Exodus 26:1-6 · Bible study
Exodus 26:1-6 Commentary: The Tabernacle Curtains
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the theological significance of the tabernacle curtains' materials, cherubim, and golden clasps in Exodus 26:1-6, pointing to God's dwelling and unity.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The curtains form the innermost covering of the tabernacle, made of precious materials with cherubim, joined by gold clasps into one dwelling.
- Key words: mishkan (dwelling), yeri'ah (curtain), keruvim (cherubim), qarsim (clasps).
- Main debate: Whether “cunning work” means weaving or embroidery; varying cubit lengths affect the tent's dimensions.
- Theological theme: God's presence among his people is both costly and unifying, mediated through ordered, beautiful worship.
- Best use: Preaching on the holiness of worship, the unity of the church, or the tabernacle as a type of Christ (John 1:14).
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.
2Each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide—all curtains the same size.
3Five of the curtains are to be joined together, and the other five joined as well.
4Make loops of blue material on the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and do the same for the end curtain in the second set.
5Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the second set, so that the loops line up opposite one another.
6Make fifty gold clasps as well, and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle will be a unit.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman.
2The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.
3Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
4You 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.
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 second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one another.
6You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a unit.
KJV King James Version 1769
1Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
2The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
3The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
6And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shalt thou make them.
2The length of each curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.
3Five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
4And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is outmost in the second coupling.
5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling; the loops shall be opposite one to another.
6And thou shalt make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to another with the clasps: and the tabernacle shall be one whole.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1`And thou dost make the tabernacle: ten curtains of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet; with cherubs, work of a designer, thou dost make them;
2the length of the one curtain is eight and twenty by the cubit, and the breadth of the one curtain four by the cubit, one measure is to all the curtains;
3five of the curtains are joining one unto another, and five curtains are joining one to another.
4`And thou hast made loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain, at the end in the joining; and so thou makest in the edge of the outermost curtain, in the joining of the second.
5fifty loops thou dost make in the one curtain, and fifty loops thou dost make in the edge of the curtain which is in the joining of the second, causing the loops to take hold one unto another;
6and thou hast made fifty hooks of gold, and hast joined the curtains one to another by the hooks, and the tabernacle hath been one.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And thou shalt make the tabernacle [with] ten curtains of twined byssus, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of artistic work shalt thou make them.
2The length of one curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits — one measure for all the curtains.
3Five of the curtains shall be coupled one to another, and [the other] five curtains coupled one to another.
4And thou shalt make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain at the end of the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make [them] in the edge of the outermost curtain in the other coupling.
5Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make at the end of the curtain in the other coupling: the loops shall be opposite to one another.
6And thou shalt make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, that the tabernacle may be one [whole].
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1And thou shalt make the tabernacle in this manner: Thou shalt make ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, diversified with embroidery.
2The length of one curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits; the breadth shall be four cubits. All the curtains shall be of one measure.
3Five curtains shall be joined one to another, and the other five shall be coupled together in like manner.
4Thou shalt make loops of violet in the sides and tops of the curtains, that they may be joined one to another.
5Every curtain shall have fifty loops on both sides, so set on, that one loop may be against another loop, and one may be fitted to the other.
6Thou shalt make also fifty rings of gold, wherewith the veils of the curtains are to be joined, that it may be made one tabernacle.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 26:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Scholars across traditions agree that the tabernacle curtains of Exodus 26:1, 6 form the innermost layer of God's dwelling place, the mishkan. Barnes notes that the Hebrew word here refers specifically to the textile structure, not the full building. The materials, fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, recur throughout the tabernacle (Ex 25:4, 26:31) and were costly and royal. Calvin sees in them a lesson that worship must not be polluted by meanness; they are a type of the Church's spiritual beauty. The cherubim, woven by a skilled weaver (the “work of the skillful workman” as the Cambridge Bible renders “cunning work”), connect the dwelling to the angelic guardians of Eden and God's throne (Ex 25:18). Gill and Matthew Henry highlight the gold clasps that unite the two sets of curtains into one tabernacle: for Henry, this symbolizes the church “fitly joined together in holy love.” The careful measurements and the number fifty underscore the orderly, intentional character of the sanctuary.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Symbolic/typological: The materials and cherubim prefigure Christ's incarnation and the church; supported by New Testament echoes (John 1:14, Hebrews 9:11).
- Practical/historical: The descriptions provide a construction manual; symbolic meaning is secondary to the literal function of the tent.
What is clear: The curtains formed the innermost layer of the tabernacle, made of expensive materials with cherubim, joined into one unit by gold clasps.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of “cunning work” (Ex 26:1) | The phrase refers to skilled artistry in textile work, not ordinary weaving. | Some (e.g., JFB) emphasize embroidery; others (Barnes, Cambridge) argue it means woven tapestry done by a specialist weaver. |
| Description of cherubim | Cherubim are angelic beings, associated with guarding God's throne and presence. | Whether they were woven into the fabric or embroidered on later is disputed; the Hebrew “work of a skillful workman” suggests integrated weaving. |
| Length of the cubit | A cubit is an ancient measurement based on the forearm; all curtains shared 'one measure.' | The common cubit (≈18 in.) vs. the royal cubit (≈21 in.) changes the tabernacle's actual dimensions, though both yield a large tent. |
| Theological symbolism | The materials and cherubim point to God's holiness, majesty, and desire to dwell among the people. | Some read the passage as a practical blueprint with occasional typology; others see every detail as a direct prophecy of Christ and the church. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This passage comes as Israel camps at Mount Sinai after the exodus from Egypt. God commands a sanctuary “that I may dwell among them” (Ex 25:8), a portable tent for a pilgrim people. The ten curtains, each 28 cubits long and 4 cubits wide (roughly 42 by 6 feet), were made from the finest materials available. The linen was twisted for strength; the blue (tekhelet) came from a Mediterranean snail, purple (argaman) from the murex shell, and scarlet (shani) from the kermes insect. These were colors of royalty and divinity in the ancient Near East. Cherubimangelic composite figureswere woven into the fabric by skilled artisans (charash choshev, “designer” or “skillful weaver”). Barnes explains that “cunning work” means the work of a skilled weaver, not an embroiderer. The curtains were divided into two sets of five, each sewn together. These were linked by fifty blue loops and fifty gold clasps, forming one unified tabernacle. This design allowed the structure to be taken apart and carried. As Matthew Henry observes, God “suits the tokens of his favour to his people's wants and necessities,” accommodating his presence to their unsettled life. The costly materials and cherubic figures taught Israel the cost and beauty of approaching a holy God.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants for Exodus 26:1-6. The Masoretic Text is consistent across manuscripts for these verses, with only minor differences in spelling (e.g., yeri'ah versus yeri'ot in some scrolls).
Reception History
From the early church onward, interpreters have read the tabernacle as a prefiguration of Christ and his body, the Church. The costly materials and cherubim were seen as pointing to heavenly realities and the incarnation. In the Reformation, Calvin taught that the rich ornamentation signified the value of true worship and the Church's spiritual adornment. Matthew Henry, commenting on the gold clasps, wrote that “though many, yet are one, being fitly joined together in holy love.” Across traditions, these verses have been used to teach the order, beauty, and unity of God's dwelling among his people.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- A Dwelling of Majesty, The materials (linen, blue, purple, scarlet) point to God's royalty and the value of worship. They remind the congregation that entering God's presence demands our best.
- A Dwelling of Mystery, The cherubim woven into the fabric connect the tabernacle to heaven's throne room. They signal that this tent is a meeting place between earth and the angelic realm.
- A Dwelling of Unity, The gold clasps join two halves into one tabernacle. This pictures the unity of believers, called into one body through Christ, the true tabernacle.
Five-point outline
- Materials, Fine twined linen, blue, purple, scarlet: each color carries symbolic weight (divinity, royalty, sacrifice).
- Cherubim, Angelic guardians woven into the curtains echo Eden and the mercy seat.
- Order, Identical measurements (28 x 4 cubits) and precise numbers (ten, fifty) show God values structure.
- Joining, Loops and clasps unite separate pieces into one dwelling; the church is knit together in love.
- Presence, The tabernacle as a whole is God's chosen tent, foreshadowing Christ who “tabernacled” among us (Jn 1:14).
Illustration hooks
- A wedding dress: the cost of the fabric and the care in stitching communicate the value of the occasion. So the tabernacle's materials communicate the weight of worship.
- A tent that must come down each day: the Israelites' portable sanctuary reminds us that we are pilgrims, not yet home.
- Two pieces of cloth joined by clasps: just as separate parts become one covering, so the church is united across differences by the Spirit.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God care about such specific details like loop colors and clasp materials?
- What does the tabernacle's unity mean for how we live together as a church?
- How can we bring our best to worship today, without a physical tabernacle?
Leading a Discussion
This passage records God's blueprint for the innermost layer of the tabernacle. The materials, cherubim, and clasps all carry significance. As you discuss, notice how the physical details point to spiritual realities: beauty, holiness, angelic presence, and unity.
Discussion questions
- List the colors and materials mentioned. Where else do these appear in the tabernacle instructions (see Exodus 25:4, 26:31, 36)? What might they represent?
- The curtain had cherubim “skillfully worked” into it. Why do you think God included angelic images in his dwelling place?
- The curtains were made in two sets of five, then joined by loops and gold clasps. What does the specific number fifty suggest? How does this reflect God's character?
- Verse 6 ends: “the tabernacle shall be a unit.” In what ways does the New Testament use the image of the church as one building or body (e.g., 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 2:19, 22)?
- If you were an Israelite, what would seeing these expensive, beautiful curtains tell you about the kind of God you serve?
- How does the portable nature of the tabernacle shape our understanding of the church's life in the world?
- What is one way your group can reflect the unity and beauty of God's dwelling in your own fellowship this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 25:4 | blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, |
| Exodus 25:8 | Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. |
| Exodus 25:18 | You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. |
| Exodus 26:31 | “You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman. |
| Exodus 26:36 | “You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer. |
| Exodus 35:6 | blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, |
| Exodus 35:35 | He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works. |
| Exodus 36:8 | All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet. They made them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the Hebrew word "mischan," meaning a simple dwelling, takes on royal significance here: it becomes the pavilion where Jehovah dwells as King among His people, with table, lamps, and attending priests ready at all times.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a precise distinction between the tabernacle's three layers: the inner linen structure with cherubim, the goats' hair tent over it, and the outer protective covering. He stresses that the Hebrew text keeps these parts separate, while English translations often confuse them, and notes the symbolic hierarchy in using gold clasps for the tabernacle and bronze for the tent.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
For Calvin, the tabernacle's costly materials were a deliberate contrast to anything cheap, teaching Israel how precious true worship is. He argues that the physical ornaments pointed to spiritual gifts, and the real beauty of God's house lies in the faith and piety that renew us in God's image.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible distinguishes three grades of textile work in the tabernacle: simple weaving, variegated or embroidered work, and the "work of the designer." This last term refers to an artistic pattern-weaver who interweaves figures like cherubim and gold thread, not just any skilled craftsman.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads the tabernacle’s construction as a direct type of Christ’s human nature and the church. The fine linen and varied colors signify Christ’s purity, the wounds of His suffering, and the graces of the Spirit. The cherubim woven into the curtains point to angelic ministry or gospel service.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that the ten curtains were "cunning work" — skilfully and richly embroidered — each fifteen yards long and just over two yards wide. Five curtains were coupled into one set, then the other five into a second set, each forming an eleven-yard-wide section, joined by clasps.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue that the inner linen tapestry was not just a ceiling but hung down the side walls, forming the entire visible interior of the tabernacle. They base this on the constant biblical phrasing that calls this cloth "the dwelling" and the goats-hair covering "the tent above the dwelling," indicating the inner cloth defined the sacred space itself.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the tabernacle not just as a worship tent but as the center of God's legislation and the residence of the Lawgiver Himself. From the mercy seat between the cherubim, God ensures His law becomes a living power. The tabernacle serves as the enduring prototype for every true sanctuary, including Christian places of worship.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees the tabernacle's tent-like form as a deliberate double lesson. God met his people in a movable dwelling suited to their wandering condition, and he used it to teach the church that this world is a temporary, pilgrim state — believers will never be fully settled until heaven.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees the embroidered cherubim on the tabernacle curtains as a picture of angels encamping protectively around God's people. The two sets of hangings joined into one tabernacle prefigure the church's unity in Christ, many congregations made one by holy love. That the tabernacle was narrow hints at the Gospel's later call to spread out and grow.