Exodus 39:33-41 · Bible study
Exodus 39:33-41 Commentary: Study: Presentation and Approval of the Tabernacle
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why were the completed tabernacle parts brought to Moses? This study explores the inspection, obedience, and pattern of worship in Exodus 39:33-41.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The Israelites present the finished tabernacle components to Moses, who inspects them and confirms they match God's pattern.
- Key words: 'brought' (Hiphil of bo, causative presentation), 'tabernacle' (mishkan, dwelling), 'tent' (ohel, outer covering).
- Main debate: Minimal; some lexical uncertainty about the hide covering (badger vs. dugong).
- Theological theme: Obedience to God's commands is the foundation for His presence among His people.
- Best use: Preaching on faithful stewardship, accountability, and the importance of following God's instructions in worship and life.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
33Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent with all its furnishings, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, and its posts and bases;
34the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of fine leather, and the veil of the covering;
35the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the mercy seat;
36the table with all its utensils and the Bread of the Presence;
37the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its utensils, as well as the oil for the light;
38the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;
39the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand;
40the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases; the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and tent pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting;
41and the woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.
WEB World English Bible 2000
33They brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,
34the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
35the ark of the covenant with its poles, the mercy seat,
36the table, all its vessels, the show bread,
37the pure lamp stand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light,
38the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent,
39the bronze altar, its grating of bronze, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
40the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting,
41the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.
KJV King James Version 1769
33And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,
34And the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers’ skins, and the vail of the covering,
35The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,
36The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread,
37The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light,
38And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,
39The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
40The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation,
41The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister in the priest’s office.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
33And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the Tent, and all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets;
34and the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of sealskins, and the veil of the screen;
35the ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy-seat;
36the table, all the vessels thereof, and the showbread;
37the pure candlestick, the lamps thereof, even the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for the light;
38and the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door of the Tent;
39the brazen altar, and its grating of brass, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base;
40the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court, the cords thereof, and the pins thereof, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;
41the finely wrought garments for ministering in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
33And they bring in the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all its vessels, its hooks, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets;
34and the covering of rams' skins, which are made red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering;
35the ark of the testimony and its staves, and the mercy-seat;
36the table, all its vessels, and the bread of the presence;
37the pure candlestick, its lamps, the lamps of arrangement, and all its vessels, and the oil for the light.
38And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the spice-perfume, and the covering of the opening of the tent;
39the brazen altar and the brazen grate which it hath, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base.
40The hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets; and the covering for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pins; and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;
41the coloured clothes to minister in the sanctuary, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to act as priest in.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
33And they brought the tabernacle to Moses — the tent, and all its utensils, its clasps, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its bases;
34and the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the veil of separation;
35the ark of the testimony, and its staves, and the mercy-seat;
36the table, all its utensils, and the shewbread;
37the pure candlestick, its lamps, the lamps set in order, and all its utensils, and the oil for the light;
38and the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the incense of fragrant drugs; and the curtain for the entrance of the tent;
39the copper altar, and the copper grating that was for it, its staves and all its utensils; the laver and its stand;
40the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its bases; and the curtain for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pegs; and all the vessel's of service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;
41the garments of service, for service in the sanctuary; the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to serve as priests.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
33The cover of rams' skins dyed red, and the other cover of violet skins,
34The veil, the ark, the bars, the propitiatory,
35The table, with the vessels thereof, and the loaves of proposition:
36The candlestick, the lamps, and the furniture of them, with the oil:
37The altar of gold, and the ointment, and the incense of spices:
38And the hanging in the entry of the tabernacle:
39The altar of brass, the grate, the bars, and all the vessels thereof: the laver, with the foot thereof: the hangings of the court, and the pillars, with their sockets:
40The hanging in the entry of the court, and the little cords, and the pins thereof. Nothing was wanting of the vessels, that were commanded to be made for the ministry of the tabernacle, and for the roof of the covenant.
41The vestments also, which the priests, to wit, Aaron and his sons, use in the sanctuary,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 39:33
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
They brought the tabernacle to Moses for one clear reason: inspection. Commentators agree that Moses, who had seen the divine pattern on the mountain (Exodus 25:9, 40), was the only person qualified to verify whether the work matched God's specifications. Gill states that the items were brought 'that Moses might inspect the whole, and see whether it was done according to the pattern.' The Cambridge Bible notes that the complete list repeats the order given in Exodus 35:11, 19, and that after inspection Moses approved and blessed the work (v. 43). Keil and Delitzsch observe that the words 'according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses' appear as a refrain (vv. 32, 42, 43), emphasizing total obedience. The detailed inventory, covering everything from the ark to the tent pegs, shows that nothing was omitted. For the Israelites, this moment confirmed that their labour had been faithful. For the reader, it underscores a foundational principle: God's dwelling among His people requires precise obedience to His word. This passage reassures believers that God receives the work done in obedience and blesses it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The text clearly describes the delivery of completed tabernacle parts to Moses, who inspects them and blesses the workers—confirming that the work matches God's commands.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of bringing the components to Moses | All commentators affirm that the items were brought for Moses to inspect and approve before assembly. | Some focus on Moses as the sole authorized inspector; others highlight the communal accountability of the people. |
| Significance of the detailed inventory | The thoroughness of the list demonstrates that every item made according to God's command was accounted for. | There is no substantial debate; the repetition underscores completeness. |
| Identity of the leather covering (tahash) | The covering is made from a durable animal skin, variously identified as badger, dugong, dolphin, or seal. | Translations differ: KJV has 'badgers' skins,' WEB and BSB have 'sea cow hides' or 'fine leather.' The Hebrew word <em>tahash</em> is uncertain. |
Historical & Cultural Context
After receiving the law at Sinai, Israel built a sanctuary so God could dwell in their midst. The tabernacle was a portable tent shrine, designed for the wilderness journey. Its construction followed a 'pattern' shown to Moses (Exod 25:40). The work was carried out by gifted artisans Bezalel and Oholiab (Exod 36:1), and the people contributed materials. Exodus 39 records the conclusion of this project. In verses 33, 41, the craftsmen deliver all the components to Moses: the inner curtains (the 'dwelling'), the goat hair tent (the 'tent'), the protective coverings of ram skins and tahash leather (likely dugong skin), the veil for the Holy of Holies, the ark, the table, lampstand, altars, laver, courtyard hangings, and priestly garments. The order follows the list of materials requested in Exodus 35:11, 19. Bringing the pieces to Moses before assembly served two purposes. Practically, the tabernacle was too large and complex to move pre-assembled; it needed to be erected on site under Moses' direction. Theologically, Moses represented God's authority. His inspection ensured the work matched the heavenly pattern. As the Cambridge Bible notes, 'The things made are all brought to Moses, and (v. 43) approved by him.' Matthew Henry observes that the work was completed in only about five months, a remarkable feat given the complexity. This act closes the building phase and sets the stage for the tabernacle's erection in Exodus 40, when the glory of Yahweh would fill it. The repeated phrase 'as Yahweh commanded Moses' (vv. 32, 42, 43) ties the entire narrative to divine directive. For Israel, this was more than a construction report; it was a liturgy of accountability.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. One small point: in verse 41, the Cambridge Bible observes that the word 'and' before 'the holy garments' is absent in the Hebrew text, though many English translations add it for clarity. This does not affect meaning.
Reception History
This passage has been read throughout church history as a model of faithful service and accountability. Early Christian writers (e.g., Origen, Gregory of Nyssa) allegorized the tabernacle's construction as a figure of Christ and the Church, with Moses representing divine judgment approving the work of believers. Medieval interpreters similarly saw the inventory as a symbol of the virtues required for the soul to become a dwelling place for God. During the Reformation, the emphasis fell on obedience to God's expressed commands, with commentators like Calvin and Luther highlighting that worship must be regulated by Scripture. In modern times, the passage is often used in sermons on stewardship, leadership, and the importance of doing God's work according to His pattern. The moment of presentation before use has remained a touchstone for discussions about accountability in ministry.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Completion: The work was finished exactly as commanded (v.32). God's people can finish what He starts.
- Presentation: They brought it to Moses for inspection (vv.33-41). We are accountable to God for the quality of our service.
- Approval: Moses saw and blessed them (v.43). Faithful work receives God's blessing.
Five-point outline
- The assembly of the components (the list shows the comprehensive nature of the work).
- The obedience behind the list (each item 'as the Lord commanded').
- The leadership of Moses in evaluating the work.
- The unity of the people in contributing and working together.
- The blessing that follows faithful service.
Illustration hooks
- A contractor finishing a custom home and walking through every room with the architect to sign off on each detail.
- A student submitting a final project and waiting for the teacher's evaluation.
- A church building project where every window and beam is checked against the architect's plan.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God really care about the small details of how we worship and serve Him?
- What does it mean to have our work 'brought to Moses', is there accountability in the church today?
- How can we know if we are serving God faithfully, and what role do leaders play in confirming that?
Leading a Discussion
This passage invites us to reflect on the quality of our service to God and the importance of accountability in the community of faith. The tabernacle parts were presented to Moses for inspection; every piece counted. As you discuss, consider how your own work for God stands up to the pattern He has given in Scripture.
Discussion questions
- What impresses you about the list of items brought to Moses? Why do you think each detail was recorded?
- How does the repetition of 'as the Lord commanded' shape your understanding of this passage?
- Why do you think Moses had to inspect the work before it could be used? What does this teach about leadership and accountability?
- In what areas of your life do you need to 'bring your work' to God for inspection?
- How does the community effort of building the tabernacle encourage you about serving together in your church?
- What does Moses' blessing in verse 43 suggest about God's attitude toward faithful service?
- How does this passage prepare us for the next step (Exodus 40), when God's glory fills the tabernacle?
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 25:1 | Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, |
| Exodus 25:30 | You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always. |
| Exodus 31:7 | the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, |
| Exodus 31:11 | the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.” |
| Exodus 35:11 | the tabernacle, its outer covering, its roof, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; |
| Exodus 35:19 | the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons—to minister in the priest’s office.’” |
| Exodus 36:1 | “Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Yahweh has commanded.” |
| Exodus 36:38 | and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sockets were of bronze. |
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
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes the lamps of the pure candlestick required daily trimming and fresh oil to be ready for lighting each evening. This daily maintenance shows that the lamps were prepared throughout the day specifically for their evening purpose, not left unattended until needed.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary distinguishes "the Dwelling" (the inner curtains) from "the Tent" (the outer goats' hair covering), clarifying each component. It notes that the items are listed in the same order as in Exodus 35:11-19, and points out that the Hebrew text lacks the word "and" before "the holy garments."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw attention to the thorough inventory of the Tabernacle and all its furnishings presented to Moses. This detailed listing emphasizes that every piece, from the sacred vessels to the tent fastenings, was prepared exactly according to God’s command, leaving nothing incomplete. Each item’s inclusion demonstrates the people’s precise obedience.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the tabernacle's parts were brought to Moses for inspection, not merely for assembly. The purpose was for Moses to verify personally that every piece matched the pattern God had shown him on the mountain and the instructions he had passed to the workers.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB identifies the two outer coverings of the tabernacle with specific materials: the red rams' skins were likely red morocco leather, and the "badgers' skins" refer to the skin of the tahash, a creature probably the dugong or dolphin of the Red Sea, still used by Arabs under that name.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch clarify that "the tent" in this passage refers specifically to the two cloth layers: the inner, colorful fabric that covered the boards and the outer goats' hair covering. The structural elements like boards and pillars are listed only after the tent-cloth hooks, showing they serve merely to spread the cloths into a dwelling.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the repeated refrain "as Jehovah commanded" shows the people's joyful generosity did not produce careless work but exact obedience. Their enthusiasm and punctilious compliance with the law, rendered through Moses, demonstrated that the Old covenant order was restored.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the remarkable speed with which the tabernacle was finished: only about five months for such elaborate work in gold, embroidery, and precious stones. For Matthew Henry, this promptness reflects the people's wholehearted obedience to God's command, making the quick completion itself a notable act of faithfulness.