verse 1
the altar of burnt offering--The repetitions are continued, in which may be traced the exact conformity of the execution to the order.
Exodus 38:8 Verse 8
laver of brass ... of the looking glasses of the women--The word mirrors should have been used, as those implements, usually round, inserted into a handle of wood, stone, or metal, were made of brass, silver, or bronze, highly polished [Wilkinson]. It was customary for the Egyptian women to carry mirrors with them to the temples; and whether by taking the looking glasses of the Hebrew women Moses designed to put it out of their power to follow a similar practice at the tabernacle, or whether the supply of brass from other sources in the camp was exhausted, it is interesting to learn how zealously and to a vast extent they surrendered those valued accompaniments of the female toilet. of the women assembling ... at the door--not priestesses but women of pious character and influence, who frequented the courts of the sacred building (Lu 2:37), and whose parting with their mirrors, like the cutting the hair of the Nazarites, was their renouncing the world for a season [Hengstenberg].
Exodus 38:9 Verse 9
the court--It occupied a space of one hundred and fifty feet by seventy-five, and it was enclosed by curtains of fine linen about eight feet high, suspended on brazen or copper pillars. Those curtains were secured by rods fastened to the top, and kept extended by being fastened to pins stuck in the ground.
Exodus 38:10 Verse 10
hooks--The hooks of the pillars in the court were for hanging up the carcasses of the sacrificial beasts--those on the pillars at the entry of the tabernacle were for hanging the sacerdotal robes and other things used in the service.
Exodus 38:11 Verse 11
sockets--mortices or holes in which the end of the pillars stood.
Exodus 38:17 Verse 17
chapiters--or capitals of the pillars, were wooden posts which ran along their top, to which were attached the hooks for the hangings.
Exodus 38:18 Verse 18
the height in the breadth--or, "in the measure." The sense is that the hangings of the court gate, which was twenty cubits wide, were of the same height as the hangings all round the court [Wall].
Exodus 38:21 Verse 21
This is the sum of the tabernacle--Having completed his description of the component parts of the tabernacle, the inspired historian digresses into a statement respecting the gold and silver employed in it, the computation being made according to an order of Moses--by the Levites, under the direction of Ithamar, Aaron's youngest son.
Exodus 38:24 Verse 24
twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels--equivalent to £150,00 sterling.
Exodus 38:25 Verse 25
the silver of them that were numbered--603,550 men at half a shekel each would contribute 301,775 shekels; which at 2s. 4d. each, amounts to £35,207 sterling. It may seem difficult to imagine how the Israelites should be possessed of so much wealth in the desert; but it should be remembered that they were enriched first by the spoils of the Egyptians, and afterwards by those of the Amalekites. Besides, it is highly probable that during their sojourn they traded with the neighboring nations who bordered on the wilderness [Hewlett].
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Exodus 38:1-8 Verses 1-8
In all ages of the church there have been some persons more devoted to God, more constant in their attendance upon his ordinances, and more willing to part even with lawful things, for his sake, than others. Some women, devoted to God and zealous for the tabernacle worship, expressed zeal by parting with their mirrors, which were polished plates of brass. Before the invention of looking-glasses, these served the same purposes. (Ex 38:9-20)
Exodus 38:9-20 Verses 9-20
The walls of the court being of curtains only, intimated that the state of the Jewish church itself was movable and changeable; and in due time to be taken down and folded up, when the place of the tent should be enlarged, and its cords lengthened, to make room for the Gentile world.
Exodus 38:21-31 Verses 21-31
The foundation of massy pieces of silver showed the solidity and purity of the truth upon which the church is founded. Let us regard the Lord Jesus Christ while reading of the furniture of the tabernacle. While looking at the altar of burnt-offering, let us see Jesus. In him, his righteousness, and salvation, is a full and sufficient offering for sin. In the laver of regeneration, by his Holy Spirit, let our souls be washed, and they shall be clean; and as the people offered willingly, so may our souls be made willing. Let us be ready to part with any thing, and count all but loss to win Christ.