Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Exodus » Chapter 38 » Verse 9-20

Exodus 38:9-20 King James Version (KJV)

9 And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits:

10 Their pillars were twenty, and their brazen sockets twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.

11 And for the north side the hangings were an hundred cubits, their pillars were twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

12 And for 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.

13 And for the east side eastward fifty cubits.

14 The hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

15 And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

16 All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen.

17 And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.

18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.

19 And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver.

20 And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.


Exodus 38:9-20 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

9 And he made H6213 the court: H2691 on the south H5045 side H6285 southward H8486 the hangings H7050 of the court H2691 were of fine twined H7806 linen, H8336 an hundred H3967 cubits: H520

10 Their pillars H5982 were twenty, H6242 and their brasen H5178 sockets H134 twenty; H6242 the hooks H2053 of the pillars H5982 and their fillets H2838 were of silver. H3701

11 And for the north H6828 side H6285 the hangings were an hundred H3967 cubits, H520 their pillars H5982 were twenty, H6242 and their sockets H134 of brass H5178 twenty; H6242 the hooks H2053 of the pillars H5982 and their fillets H2838 of silver. H3701

12 And for the west H3220 side H6285 were hangings H7050 of fifty H2572 cubits, H520 their pillars H5982 ten, H6235 and their sockets H134 ten; H6235 the hooks H2053 of the pillars H5982 and their fillets H2838 of silver. H3701

13 And for the east H6924 side H6285 eastward H4217 fifty H2572 cubits. H520

14 The hangings H7050 of the one side H3802 of the gate were fifteen H2568 H6240 cubits; H520 their pillars H5982 three, H7969 and their sockets H134 three. H7969

15 And for the other H8145 side H3802 of the court H2691 gate, H8179 on this hand and that hand, were hangings H7050 of fifteen H2568 H6240 cubits; H520 their pillars H5982 three, H7969 and their sockets H134 three. H7969

16 All the hangings H7050 of the court H2691 round about H5439 were of fine twined H7806 linen. H8336

17 And the sockets H134 for the pillars H5982 were of brass; H5178 the hooks H2053 of the pillars H5982 and their fillets H2838 of silver; H3701 and the overlaying H6826 of their chapiters H7218 of silver; H3701 and all the pillars H5982 of the court H2691 were filleted H2836 with silver. H3701

18 And the hanging H4539 for the gate H8179 of the court H2691 was needlework, H7551 H4639 of blue, H8504 and purple, H713 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and fine twined H7806 linen: H8336 and twenty H6242 cubits H520 was the length, H753 and the height H6967 in the breadth H7341 was five H2568 cubits, H520 answerable H5980 to the hangings H7050 of the court. H2691

19 And their pillars H5982 were four, H702 and their sockets H134 of brass H5178 four; H702 their hooks H2053 of silver, H3701 and the overlaying H6826 of their chapiters H7218 and their fillets H2838 of silver. H3701

20 And all the pins H3489 of the tabernacle, H4908 and of the court H2691 round about, H5439 were of brass. H5178


Exodus 38:9-20 American Standard (ASV)

9 And he made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits;

10 their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.

11 And for the north side a hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.

12 And for 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.

13 And for the east side eastward fifty cubits.

14 The hangings for the one side `of the gate' were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;

15 and 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.

16 All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen.

17 And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver; and the overlaying of their capitals, of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.

18 And the screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.

19 And their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of brass; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.

20 And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.


Exodus 38:9-20 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

9 And he maketh the court; at the south side southward, the hangings of the court of twined linen, a hundred by the cubit,

10 their pillars `are' twenty, and their brazen sockets twenty, the pegs of the pillars and their fillets `are' silver;

11 and at the north side, a hundred by the cubit, their pillars `are' twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the pegs of the pillars and their fillets `are' silver;

12 and at the west side `are' hangings, fifty by the cubit; their pillars `are' ten, and their sockets ten; the pegs of the pillars and their fillets `are' silver;

13 and at the east side eastward fifty cubits.

14 The hangings on the side `are' fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their sockets three,

15 and at the second side at the gate of the court, on this and on that, `are' hangings, fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their sockets three;

16 all the hangings of the court round about `are' of twined linen,

17 and the sockets for the pillars of brass, the pegs of the pillars and their fillets of silver, and the overlaying of their tops of silver, and all the pillars of the court are filleted with silver.

18 And the covering of the gate of the court `is' the work of an embroiderer, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen; and twenty cubits `is' the length, and the height with the breadth five cubits, over-against the hangings of the court;

19 and their pillars `are' four, and their sockets of brass four, their pegs `are' of silver, and the overlaying of their tops and their fillets `are' of silver;

20 and all the pins for the tabernacle, and for the court round about, `are' of brass.


Exodus 38:9-20 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

9 And he made the court. On the south side southward, the hangings of the court were of twined byssus, a hundred cubits;

10 their pillars twenty, and their bases twenty, of copper; the hooks of the pillars and their connecting-rods of silver.

11 And on the north side, a hundred cubits; their pillars twenty, and their bases twenty, of copper; the hooks of the pillars and their connecting-rods of silver.

12 And on the west side, hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their bases ten; the hooks of the pillars and their connecting-rods of silver.

13 And for the east side, eastward, fifty cubits;

14 the hangings on the one wing of fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their bases three;

15 and on the other wing, on this side as on that side of the gate of the court, hangings of fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their bases three.

16 All the hangings of the court round about were of twined byssus;

17 and the bases of the pillars of copper, the hooks of the pillars and their connecting-rods of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals of silver; and all the pillars of the court were fastened together with [rods of] silver.

18 -- And the curtain of the gate of the court was of embroidery of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined byssus; and the length was twenty cubits, and the height like the breadth, five cubits, just as the hangings of the court;

19 and their pillars four, and their bases four, of copper; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals and their connecting-rods of silver.

20 And all the pegs for the tabernacle and for the court round about were of copper.


Exodus 38:9-20 World English Bible (WEB)

9 He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;

10 their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.

11 For 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.

12 For 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.

13 For the east side eastward fifty cubits.

14 The hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;

15 and 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.

16 All the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen.

17 The 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.

18 The 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.

19 Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of brass; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.

20 All the pins of the tent, and around the court, were of brass.


Exodus 38:9-20 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

9 To make the open space, he put hangings on the south side, of the best linen, a hundred cubits long:

10 Their twenty pillars and their twenty bases were brass; and the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver.

11 And for the north side. hangings a hundred cubits long, on twenty brass pillars in brass bases, with silver hooks and bands.

12 And on the west side, hangings fifty cubits long, on ten pillars in ten bases, with silver bands.

13 And on the east side, the open space was fifty cubits long.

14 The hangings on one side of the doorway were fifteen cubits long, on three pillars with their three bases;

15 And the same on the other side of the doorway; on this side and on that the hangings were fifteen cubits long, on three pillars with their three bases.

16 All the hangings were of the best linen.

17 And the bases of the pillars were of brass; their hooks and the bands round the tops of them were of silver; all the pillars were ringed with silver.

18 And the curtain for the doorway of the open space was of the best linen, with designs of blue and purple and red in needlework; it was twenty cubits long and five cubits high, to go with the hangings round the sides.

19 There were four pillars with their bases, all of brass, the hooks being of silver, and their tops and their bands being covered with silver.

20 All the nails used for the House and the open space round it were of brass.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Exodus 38

Commentary on Exodus 38 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 38

Here is an account,

  • I. Of the making of the brazen altar (v. 1-7), and the laver (v. 8).
  • II. The preparing of the hangings for the enclosing of the court in which the tabernacle was to stand (v. 9-20).
  • III. A summary of the gold, silver, and brass, that was contributed to, and used in, the preparing of the tabernacle (v. 21, etc.).

Exd 38:1-8

Bezaleel having finished the gold-work, which, though the richest, yet was ordered to lie most out of sight, in the tabernacle itself, here goes on to prepare the court, which lay open to the view of all. Two things the court was furnished with, and both made of brass:-

  • I. An altar of burnt-offering, v. 1-7. On this all their sacrifices were offered, and it was this which, being sanctified itself for this purpose by the divine appointment, sanctified the gift that was in faith offered on it. Christ was himself the altar to his own sacrifice of atonement, and so he is to all our sacrifices of acknowledgment. We must have an eye to him in offering them, as God has in accepting them.
  • II. A laver, to hold water for the priests to wash in when they went in to minister, v. 8. This signified the provision that is made in the gospel of Christ for the cleansing of our souls from the moral pollution of sin by the merit and grace of Christ, that we may be fit to serve the holy God in holy duties. This is here said to be made of the looking-glasses (or mirrors) of the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle.
    • 1. It should seem these women were eminent and exemplary for devotion, attending more frequently and seriously at the place of public worship than others did; and notice is here taken of it to their honour. Anna was such a one long afterwards, who departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day, Lu. 2:37. It seems in every age of the church there have been some who have thus distinguished themselves by their serious zealous piety, and they have thereby distinguished themselves; for devout women are really honourable women (Acts 13:50), and not the less so for their being called, by the scoffers of the latter days, silly women. Probably these women were such as showed their zeal upon this occasion, by assisting in the work that was now going on for the service of the tabernacle. They assembled by troops, so the word is; a blessed sight, to see so many, and those so zealous and so unanimous, in this good work.
    • 2. These women parted with their mirrors (which were of the finest brass, burnished for that purpose) for the use of the tabernacle. Those women that admire their own beauty, are in love with their own shadow, and make the putting on of apparel their chief adorning by which they value and recommend themselves, can but ill spare their looking-glasses; yet these women offered them to God, either,
      • (1.) In token of their repentance for the former abuse of them, to the support of their pride and vanity; now that they were convinced of their folly, and had devoted themselves to the service of God at the door of the tabernacle, they thus threw away that which, though lawful and useful in itself, yet had been an occasion of sin to them. Thus Mary Magdalene, who had been a sinner, when she became a penitent wiped Christ's feet with her hair. Or,
      • (2.) In token of their great zeal for the work of the tabernacle; rather than the workmen should want brass, or not have of the best, they would part with their mirrors, though they could not do well without them. God's service and glory must always be preferred by us before any satisfactions or accommodations of our own. Let us never complain of the want of that which we may honour God by parting with.
    • 3. These mirrors were used for the making of the laver. Either they were artfully joined together, or else molten down and cast anew; but it is probable that the laver was so brightly burnished that the sides of it still served for mirrors, that the priests, when they came to wash, might there see their faces, and so discover the spots, to wash them clean. Note, In the washing of repentance, there is need of the looking-glass of self-examination. The word of God is a glass, in which we may see our own faces (see Jam. 1:23); and with it we must compare our own hearts and lives, that, finding out our blemishes, we may wash with particular sorrow, and application of the blood of Christ to our souls. Usually the more particular we are in the confession of sin the more comfort we have in the sense of the pardon.

Exd 38:9-20

The walls of the court, or church-yard, were like the rest curtains or hangings, made according to the appointment, ch. 27:9, etc. This represented the state of the Old-Testament church: it was a garden enclosed; the worshippers were then confined to a little compass. But the enclosure being of curtains only intimated that the confinement of the church in one particular nation was not to be perpetual. The dispensation itself was a tabernacle-dispensation, movable and mutable, 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, as is foretold, Isa. 54:2, 3. The church here on earth is but the court of God's house, and happy they that tread these courts and flourish in them; but through these courts we are passing to the holy place above. Blessed are those that dwell in that house of God: they well be still praising him. The enclosing of a court before the tabernacle teaches us a gradual approach to God. The priests that ministered must pass through the holy court, before they entered the holy house. Thus before solemn ordinances there ought to be the separated and enclosed court of a solemn preparation, in which we must wash our hands, and so draw near with a true heart.

Exd 38:21-31

Here we have a breviat of the account which, by Moses's appointment, the Levites took and kept of the gold, silver, and brass, that was brought in for the tabernacle's use, and how it was employed. Ithamar the son of Aaron was appointed to draw up this account, and was thus by less services trained up and fitted for greater, v. 21. Bezaleel and Aholiab must bring in the account (v. 22, 23), and Ithamar must audit it, and give it in to Moses. And it was thus:-

  • 1. All the gold was a free-will offering; every man brought as he could and would, and it amounted to twenty-nine talents, and 730 shekels over, which some compute to be about 150,000l. worth of gold, according to the present value of it. Of this were made all the golden furniture and vessels.
  • 2. The silver was levied by way of tax; every man was assessed half a shekel, a kind of poll-money, which amounted in the whole to 100 talents, and 1775 shekels over, v. 25, 26. Of this they made the sockets into which the boards of the tabernacle were let, and on which they rested; so that they were as the foundation of the tabernacle, v. 27. The silver amounted to about 34,000l. of our money. The raising of the gold by voluntary contribution, and of the silver by way of tribute, shows that either way may be taken for the defraying of public expenses, provided that nothing be done with partiality.
  • 3. The brass, though less valuable, was of use not only for the brazen altar, but for the sockets of the court, which probably in other tents were of wood: but it is promised (Isa. 60:17), For wood I will bring brass. See how liberal the people were and how faithful the workmen were, in both which respects their good example ought to be followed.