מַחְבֶּ֫רֶת (mach.be.ret)
mach.be.ret
joining
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun machberet refers to a joint or seam where two pieces are connected. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears seven times, primarily in Exodus, describing the physical connections that hold the Tabernacle’s structure together. It denotes both the act of joining and the specific place where materials meet.
This word is central to the construction details of the tabernacle curtains. The sources highlight its use in Exodus 26:6 and 26:17, where bronze clasps or bars join the sections of fabric and boards. It emphasizes the precision required to create a unified whole from separate parts.
Machberet underscores the importance of connection in sacred space. The Tabernette was not a single piece but an assembly of many joined elements. This linguistic focus on seams reflects a theological view of unity formed through deliberate, careful joining rather than inherent oneness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word machberet describes a joint or seam where two distinct pieces are connected to form a single structure. In Exodus, this term appears repeatedly as the craftsmen construct the Tabernacle. They did not use one massive piece of fabric but assembled many sections, joining them with loops and clasps. This careful joining created a unified whole that could house God’s presence.
For your faith, this offers a gentle picture of how community works. We are not all identical, nor do we arrive at unity by accident. Instead, like the Tabernacle curtains, we are brought together through deliberate acts of connection. The seams where we meet are not weaknesses but the very places that hold us together.
When you feel fragmented or disconnected from others, remember this image of sacred assembly. Your differences do not prevent unity; they require it. By reaching out to bridge those gaps with patience and love, you participate in a pattern that reflects how God builds His dwelling place among people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in the/ joined set4×
- joining/ its2×
- [was] in the/ joined set1×
- [is] in the/ joined set1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֶחְבַּרְתּ֑/וֹ2×
- בַּ/מַּחְבָּ֑רֶת2×
- בַּ/מַּחְבֶּ֣רֶת2×
- בַּ/מַּחְבֶּ֖רֶת2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 26:4
You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling.
This verse introduces the mechanism of coupling, showing how individual curtains are linked to form one continuous covering.
-
Exodus 36:12
He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling. The loops were opposite to one another.
The repetition of making fifty loops opposite one another emphasizes the precision required for a secure and aligned connection.
-
Exodus 28:27
You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
Here the term applies to the ephod’s shoulder straps, showing that this joining principle extends beyond walls to the garments of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does machberet mean in the Bible?
Where does this word appear most often?
How is machberet different from other words for joining?
Every Occurrence (7 verses across 1 books)
Exodus 7 verses
You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on…
Exodus 26:5You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the…
Exodus 28:27You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its…
Exodus 36:11He made loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling. Likewise he made in the edge of the…
Exodus 36:12He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that was in the second…
Exodus 36:17He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge…
Exodus 39:20They made two more rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close…