Exodus 36:14-19 · Bible study
Exodus 36:14-19 Commentary: The Eleven Curtains of Goats' Hair
Hebrew · 4 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why eleven goats' hair curtains? This study explores the tabernacle's outer coverings, their construction, and the lesson of faithful obedience.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Exodus 36:14, 19 records the construction of the outer coverings of the tabernacle, exactly as commanded, showing the faithful execution of God's pattern.
- Key words:Curtains(יְרִיעֹת), clasps(קַרְסֵי), covering(מִכְסֶה), dyed red(מְאָדָּמִים), sea cow hides(תְּחָשִׁים).
- Main debate: Why eleven goats' hair curtains when the linen curtains had ten? The structural answer is the extra overhang; some see symbolic meaning, but the text itself emphasizes function.
- Theological theme: God gives precise instructions for His dwelling place, and His people respond in willing, obedient work.
- Best use: Teaching on the importance of faithful obedience, the unity of God's people, and the practical details of worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
14He then made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven curtains in all.
15Each of the eleven curtains was the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.
16He joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another.
17He made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set, and fifty loops along the edge of the corresponding curtain in the second set.
18He also made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together as a unit.
19Additionally, he made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.
WEB World English Bible 2000
14He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.
15The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the width of each curtain. The eleven curtains had one measure.
16He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
17He made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the coupling, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was outermost in the second coupling.
18He made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together, that it might be a unit.
19He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
KJV King James Version 1769
14And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
15The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.
16And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
17And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.
18And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
19And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
14And he made curtains of goats’hairfor a tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
15The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of each curtain: the eleven curtains had one measure.
16And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
17And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which was outmost in the second coupling.
18And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
19And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
14And he maketh curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains he hath made them;
15the length of the one curtain is thirty by the cubit, and the breadth of the one curtain is four cubits; one measure is to the eleven curtains;
16and he joineth the five curtains apart, and the six curtains apart.
17And he maketh fifty loops on the outer edge of the curtain, in the joining; and fifty loops he hath made on the edge of the curtain which is joining the second;
18and he maketh fifty hooks of brass to join the tent--to be one;
19and he maketh a covering for the tent of rams' skins made red, and a covering of badgers' skins above.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
14And he made curtains of goats' [hair] for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains did he make them.
15The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of one curtain — one measure for the eleven curtains.
16And he coupled five of the curtains by themselves, and six of the curtains by themselves.
17And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he on the edge of the curtain in the other coupling.
18And he made fifty clasps of copper to couple the tent, that it might be one.
19And he made a covering for the tent [of] rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above [that].
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
14He made also eleven curtains of goats' hair, to cover the roof of the tabernacle:
15One curtain was thirty cubits long, and four cubits broad: all the curtains were of one measure.
16Five of which he joined apart, and the other six apart.
17And he made fifty loops in the edge of one curtain, and fifty in the edge of another curtain, that they might be joined one to another.
18And fifty buckles of brass wherewith the roof might be knit together, that of all the curtains there might be made one covering.
19He made also a cover for the tabernacle of rams' skins dyed red; and another cover over that of violet skins.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 36:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Exodus 36:14, 19 records the faithful execution of God's pattern for the outer tent of the tabernacle. The eleven goats' hair curtains (one more than the ten linen curtains of the inner tabernacle) were required because the outer tent was larger, it had to extend over and protect the inner structure (Exodus 26:7-13). The loops of the outermost edges and the fifty bronze clasps allowed the two sections of five and six curtains to be joined into a single, portable covering. Matthew Henry notes the “minute exactness” of the repetition, teaching that acceptable obedience includes complete observance of God's commands down to the smallest detail. The additional coverings, rams' skins dyed red and ‘sea cow hides’ (dugong, seal, or a now-extinct animal), formed a waterproof outer shell. Across traditions, the passage is read as a testimony to Israel's willing compliance with the heavenly pattern shown to Moses on Sinai.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Structural view: The extra curtain was needed because the outer tent was larger, as described in Exodus 26:12-13. No symbolic meaning is required.
- Symbolic view: Eleven is one less than twelve (tribes) or one more than ten (commandments), suggesting incompleteness or an extra provision of grace.
What is clear: The curtains were made exactly as commanded, the loops and clasps secured them into one tent, and the additional coverings provided waterproofing—this is the clear, historical meaning of the passage.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Number of goats' hair curtains | Eleven curtains were used instead of ten because the outer tent was larger than the inner tabernacle, as specified in Exodus 26:12-13. | Some interpreters see symbolic significance in the number eleven (e.g., representing incompleteness or grace), while others insist the text gives only a structural reason. |
| Identification of the animal hide | The Hebrew word תְּחָשִׁים (techashim) refers to a type of skin used for the outermost covering. It was waterproof and suited for a portable sanctuary. | Translations vary: 'badger' (KJV), 'seal' (ASV, YLT), 'dugong' (Cambridge Bible), 'fine leather' (BSB). Some scholars think the animal is now extinct, so the exact species is uncertain. |
| Significance of the bronze clasps | The bronze clasps joined the curtains into one tent, fulfilling the command of Exodus 26:11. | Bronze is less valuable than gold (used for the inner curtains). Some suggest this hierarchy reflects degrees of holiness; others see it simply as a practical, durable material for a weather-exposed layer. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The tabernacle was Israel's mobile sanctuary during the wilderness journey, a visible sign that God dwelt among His people. The inner linen curtains formed the dwelling-place proper, but they needed protection from sun, rain, and dust. Goats' hair was an ideal material for this purpose: Bedouin tents still use it because the dense, oily fibres shed water and block heat. The outer tent was longer than the inner one, thirty cubits per curtain compared to twenty-eight, so an eleventh curtain was added to cover the overhang (Exodus 26:12-13). The loops and bronze clasps made disassembly and reassembly practical for a people on the move.
The two uppermost layers, rams' skins dyed red and a tougher hide (the precise animal is uncertain; Cambridge Bible suggests dugong, while older translations say badger or seal), provided a second waterproof barrier. The bronze clasps contrast with the gold used for the inner curtains, signalling that this outer layer was functional rather than sacred. Every detail of the construction served a purpose: portability, durability, and exact conformity to the pattern God had given. The repetition of the command in Exodus 26 and its execution here underscores that the Israelites were not improvising; they were building the divine dwelling according to plan.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 36:14, 19. The main translation differences involve the identification of the outer animal hide (Hebrew techashim) and whether the cloth loops are called ‘loops’ or ‘strings’, but these are lexical choices, not variants in the underlying Hebrew manuscript tradition.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, the outer coverings of the tabernacle are often seen as emphasizing the hiddenness and majesty of God: the ordinary materials of goat hair and animal skins concealed the glory within. The Midrash teaches that the eleven curtains alluded to the eleven tribes that would eventually inherit the land (with Levi serving separately). In Christian interpretation, the rams’ skins dyed red have been read allegorically as a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice, and the outer tent as a picture of Christ's humanity covering His divinity. The passage has been used to illustrate the principle of meticulous obedience in worship, whether in liturgy, church building, or daily life, reminding readers that God's instructions are given for our good and His glory.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Precision matters to God.The chapter repeats the instructions of Exodus 26 almost verbatim. This level of detail shows that God cares about the specifics of worship, not because He needs a house, but because His people learn obedience through careful response.
- God provides covering. The goats' hair, rams' skins, and sea cow hides formed a layered defense. In the wilderness, the tabernacle was vulnerable; God supplied materials that could withstand exposure. The outer layers speak of His protection over His dwelling place.
- Unity built piece by piece. Five curtains and six curtains were joined by bronze clasps “that it might be one” (v.18). Each section had meaning only when connected to the others. The Church today is built the same way, different parts fitted together into a single dwelling for God.
Five-point outline
- Obedience to the pattern: the craftsmen followed the blueprint exactly.
- The odd number: eleven instead of ten points to the larger size of the outer tent, reminding us that God's presence requires room for grace.
- Different materials, same purpose: goats' hair, ram skins, and sea cow hides each had specific functions but together created a complete covering.
- The clasps: bronze ties that made disassembly possible, portability is essential when God is on the move with His people.
- One tent: despite two sets of curtains, the goal was unity. God's house is one.
Illustration hooks
- Camping in the rain: A family sets up a tent but forgets the rain fly. The goats' hair curtains are that rain fly, the extra, overlooked layer that keeps everything dry. Details that seem minor can be essential.
- Following a recipe: A baker who substitutes ingredients because “it’s close enough” ends up with something inedible. The tabernacle builders used exactly what was commanded, trusting that the Creator knew what His house needed.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God really care about these small details in our lives, or is this just Old Testament legalism?
- Why does the Bible spend so much space on tent dimensions and clasps?
- What does this passage teach us about worship today?
Leading a Discussion
This passage can feel repetitive, lists of curtains, loops, and clasps. But the repetition itself is a lesson: God’s people took His instructions seriously. As you study together, notice what the text emphasizes and what that reveals about God and His relationship with Israel.
Discussion questions
- Read Exodus 26:7, 14 and then read Exodus 36:14, 19. What differences do you see between the command and the execution? Why do you think the writer includes almost exact repetition?
- The goats' hair curtains are eleven in number, while the linen curtains are ten. Why do you think an odd number was used? (Consider the overhang described in Exodus 26:12, 13.)
- Three layers of covering are mentioned: goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sea cow hides. What does this layering suggest about God's provision for His dwelling place?
- In verse 18, the goal is that the tent “might be a unit.” How does this physical unity point to spiritual unity among God's people?
- The loops and clasps made the tent portable. Why was portability important for Israel? How does that apply to our own walk with God?
- Some see the rams’ skins dyed red as a reminder of sacrifice (the colour suggests blood). Others focus on the practical purpose of waterproofing. How do you decide between symbolic and literal readings of such details?
- Where in your life do you find it hard to follow God’s instructions “down to the last detail”? What might help you trust that even small acts of obedience matter?
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 26:7 | “You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. |
| Exodus 26:13 | The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it. |
| Exodus 26:14 | You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above. |
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
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What the Commentators Say
2 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator identifies the "sealskins" of the tabernacle covering as dugong skins, a specific marine animal. The following section deals with the beams or frames that form the structural framework of the Dwelling.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the people's joyful, voluntary offerings for the tabernacle as a glimpse of New Testament grace. He contrasts their glad willingness with the false-hearted fervor of the golden calf episode. This spontaneous generosity, he argues, demonstrates that the covenant with God has been truly restored.