Exodus 36:31-34 Meaning: Beauty of Exact Obedience
31He made bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
32and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward.
33He made the middle bar to pass through in the middle of the boards from the one end to the other.
34He overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold as places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
31And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
32And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward.
33And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.
34And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
31And he made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
32and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward.
33And he made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other.
34And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold for places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
31And he maketh bars of shittim wood, five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
32and five bars for the boards of the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle, for the sides westward;
33and he maketh the middle bar to enter into the midst of the boards from end to end;
34and the boards he hath overlaid with gold, and their rings he hath made of gold, places for bars, and he overlayeth the bars with gold.
31— And he made bars of acacia-wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
32and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle at the rear, westward.
33And he made the middle bar in the midst of the boards reach from one end to the other.
34And he overlaid the boards with gold; and made their rings of gold [as] receptacles for the bars; and overlaid the bars with gold.
Meaning in one sentence
Exodus 36:31, 34 shows the careful construction of the tabernacle bars, teaching that God values precise obedience and the beauty of what is built for Him.
Context
Exodus 36 records the moment when the craftsmen Bezalel and Oholiab begin to build the tabernacle exactly as God commanded Moses on the mountain. The instructions from Exodus 26 are now being followed step by step. In this passage they make the bars that hold the acacia-wood frames together, five for each side and five for the back. One middle bar runs through from end to end, and everything is overlaid with gold. The repetition of the original commands shows that every detail matters, not one is forgotten.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for bar here is beriach (בְּרִיח). It means a crossbar that locks boards together, giving the whole structure stability. The same root can also mean “to flee” or “to pass through”, the middle bar shoots through the frames like a runner. That middle bar is called hattikhun, “the middle one,” set to reach from end to end. It holds everything in place.
The wood is shittim (acacia), a desert tree that grows slowly and yields tough, durable timber, perfect for a tent that will travel for decades. Then the boards and bars are overlaid with gold (tzippah, צָפָה), hammered thin and wrapped around the wood. The gold does not hide the wood; it honors it. Every piece becomes precious because God chooses to dwell there.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read these verses as a model of faithful obedience. Matthew Henry, in the Reformed tradition, notes that everything was made “exactly according to the pattern,” to show that God’s house must be built His way. Lange’s commentary, also from the Reformed stream, focuses on the structural unity created by the middle bar, a single beam tying all the boards together. The Roman Catholic tradition has seen the tabernacle’s materials as pointing to the heavenly sanctuary, where every earthly detail hints at divine realities. In each reading, the careful repetition of the instructions is not repetition for its own sake; it is a sign that God’s words are carried out fully.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think these verses are just a boring duplicate of what was already said in Exodus 26, and so they skip them. In fact, the repetition is deliberate: it confirms that the workers did not improvise or cut corners. They followed the blueprint exactly. This teaches that God cares about how His dwelling is built, not only that it gets built. The details He gave were not optional suggestions.
Living This Out
This week, look at one task you might be tempted to rush through, a project at work, a chore at home, or time helping someone. The tabernacle builders fitted bars, hammered gold rings, and checked that the middle bar ran true from end to end. They gave their best for a tent that would eventually be taken down and moved. You may not see the lasting value of your careful work yet. But God sees it. He dwells in what is built with love and patience.
Main takeaway: God notices and values the careful, obedient work we do for Him, even the parts that no one else will ever see.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told the workers to make a tent for Him. They used strong wood and shiny gold so it would be beautiful and last a long time. We can do our work carefully too, because God sees it.
For ages 9, 12
When you build something, a model, a fort, or a project, every piece matters. These verses show that God gave very specific instructions for His tabernacle, and the workers followed them exactly. That meant measuring correctly, using the right wood, and covering everything with gold. It took patience. But God wanted a place where He could live among His people, and He wanted it made with love. Next time you are tempted to skip a step or do something sloppy, remember that you are building for God too, your character, your relationships, your work, and He values the care you put into it.
Questions People Ask
Why does the Bible repeat the same building instructions twice (in Exodus 26 and 36)?
The first set of instructions (Exodus 26) is God’s command to Moses. The second set (Exodus 36) records the workers carrying them out. The repetition shows that everything was done exactly as God said, no changes, no shortcuts. It confirms the obedience of the builders.
What is the purpose of the bars in the tabernacle?
The bars ran through gold rings attached to the acacia-wood frames. They held the boards together, making the walls strong and stable. The middle bar went through the center from one end to the other, acting like a spine that kept the whole structure unified, especially when the tabernacle was taken down and moved.
Why are the bars and boards overlaid with gold?
Gold was the most precious material available. Overlaying the wood with gold set the tabernacle apart as a dwelling place for God. It showed that the place where God met His people was to be honored and treated as holy. The gold also reflected light from the lampstand, filling the tent with brightness.
What does the acacia wood symbolize?
Acacia wood was a tough, slow-growing desert tree that resisted insects and rot. It was practical for a portable structure that had to last through years of wilderness travel. Christians have also seen it as a symbol of Christ’s humanity, strong, enduring, and rooted in an unlikely place.
Is it wrong to use expensive materials for church buildings today?
Different Christians have different convictions about this. Some see beauty and craftsmanship as a way to honor God, following the Old Testament pattern. Others emphasize that the church is people, not a building, and prefer to use resources for mercy and mission. Both perspectives seek to be faithful to Scripture.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study