The Fallible · Synthetic · Study Bible

Exodus36:20–34

The Frames and Bases

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Exodus 36:20–34 — The Frames and Bases. Each verse below carries the full apparatus: the Berean Standard Bible, the vocalized original (tap any word), and a parsed breakdown of every term transcribed from the interlinear. Synthesized commentary, canonical threads, and the reading of Christ gather at the end, over the whole unit.

20“Next, he constructed upright frames of acacia wood for the taber…”+

20Next, he constructed upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·ya·‘aś ’eṯ- ‘ō·mə·ḏîm haq·qə·rā·šîm šiṭ·ṭîm ‘ă·ṣê lam·miš·kān

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-he-made the-frames standing-upright for-the-tabernacle, [of] acacia wood.

Where the English smooths the original

  • עֹמְדִֽים The original ‘ōmᵉḏîm (H5975) is a Qal participle of ‘âmad, "standing/standing-upright," not the adjective "upright." The plank does not merely possess verticality as a static trait — it is described in the act of standing, a living posture pressed onto dead timber.
  • הַקְּרָשִׁ֖ים BSB "frames" smooths haqqᵉrāšîm (H7175), whose root qeresh means a bare "slab or plank" — a flat board, not a constructed frame. The English implies a finished joinery the Hebrew leaves as raw, upright boards.
  • שִׁטִּ֖ים "Acacia" renders šiṭṭîm (H7848), named — per Strong's — "from its scourging thorns." The desert's most thorn-armored, rot-resistant tree becomes the bone of God's house; the gloss "acacia" hides the thorn.
  • לַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן "For the tabernacle" flattens lammiškān (H4908), from mishkân, literally "dwelling-place / residence." Cambridge renders it "the Dwelling." The word names not a tent-of-meeting function but the simple fact of God's dwelling with men.
Word by word7 · parsed+
וַיַּ֥עַשׂway·ya·‘aśNext, he constructedH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
way-ya‘aś — Qal consecutive imperfect, "and he made." The whole unit is governed by this single anonymous "he," which Gill notes may refer to Moses, to Bezalel, or to "each and everyone of the artificers severally concerned" — and Keil reads as an indefinite subject, "corresponding to the German man (the French on)."
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
עֹמְדִֽים׃‘ō·mə·ḏîmuprightH5975
√ ʻâmad — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)VerbQalParticiplemasculine plural
‘ōmᵉḏîm — "standing." Geneva supplies the structural reason: the boards stand "to bear up the curtains of the tabernacle." The participle marks the frames as the load-bearing skeleton beneath the woven beauty of the curtains already described.
הַקְּרָשִׁ֖יםhaq·qə·rā·šîmframesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine plural
haqqᵉrāšîm (H7175) — qeresh, the keyword of the entire passage, appearing some thirty-four times in Scripture and clustered almost wholly in the tabernacle chapters. A rare word for a single sacred object: the upright board of the Dwelling.
שִׁטִּ֖יםšiṭ·ṭîmof acaciaH7848
√ shiṭṭâh — the acacia (from its scourging thorns)Nounfeminine plural
עֲצֵ֥י‘ă·ṣêwoodH6086
√ ʻêts — a tree (from its firmness)Nounmasculine plural construct
לַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ןlam·miš·kānfor the tabernacleH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the gravePreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
lammiškān (H4908) — "the Dwelling." The whole point of the joinery: a place where God will dwell. Matthew Henry hears in it the gospel — "the Word being made flesh... he did tabernacle among us."
The Voices✦ public domain+
After the construction of the roof, that of the walls is described, the order of Exodus 26 being still followed. Exodus 36:20-34 correspond to Exodus 36:15-29 of Exodus 26. The correspondence is closer than would appear from the Authorised Version.
And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, {f} standing up. (f) And to bear up the curtains of the tabernacle.
This was the design of the tabernacle of witness, a visible testimony of the love of God to the race of men, however they were fallen from their first state. And this love was shown by Christ's taking up his abode on earth; by the Word being made flesh, Joh 1:14, wherein, as the original expresses it, he did tabernacle among us.
Henry's note runs over the whole chapter (36:1-38); the closing Christological line is excerpted here.
the tabernacle ] the Dwelling. So vv. 22, 23, &c.
Did the part assigned him, what he was fittest for, and most skilful in
Gill on the chapter's "wise-hearted" workers; excerpted to name the gift-fitted division of labor under the anonymous "he made."
Such a report reflects the highest honor on their character as men of the strictest honor and integrity
JFB's raw note for this verse is actually on Exodus 36:5 (the workmen halting the over-giving), not on the boards; quoted here only to round out the chapter's portrait of the craftsmen, with its mis-anchoring flagged.
21“Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.”+

21Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

haq·qā·reš ‘e·śer ʾam·mō·wṯ ’ō·reḵ wə·’am·māh wa·ḥă·ṣî hā·’am·māh rō·ḥaḇ haq·qe·reš hā·’e·ḥāḏ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

Ten cubits [was] the-length of-the-frame, and-a-cubit and-half the-cubit [was] the-width of-the-frame, the-one.

Where the English smooths the original

  • אֹ֣רֶךְ BSB's smooth "ten cubits long" reorders the Hebrew, which fronts the number — ‘eśer ’ammôṯ ’ōreḵ, "ten cubits [is the] length." Measure precedes thing measured; the dimension is the point, not the board.
  • הָאֶחָֽד The terminal hā-’eḥāḏ (H259), "the one [board]," is dropped entirely by the English "each frame." The Hebrew specifies a single representative plank whose measure stands for all — particular before general, a unit (the literal sense of ’eḥâd) before the set.
Word by word10 · parsed+
הַקָּ֑רֶשׁhaq·qā·rešEach frameH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine singular
haqqā́reš — the singular of qeresh; the verse drops from the plural of v.20 to one board, giving its exact span: ten cubits by a cubit and a half (roughly 15 ft by 27 in).
עֶ֥שֶׂר‘e·śer[was] tenH6235
√ ʻeser — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)Numberfeminine singular construct
אַמֹּ֖ותʾam·mō·wṯcubitsH520
√ ʼammâh — properly, a mother (iNounfeminine plural
אֹ֣רֶךְ’ō·reḵlongH753
√ ʼôrek — lengthNounmasculine singular construct
וְאַמָּה֙wə·’am·māhand a cubitH520
√ ʼammâh — properly, a mother (iConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular
וַחֲצִ֣יwa·ḥă·ṣîand a halfH2677
√ chêtsîy — the half or middleConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
הָֽאַמָּ֔הhā·’am·māh. . .H520
√ ʼammâh — properly, a mother (iArticleNounfeminine singular
רֹ֖חַבrō·ḥaḇwideH7341
√ rôchab — width (literally or figuratively)Nounmasculine singular construct
הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁhaq·qe·reš. . .H7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine singular
הָאֶחָֽד׃hā·’e·ḥāḏH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumbermasculine singular
hā-’eḥāḏ (H259) — "the one." Strong's notes the root means "properly, united, i.e. one"; uniformity is built in from the first plank. Every board is cut to the measure of the one.
The Voices✦ public domain+
The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.
the wooden boards and bolts ( Exodus 36:20-34 , as in Exodus 26:15-30 )
Excerpted from Keil's structural outline of the whole execution-section (36:8-38:20).
22“Two tenons were connected to each other for each frame. He made …”+

22Two tenons were connected to each other for each frame. He made all the frames of the tabernacle in this way.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šə·tê yā·ḏōṯ mə·šul·lā·ḇōṯ ’el- hā·’e·ḥāḏ ’a·ḥaṯ ’e·ḥāṯ laq·qe·reš ‘ā·śāh lə·ḵōl qar·šê ham·miš·kān kên

Literal — word-for-word from the original

Two tenons to-the-frame, the-one, joined one to-another; thus he-did for-all the-frames of-the-tabernacle.

Where the English smooths the original

  • יָדֹ֗ת "Tenons" renders yāḏōṯ (H3027), the plural of yâd, "hand." These are not abstract joints but "hands" — projecting wooden hands by which each board grips its silver base. The bodily metaphor (a board with hands and feet) is lost in the carpentry term.
  • מְשֻׁלָּבֹ֔ת mᵉšullāḇōṯ (H7947) is a Pual participle, "having been set-in-order / clamped," passive and stative. The Pulpit Commentary corrects the older "equally distant" to "set in order one against another"; Cambridge calls it "clamped together." The English "connected" loses the precision of the rung-like ordering.
Word by word13 · parsed+
שְׁתֵּ֣יšə·têTwoH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoNumberfeminine dual construct
יָדֹ֗תyā·ḏōṯtenonsH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcNounfeminine plural
yāḏōṯ (H3027) — "hands," used here for the projecting tenons. The same word names the open hand "indicating power, means, direction" (Strong's); the board reaches downward with hands to be held.
מְשֻׁלָּבֹ֔תmə·šul·lā·ḇōṯwere connectedH7947
√ shâlab — to space offVerbPualParticiplefeminine plural
mᵉšullāḇōṯ (H7947) — the Pual of šâlab, "to space off," a rare technical verb of joinery used almost only of these boards. The participle keeps the boards permanently in their fitted state.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
הָֽאֶחָ֔דhā·’e·ḥāḏeachH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumbermasculine singular
אַחַ֖ת’a·ḥaṯotherH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iNumberfeminine singular
אֶחָ֑ת’e·ḥāṯfor eachH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iNumberfeminine singular
לַקֶּ֙רֶשׁ֙laq·qe·rešframeH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankPreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
עָשָׂ֔ה‘ā·śāhHe madeH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
‘āśāh — Qal perfect, "he made"; Keil observes these third-singular verbs carry an indefinite subject ("one made"), the craftsmen acting as a single obedient hand.
לְכֹ֖לlə·ḵōlallH3605
√ kôl — properly, the wholePreposition-lNounmasculine singular construct
קַרְשֵׁ֥יqar·šêthe framesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankNounmasculine plural construct
הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ham·miš·kānof the tabernacleH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveArticleNounmasculine singular
כֵּ֣ןkênin this wayH3651
√ kên — properly, set uprightAdverb
The Voices✦ public domain+
Two tenons, equally distant one from another . Rather, as in Exodus 26:17 , "two tenons, set in order one against an other ."
joined ] clamped together. See on Exodus 26:17 .
One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
23“He constructed twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacl…”+

23He constructed twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·ya·‘aś ’eṯ- haq·qə·rā·šîm ‘eś·rîm qə·rā·šîm ne·ḡeḇ tê·mā·nāh lip̄·’aṯ lam·miš·kān

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-he-made the-frames for-the-tabernacle: twenty frames for-the-side-of the-Negev, southward.

Where the English smooths the original

  • נֶ֥גֶב BSB "south side" levels two distinct Hebrew words. negeḇ (H5045) is properly "the dry" — the parched southland (the Negev), named "from its drought." The direction is named by a place, and the place by its thirst.
  • תֵּימָֽנָה Paired with negeḇ is têmānāh (H8486), "southward" — literally the direction "on the right hand of a person facing the east." Hebrew orientation faces the sunrise, so "south" is encoded as "the right." The English compass-word erases the body that orients it.
Word by word9 · parsed+
וַיַּ֥עַשׂway·ya·‘aśHe constructedH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
הַקְּרָשִׁ֖יםhaq·qə·rā·šîmH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine plural
עֶשְׂרִ֣ים‘eś·rîmtwentyH6242
√ ʻesrîym — twentyNumbercommon plural
‘eśrîm qᵉrāšîm — twenty boards for the long south wall. The dwelling is laid out by its first and sunniest flank.
קְרָשִׁ֔יםqə·rā·šîmframesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankNounmasculine plural
נֶ֥גֶבne·ḡeḇfor the southH5045
√ negeb — the south (from its drought)Nounfeminine singular
negeḇ (H5045) — "the south, from its drought." The placement begins on the desert-facing side, the wall that meets the wilderness through which Israel travels.
תֵּימָֽנָה׃tê·mā·nāh. . .H8486
√ têymân — the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east)Nounfeminine singularthird person feminine singular
têmānāh (H8486) — "to the right hand," i.e. southward for one facing east. Geography is read off the human frame turned toward the dawn.
לִפְאַ֖תlip̄·’aṯsideH6285
√ pêʼâh — properly, mouth in a figurative sense, iPreposition-lNounfeminine singular construct
לַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ןlam·miš·kānof the tabernacleH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the gravePreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:
the south side southward ] See on Exodus 26:18 .
24“with forty silver bases to put under the twenty frames—two bases…”+

24with forty silver bases to put under the twenty frames—two bases for each frame, one under each tenon.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

‘ā·śāh wə·’ar·bā·‘îm ḵe·sep̄ ’aḏ·nê- ta·ḥaṯ ‘eś·rîm haq·qə·rā·šîm šə·nê ’ă·ḏā·nîm ta·ḥaṯ- haq·qe·reš hā·’e·ḥāḏ liš·tê yə·ḏō·ṯāw ū·šə·nê ’ă·ḏā·nîm ta·ḥaṯ- haq·qe·reš hā·’e·ḥāḏ liš·tê yə·ḏō·ṯāw

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-forty bases of-silver he-made under the-twenty frames: two bases under the-one frame for-its-two tenons, and-two bases under the-one frame for-its-two tenons.

Where the English smooths the original

  • אַדְנֵי־ "Bases" renders ’aḏnê (H134), from ’eden, "a basis (of a building, a column)." This is the foundation-word; it is no accident that the divine name Adonai shares the consonants — the board's foundation bears the same root sound as "Lord." The flat English "base" passes the resonance by.
  • כֶ֔סֶף "Silver" is keseḟ (H3701), named "from its pale color," and — per Exodus 38 — the silver of the bases came specifically from the atonement-money, the ransom of each numbered soul. The English "silver" carries none of that costly provenance.
  • יְדֹתָ֔יו "Tenon" again flattens yᵉḏōṯāyw (H3027), "its hands." Two silver foundations receive the two wooden hands of each board: the board does not stand on the ground but is socketed into silver — held, not merely placed.
Word by word21 · parsed+
עָשָׂ֕ה‘ā·śāh[with]H6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
וְאַרְבָּעִים֙wə·’ar·bā·‘îmfortyH705
√ ʼarbâʻîym — fortyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural
כֶ֔סֶףḵe·sep̄silverH3701
√ keçeph — silver (from its pale color)Nounmasculine singular
אַדְנֵי־’aḏ·nê-basesH134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural construct
’aḏnê (H134) — "bases / sockets," the literal foundation of the whole structure. Forty of them under the twenty south boards: every board grips two.
תַּ֖חַתta·ḥaṯto put underH8478
√ tachath — the bottom (as depressed)Preposition
עֶשְׂרִ֣ים‘eś·rîmthe twentyH6242
√ ʻesrîym — twentyNumbercommon plural
הַקְּרָשִׁ֑יםhaq·qə·rā·šîmframesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine plural
שְׁנֵ֨יšə·nêtwoH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoNumbermasculine dual construct
אֲדָנִ֜ים’ă·ḏā·nîmbasesH134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural
’ăḏānîm — the repeated foundation-word; the verse hammers the pattern "two bases under the one... two bases under the one," so that no board stands without a double footing.
תַּֽחַת־ta·ḥaṯ-H8478
√ tachath — the bottom (as depressed)Preposition
הַקֶּ֤רֶשׁhaq·qe·rešfor each frameH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine singular
הָאֶחָד֙hā·’e·ḥāḏoneH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumbermasculine singular
לִשְׁתֵּ֣יliš·têH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoPreposition-lNumberfeminine dual construct
יְדֹתָ֔יוyə·ḏō·ṯāwH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcNounfeminine plural constructthird person masculine singular
yᵉḏōṯāyw — "its two hands," the board's tenons, each dropped into its own silver socket; "hand" and "base" meet at the foundation.
וּשְׁנֵ֧יū·šə·nêH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoConjunctive wawNumbermasculine dual construct
אֲדָנִ֛ים’ă·ḏā·nîmH134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural
תַּֽחַת־ta·ḥaṯ-underH8478
√ tachath — the bottom (as depressed)Preposition
הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁhaq·qe·rešH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine singular
הָאֶחָ֖דhā·’e·ḥāḏeachH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumbermasculine singular
לִשְׁתֵּ֥יliš·têH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoPreposition-lNumberfeminine dual construct
יְדֹתָֽיו׃yə·ḏō·ṯāwtenonH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcNounfeminine plural constructthird person masculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.
sockets ] bases ; see on Exodus 26:19 . So in the sequel.
25“For the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made t…”+

25For the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty frames

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

haš·šê·nîṯ ū·lə·ṣe·la‘ ham·miš·kān ṣā·p̄ō·wn lip̄·’aṯ ‘ā·śāh ‘eś·rîm qə·rā·šîm

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-for-the-side-of the-tabernacle, the-second, to-the-north, he-made twenty frames,

Where the English smooths the original

  • צֶ֧לַע "Side" renders ṣela‘ (H6763), whose root means "a rib (as curved)." The wall of the dwelling is its rib — the same word used of the rib taken from Adam in Genesis 2. The architectural "side" hides the anatomical image of a body's ribcage enclosing a sacred space.
  • צָפ֑וֹן "North" is ṣāḟôn (H6828), "properly, hidden" — the dark, sunless quarter. Where the south (v.23) was named by drought, the north is named by concealment; the dwelling is oriented by the felt character of each direction, not by an abstract compass.
Word by word8 · parsed+
הַשֵּׁנִ֖יתhaš·šê·nîṯFor the secondH8145
√ shênîy — properly, double, iArticleNumberordinal feminine singular
haššēnîṯ (H8145) — "the second," from a root meaning "properly, double." The north wall mirrors the south: twenty boards answering twenty, a built symmetry.
וּלְצֶ֧לַעū·lə·ṣe·la‘sideH6763
√ tsêlâʻ — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, iConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounfeminine singular construct
ṣela‘ (H6763) — "rib / side." The tabernacle's long walls are its ribs; Strong's notes the word is used "literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door)."
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ןham·miš·kānof the tabernacleH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveArticleNounmasculine singular
צָפ֑וֹןṣā·p̄ō·wnthe northH6828
√ tsâphôwn — properly, hidden, iNounfeminine singular
ṣāḟôn (H6828) — "the north, properly hidden." The shaded flank, balancing the bright Negev side.
לִפְאַ֣תlip̄·’aṯsideH6285
√ pêʼâh — properly, mouth in a figurative sense, iPreposition-lNounfeminine singular construct
עָשָׂ֖ה‘ā·śāhhe madeH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
עֶשְׂרִ֥ים‘eś·rîmtwentyH6242
√ ʻesrîym — twentyNumbercommon plural
קְרָשִֽׁים׃qə·rā·šîmframesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankNounmasculine plural
The Voices✦ public domain+
And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,
the verbs עשׂה in Exodus 36:8 , ויחבּר in Exodus 36:10 , etc., are in the third person singular with an indefinite subject, corresponding to the German man (the French on).
Keil's grammatical observation on the section's anonymous "he made."
26“and forty silver bases—two bases under each frame.”+

26and forty silver bases—two bases under each frame.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·’ar·bā·‘îm kā·sep̄ ’aḏ·nê·hem šə·nê ’ă·ḏā·nîm ta·ḥaṯ hā·’e·ḥāḏ haq·qe·reš ū·šə·nê ’ă·ḏā·nîm ta·ḥaṯ hā·’e·ḥāḏ haq·qe·reš

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-their-forty bases of-silver: two bases under the-one frame, and-two bases under the-one frame.

Where the English smooths the original

  • אַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם "Bases" again is ’aḏnêhem (H134), "their foundations," with the suffix "their" the BSB folds into the bare plural. The north wall, like the south, rests on its own forty silver footings — the symmetry of foundation is exact, not approximate.
  • הָאֶחָ֔ד The repeated hā-’eḥāḏ (H259), "the one," is again generalized to "each." The Hebrew insists board by board: "two under the one... two under the one," refusing to lump the count, as if each plank were weighed alone.
Word by word13 · parsed+
וְאַרְבָּעִ֥יםwə·’ar·bā·‘îmand fortyH705
√ ʼarbâʻîym — fortyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural
כָּ֑סֶףkā·sep̄silverH3701
√ keçeph — silver (from its pale color)Nounmasculine singular
אַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם’aḏ·nê·hembasesH134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
’aḏnêhem (H134) — "their bases"; forty more silver sockets matching the south side, eighty in all for the two long walls.
שְׁנֵ֣יšə·nêtwoH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoNumbermasculine dual construct
אֲדָנִ֗ים’ă·ḏā·nîmbasesH134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural
’ăḏānîm — the foundation-noun repeated; the verse's whole rhythm is the doubling of footings under each single board.
תַּ֚חַתta·ḥaṯunderH8478
√ tachath — the bottom (as depressed)Preposition
הָאֶחָ֔דhā·’e·ḥāḏH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumbermasculine singular
הַקֶּ֣רֶשׁhaq·qe·rešH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine singular
וּשְׁנֵ֣יū·šə·nêH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoConjunctive wawNumbermasculine dual construct
אֲדָנִ֔ים’ă·ḏā·nîmH134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural
תַּ֖חַתta·ḥaṯH8478
√ tachath — the bottom (as depressed)Preposition
הָאֶחָֽד׃hā·’e·ḥāḏeachH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumbermasculine singular
הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁhaq·qe·rešframeH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
it is all along said "he" did this and the other; either referring to Moses, by whose orders they were done, or to Bezaleel, the chief director of the work, or to each and everyone of the artificers severally concerned.
Gill's note is on the chapter's anonymous subject; excerpted here.
27“He made six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side…”+

27He made six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

‘ā·śāh šiš·šāh qə·rā·šîm ū·lə·yar·kə·ṯê ham·miš·kān yām·māh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-for-the-flanks of-the-tabernacle seaward he-made six frames.

Where the English smooths the original

  • יַרְכְּתֵ֥י "Rear" renders yarkᵉṯê (H3411), from yᵉrêkâh, "properly, the flank" — the recessed hindmost part, the same word used for the "sides" of a cave or the innermost recesses. The west end is the dwelling's hidden back; "rear" is functional, but the Hebrew evokes the body's flank again.
  • יָ֑מָּה "The west side" is yāmmāh (H3220), literally "toward the sea" — yâm, "a sea (as breaking in noisy surf)." Geneva glosses it "toward the Mediterranean Sea, west of Jerusalem." Israel's west is the sea; the compass-point is named by the water that bounds the land.
Word by word6 · parsed+
עָשָׂ֖ה‘ā·śāhHe madeH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
שִׁשָּׁ֥הšiš·šāhsixH8337
√ shêsh — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand)Numbermasculine singular
šiššāh qᵉrāšîm — only six boards close the back wall, against twenty on each long side; the dwelling is a long rectangle open at the east toward the rising sun.
קְרָשִֽׁים׃qə·rā·šîmframesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankNounmasculine plural
וּֽלְיַרְכְּתֵ֥יū·lə·yar·kə·ṯêfor the rearH3411
√ yᵉrêkâh — properly, the flankConjunctive waw, Preposition-lNounfeminine dual construct
yarkᵉṯê (H3411) — "flanks / hindmost parts," the rear of the structure. The Pulpit Commentary prefers the singular: "for the side, or for the back."
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ןham·miš·kānof the tabernacleH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveArticleNounmasculine singular
יָ֑מָּהyām·māhthe west sideH3220
√ yâm — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterNounmasculine singularthird person feminine singular
yāmmāh (H3220) — "seaward," the Hebrew word for west, fixed by the sea on Israel's western horizon.
The Voices✦ public domain+
For the sides of the tabernacle westward. Literally correct; but it would be more intelligible to render "for the side ," or "for the back ."
And for the sides of the tabernacle {g} westward he made six boards. (g) Or, toward the Mediterranean Sea, west of Jerusalem,
28“and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle,”+

28and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

‘ā·śāh ū·šə·nê qə·rā·šîm bay·yar·ḵā·ṯā·yim lim·quṣ·‘ōṯ ham·miš·kān

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-two frames he-made for-the-corners of-the-tabernacle at-the-two-flanks.

Where the English smooths the original

  • מְקֻצְעֹ֖ת "Corners" renders mᵉquṣ‘ōṯ (H4742), "an angle" — and v.29 supplies a second corner-word, maqtsôa‘ (H4740), "an angle or recess." Two distinct angle-nouns describe the same joinery; the English single "corners" cannot show the text's deliberate doubling of the corner-vocabulary.
  • בַּיַּרְכָתָֽיִם "For the two back" renders bayyarkāṯāyim (H3411), the dual of yᵉrêkâh, "flank." The dual form names exactly two flanks meeting; the corner boards are placed where the rear wall turns to join the two long sides — the angle where flank meets flank.
Word by word6 · parsed+
עָשָׂ֔ה‘ā·śāh[and]H6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
וּשְׁנֵ֤יū·šə·nêtwoH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoConjunctive wawNumbermasculine dual construct
ū-šᵉnê qᵉrāšîm — two extra boards beyond the six of v.27, fitted at the back angles to brace the structure where the walls turn.
קְרָשִׁים֙qə·rā·šîmframesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankNounmasculine plural
בַּיַּרְכָתָֽיִם׃bay·yar·ḵā·ṯā·yimfor the two backH3411
√ yᵉrêkâh — properly, the flankPreposition-b, ArticleNounfd
לִמְקֻצְעֹ֖תlim·quṣ·‘ōṯcornersH4742
√ mᵉqutsʻâh — an anglePreposition-lNounfeminine plural
mᵉquṣ‘ōṯ (H4742) — "corners / angles," a rare architectural term; these corner boards solve the engineering of a square join in a board-built wall.
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ןham·miš·kānof the tabernacleH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveArticleNounmasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.
Preparation of the dwelling-place: viz., the hangings and covering ( Exodus 36:8-19 , as in Exodus 26:1-14 ); the wooden boards and bolts ( Exodus 36:20-34 , as in Exodus 26:15-30 )
Keil's outline placing the boards-and-bolts section within the whole.
29“coupled together from bottom to top and fitted into a single rin…”+

29coupled together from bottom to top and fitted into a single ring. He made both corners in this way.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·hā·yū ṯō·w·’ă·mim mil·lə·maṭ·ṭāh wə·yaḥ·dāw yih·yū ṯam·mîm ’el- rō·šōw ’el- hā·’e·ḥāṯ haṭ·ṭab·ba·‘aṯ ‘ā·śāh liš·nê·hem liš·nê ham·miq·ṣō·‘ōṯ kên

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-they-were twinned from-beneath, and-together they-were complete to its-head, to the-one ring; thus he-did for-both-of-them, for-the-two corners.

Where the English smooths the original

  • תוֹאֲמִם֮ "Coupled together" renders tô’ămim (H8380), "a twin" — the word for Jacob's and Esau's twinning in the womb, and the name Thomas (Didymus). The corner boards are "twins," not merely coupled; the kinship-metaphor under the carpentry is lost.
  • תַמִּים֙ "Fitted" stands in for tammim (H8535), from tâm, "complete / perfect / whole" — the very word used of Noah and of the unblemished sacrifice. The corner-joint is not just "fitted" but made whole/perfect, top to bottom; BSB's "fitted into a single ring" reads the result while dropping the word for completeness.
  • רֹאשׁ֔וֹ "Top" renders rōšô (H7218), "its head" — rôš, the head "as most easily shaken," used of persons, places, ranks. The board has a "head" as it has "hands" (v.22); the body-language is sustained, where "top" is merely spatial.
Word by word16 · parsed+
וְהָי֣וּwə·hā·yūH1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectthird person common plural
wᵉhāyû — "and they were"; Cambridge calls v.29 "this difficult verse" (see on 26:24). The exact engineering of the doubled corner board is debated, but its aim is clear: rigidity at the angle.
תוֹאֲמִם֮ṯō·w·’ă·mimcoupled togetherH8380
√ tâʼôwm — a twin (in plural only), literally or figurativelyNounmasculine plural
tô’ămim (H8380) — "twinned." The two corner boards are joined as twins, paired from bottom to head and gathered at a single ring.
מִלְּמַטָּה֒mil·lə·maṭ·ṭāhfrom bottomH4295
√ maṭṭâh — downward, below or beneathPreposition-m, Preposition-lAdverb
וְיַחְדָּ֗וwə·yaḥ·dāw. . .H3162
√ yachad — properly, a unit, iConjunctive wawAdverb
יִהְי֤וּyih·yū. . .H1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iVerbQalImperfectthird person masculine plural
תַמִּים֙ṯam·mîm. . .H8535
√ tâm — completeAdjectivemasculine plural
tammim (H8535) — "whole / complete." The joint is to be perfect through its full height; the same root names moral integrity (Gen 6:9). Here, applied to timber, it asks for flawless workmanship.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
רֹאשׁ֔וֹrō·šōwtopH7218
√ rôʼsh — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itcNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine singular
אֶל־’el-and fitted intoH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
הָאֶחָ֑תhā·’e·ḥāṯa singleH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumberfeminine singular
הַטַּבַּ֖עַתhaṭ·ṭab·ba·‘aṯringH2885
√ ṭabbaʻath — properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), iArticleNounfeminine singular
haṭṭabba‘aṯ (H2885) — "the ring," from a root for a seal sunk into wax; a single ring binds the twinned corner boards at the head.
עָשָׂ֣ה‘ā·śāhHe madeH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
לִשְׁנֵיהֶ֔םliš·nê·hembothH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoPreposition-lNumbermasculine dual constructthird person masculine plural
לִשְׁנֵ֖יliš·nêH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoPreposition-lNumbermasculine dual construct
הַמִּקְצֹעֹֽת׃ham·miq·ṣō·‘ōṯcornersH4740
√ maqtsôwaʻ — an angle or recessArticleNounmasculine plural
כֵּ֚ןkênin this wayH3651
√ kên — properly, set uprightAdverb
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And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.
On this difficult verse, see on Exodus 26:24 .
30“So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under ea…”+

30So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·hā·yū šə·mō·nāh qə·rā·šîm šiš·šāh ‘ā·śār ke·sep̄ wə·’aḏ·nê·hem šə·nê ’ă·ḏā·nîm šə·nê ’ă·ḏā·nîm ’ă·ḏā·nîm ta·ḥaṯ hā·’e·ḥāḏ haq·qe·reš

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-there-were eight frames, and-their-bases of-silver, sixteen bases: two bases, two bases, under the-one frame.

Where the English smooths the original

  • וְהָיוּ֙ "So there were" renders wᵉhāyû (H1961), from hâyâh, "to exist, to come to pass" — the great being-verb of "I AM." The summary line literally says the boards "came to be / existed": eight, sixteen-based. A tally is also a record of what was brought into being by the making.
  • אֲדָנִ֑ים The Hebrew of this verse is famously cramped: ’ăḏānîm ("bases") is repeated where Exodus 26:25 spelled out "under the one board... and under the one board." Ellicott judges that the phrase "takhath hak-keresh ha-ekhâd, which ought to have been repeated twice... have accidentally fallen out here in one place." The smooth English "two under each frame" silently supplies what the consonants leave terse.
Word by word15 · parsed+
וְהָיוּ֙wə·hā·yūSo there wereH1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectthird person common plural
שְׁמֹנָ֣הšə·mō·nāheightH8083
√ shᵉmôneh — a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven)Numbermasculine singular
šᵉmōnāh qᵉrāšîm — "eight boards" total at the back: the six of v.27 plus the two corner boards of v.28, summed here.
קְרָשִׁ֔יםqə·rā·šîmframesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankNounmasculine plural
שִׁשָּׁ֥הšiš·šāhand sixteenH8337
√ shêsh — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand)Numbermasculine singular
šiššāh ‘āśār — "sixteen" silver bases for the eight back boards, completing the count of the western foundations.
עָשָׂ֖ר‘ā·śār. . .H6240
√ ʻâsâr — ten (only in combination), iNumbermasculine singular
כֶּ֔סֶףke·sep̄silverH3701
√ keçeph — silver (from its pale color)Nounmasculine singular
וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֣םwə·’aḏ·nê·hembasesH134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcConjunctive wawNounmasculine plural constructthird person masculine plural
wᵉ-’aḏnêhem (H134) — "and their bases"; Ellicott reads a haplography here, the repeated foundation-clause having dropped out of the Masoretic text once. A frank textual seam.
שְׁנֵ֤יšə·nêtwoH8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoNumbermasculine dual construct
אֲדָנִים֙’ă·ḏā·nîm. . .H134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural
שְׁנֵ֣יšə·nê. . .H8147
√ shᵉnayim — twoNumbermasculine dual construct
אֲדָנִ֔ים’ă·ḏā·nîm. . .H134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural
אֲדָנִ֑ים’ă·ḏā·nîmH134
√ ʼeden — a basis (of a building, a column, etcNounmasculine plural
תַּ֖חַתta·ḥaṯunderH8478
√ tachath — the bottom (as depressed)Preposition
הָאֶחָֽד׃hā·’e·ḥāḏeachH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumbermasculine singular
הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁhaq·qe·rešframeH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
Under every board two sockets. —This is undoubtedly the true meaning; but it can scarcely be elicited from the present text. The words, takhath hak-keresh ha-ekhâd, which ought to have been repeated twice, as they are in Exodus 26:25 , have accidentally fallen out here in one place.
And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.
31“He also made five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one…”+

31He also made five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one side of the tabernacle,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·ya·‘aś ḥă·miš·šāh bə·rî·ḥê šiṭ·ṭîm ‘ă·ṣê lə·qar·šê hā·’e·ḥāṯ ṣe·la‘- ham·miš·kān

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-he-made five crossbars of-acacia wood, for-the-frames of the-one rib of-the-tabernacle,

Where the English smooths the original

  • בְּרִיחֵ֖י "Crossbars" renders bᵉrîḥê (H1280), from bᵉrîyach, "a bolt" — a bar that bolts shut, of the same root as the verb "to flee/bolt through" (v.33). The bars are not merely horizontal rails but locking bolts that bind the standing boards into one wall.
  • צֶֽלַע "Side" again renders ṣela‘ (H6763), "a rib (as curved)." The bolts run along the dwelling's rib; the body-image of the wall as ribcage (cf. v.25) recurs precisely where the bars hold the ribs together.
Word by word9 · parsed+
וַיַּ֥עַשׂway·ya·‘aśHe also madeH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
חֲמִשָּׁ֕הḥă·miš·šāhfiveH2568
√ châmêsh — fiveNumbermasculine singular
ḥămiššāh — "five" bars per side; the standing boards, otherwise free, are belted by five horizontal bolts into a single rigid panel.
בְּרִיחֵ֖יbə·rî·ḥêcrossbarsH1280
√ bᵉrîyach — a boltNounmasculine plural construct
bᵉrîḥê (H1280) — "bolts / crossbars," a relatively rare word (some thirty-six occurrences), clustered in the tabernacle and in poetry of gates that are "barred."
שִׁטִּ֑יםšiṭ·ṭîmof acaciaH7848
√ shiṭṭâh — the acacia (from its scourging thorns)Nounfeminine plural
עֲצֵ֣י‘ă·ṣêwoodH6086
√ ʻêts — a tree (from its firmness)Nounmasculine plural construct
לְקַרְשֵׁ֥יlə·qar·šêfor the framesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankPreposition-lNounmasculine plural construct
הָאֶחָֽת׃hā·’e·ḥāṯon oneH259
√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iArticleNumberfeminine singular
צֶֽלַע־ṣe·la‘-sideH6763
√ tsêlâʻ — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, iNounfeminine singular construct
ṣela‘ (H6763) — "rib / side"; the bars are reckoned per rib-wall of the Dwelling.
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ןham·miš·kānof the tabernacleH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveArticleNounmasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
As these have all been already explained, the only thing remaining to be noticed here is, that the verbs עשׂה in Exodus 36:8 , ויחבּר in Exodus 36:10 , etc., are in the third person singular with an indefinite subject
32“five for those on the other side, and five for those on the rear…”+

32five for those on the other side, and five for those on the rear side of the tabernacle, to the west.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wa·ḥă·miš·šāh ḇə·rî·ḥim lə·qar·šê haš·šê·nîṯ ṣe·la‘- ham·miš·kān wa·ḥă·miš·šāh ḇə·rî·ḥim lə·qar·šê lay·yar·ḵā·ṯa·yim ham·miš·kān yām·māh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

and-five crossbars for-the-frames of-the-second rib of-the-tabernacle, and-five crossbars for-the-frames of-the-tabernacle for-the-flanks seaward.

Where the English smooths the original

  • הַשֵּׁנִ֑ית "The other side" renders haššēnîṯ (H8145), "the second," from a root meaning "properly, double." The bars of the second wall double the first exactly — five answering five; "other" loses the numbered symmetry the Hebrew keeps.
  • לַיַּרְכָתַ֖יִם "The rear side" renders layyarkāṯayim (H3411), the dual of yᵉrêkâh, "flank" — "to the two flanks." Ellicott corrects the older "for the sides westward" to "for the back (of the tabernacle) westward." The west wall, too, gets its five bolts.
Word by word12 · parsed+
וַחֲמִשָּׁ֣הwa·ḥă·miš·šāhfiveH2568
√ châmêsh — fiveConjunctive wawNumbermasculine singular
בְרִיחִ֔םḇə·rî·ḥimH1280
√ bᵉrîyach — a boltNounmasculine plural
לְקַרְשֵׁ֥יlə·qar·šêfor [those]H7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankPreposition-lNounmasculine plural construct
הַשֵּׁנִ֑יתhaš·šê·nîṯon the otherH8145
√ shênîy — properly, double, iArticleNumberordinal feminine singular
haššēnîṯ (H8145) — "the second" rib-wall; the bars are distributed five, five, and five across the three walls.
צֶֽלַע־ṣe·la‘-sideH6763
√ tsêlâʻ — a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, iNounfeminine singular construct
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ןham·miš·kānH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveArticleNounmasculine singular
וַחֲמִשָּׁ֤הwa·ḥă·miš·šāhand fiveH2568
√ châmêsh — fiveConjunctive wawNumbermasculine singular
בְרִיחִם֙ḇə·rî·ḥimH1280
√ bᵉrîyach — a boltNounmasculine plural
לְקַרְשֵׁ֣יlə·qar·šêfor thoseH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankPreposition-lNounmasculine plural construct
לַיַּרְכָתַ֖יִםlay·yar·ḵā·ṯa·yimon the rear sideH3411
√ yᵉrêkâh — properly, the flankPreposition-l, ArticleNounfd
layyarkāṯayim (H3411) — "to the flanks" (dual), the back of the dwelling; the Pulpit Commentary notes "the same alteration should be made" as in v.27 — "back" rather than "sides."
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ןham·miš·kānof the tabernacleH4908
√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveArticleNounmasculine singular
יָֽמָּה׃yām·māhto the westH3220
√ yâm — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterNounmasculine singularthird person feminine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
For the sides westward. —Rather, for the back (of the tabernacle) westward. (Comp. the Note on Exodus 26:27 .)
For the sides westward. The same alteration should be made.
And 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.
33“He made the central crossbar to run through the center of the fr…”+

33He made the central crossbar to run through the center of the frames, from one end to the other.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·ya·‘aś ’eṯ- hat·tî·ḵōn hab·bə·rî·aḥ liḇ·rō·aḥ bə·ṯō·wḵ haq·qə·rā·šîm min- haq·qā·ṣeh ’el- haq·qā·ṣeh

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And-he-made the-middle crossbar to-run in-the-midst of-the-frames, from the-one-end to the-other-end.

Where the English smooths the original

  • הַתִּיכֹ֑ן "The central" renders hattîḵōn (H8484), "central / middle" — a rare adjective (nine occurrences). Of the five bars, only this one is named "the middle"; it is singled out for a unique task. The English "central" is right, but flattens the word's rarity, which marks this bar as distinct from its fellows.
  • לִבְרֹ֙חַ֙ "To run through" renders liḇrōaḥ (H1272), "to bolt / flee through," the verbal root of bᵉrîyach ("bar," v.31). The middle bar is to bolt the length of the boards from inside; Geneva's vivid "to shoot through" and Pulpit's "to reach from end to end" both wrestle with this single piercing verb.
Word by word11 · parsed+
וַיַּ֖עַשׂway·ya·‘aśHe madeH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
הַתִּיכֹ֑ןhat·tî·ḵōnthe centralH8484
√ tîykôwn — centralArticleAdjectivemasculine singular
hattîḵōn (H8484) — "the middle one," set apart from the other four bars; tradition (and the run-through verb) takes it as a single concealed bolt passing inside the boards' full length.
הַבְּרִ֣יחַhab·bə·rî·aḥcrossbarH1280
√ bᵉrîyach — a boltArticleNounmasculine singular
לִבְרֹ֙חַ֙liḇ·rō·aḥto run throughH1272
√ bârach — to bolt, iPreposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct
liḇrōaḥ (H1272) — "to run/bolt through"; the verb plays on the noun bᵉrîyach — a bar that bars, a bolt that bolts.
בְּת֣וֹךְbə·ṯō·wḵthe centerH8432
√ tâvek — a bisection, iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
הַקְּרָשִׁ֔יםhaq·qə·rā·šîmof the framesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine plural
מִן־min-fromH4480
√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition
הַקָּצֶ֖הhaq·qā·ṣehone endH7097
√ qâtseh — an extremityArticleNounmasculine singular
haqqāṣeh ... haqqāṣeh (H7097) — "from the [one] end to the [other] end"; the middle bar alone spans the whole, binding every board into one continuous wall.
אֶל־’el-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
הַקָּצֶֽה׃haq·qā·ṣehthe otherH7097
√ qâtseh — an extremityArticleNounmasculine singular
The Voices✦ public domain+
He made the middle Bar to shoot through the boards . Rather, as in Exodus 26:28 , "to reach from end to end of the boards."
And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.
34“And he overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold…”+

34And he overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. He also overlaid the crossbars with gold.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·’eṯ- ṣip·pāh haq·qə·rā·šîm zā·hāḇ wə·’eṯ- ‘ā·śāh zā·hāḇ ṭab·bə·‘ō·ṯām bāt·tîm lab·bə·rî·ḥim way·ṣap̄ ’eṯ- hab·bə·rî·ḥim zā·hāḇ

Literal — word-for-word from the original

And the-frames he-overlaid [with] gold, and the-rings he-made [of] gold, houses for-the-crossbars; and-he-overlaid the-crossbars [with] gold.

Where the English smooths the original

  • צִפָּ֣ה "Overlaid" renders ṣippāh (H6823), a Piel verb, "to sheet over (especially with metal)." The acacia is not painted gold but sheeted in it — thorn-wood within, glory without. The intensive Piel stresses thorough plating; "overlaid" understates the encasing.
  • בָּתִּ֖ים "To hold" renders bāttîm (H1004), literally "houses" — the plural of bayith, "a house." The gold rings are called "houses for the bars." The dwelling's bolts are themselves housed; even the fastenings echo the word for home, the very purpose of the structure (the mishkân).
  • זָהָֽב "With gold" renders zāhāḇ (H2091), "gold," repeated three times in this one verse — boards, rings, bars. The threefold zāhāḇ seals the skeleton in glory; the English distributes it smoothly, muting the drumbeat of gold, gold, gold.
Word by word14 · parsed+
וְֽאֶת־wə·’eṯ-AndH853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
צִפָּ֣הṣip·pāhhe overlaidH6823
√ tsâphâh — to sheet over (especially with metal)VerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular
ṣippāh (H6823) — Piel perfect, "he sheeted over." The thorny acacia frame is wholly encased in gold; the humble wood is never seen once the dwelling stands.
הַקְּרָשִׁ֞יםhaq·qə·rā·šîmthe framesH7175
√ qeresh — a slab or plankArticleNounmasculine plural
זָהָ֗בzā·hāḇwith goldH2091
√ zâhâb — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (iNounmasculine singular
וְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Conjunctive wawDirect object marker
עָשָׂ֣ה‘ā·śāhand madeH6213
√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular
זָהָ֔בzā·hāḇgoldH2091
√ zâhâb — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (iNounmasculine singular
טַבְּעֹתָם֙ṭab·bə·‘ō·ṯāmringsH2885
√ ṭabbaʻath — properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), iNounfeminine plural constructthird person masculine plural
ṭabbᵉ‘ōṯām (H2885) — "their rings," of gold, made to receive the bars; the same seal-root as the corner-ring of v.29.
בָּתִּ֖יםbāt·tîmto holdH1004
√ bayith — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etcNounmasculine plural
bāttîm (H1004) — "houses," the term for the ring-sockets that hold the bars; even the hardware is named with the word for dwelling.
לַבְּרִיחִ֑םlab·bə·rî·ḥimthe crossbarsH1280
√ bᵉrîyach — a boltPreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine plural
וַיְצַ֥ףway·ṣap̄He also overlaidH6823
√ tsâphâh — to sheet over (especially with metal)Conjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
אֶת־’eṯ-H853
√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker
הַבְּרִיחִ֖םhab·bə·rî·ḥimthe crossbarsH1280
√ bᵉrîyach — a boltArticleNounmasculine plural
זָהָֽב׃zā·hāḇwith goldH2091
√ zâhâb — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (iNounmasculine singular
zāhāḇ (H2091) — "gold," the third use in the verse. The wooden bones end clothed in gold — Geneva: "overlaid the boards with gold... and overlaid the bars with gold."
The Voices✦ public domain+
And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.
The readiness and zeal with which these builders set about their work, the exactness with which they performed it, and the faithfulness with which they objected to receive more contributions, are worthy of our imitation.
From Henry's chapter-summary; applied here to the finished, gold-clad frames.

The verse-by-verse work is done. What follows gathers the whole unit. All three layers below are machine-generated (⚙). Weigh them; they have no authority.

Grand Commentary — the unit, read wholesynthesis · verify+

AI synthesis — woven from the public-domain voices above and the original text; generated and fallible.

i. The standing boards — bones of the Dwelling — 36:20-22

The unit turns from the woven curtains to the skeleton beneath them. The keyword is qeresh (H7175) — a bare "slab or plank" — and the verse insists the boards are ‘ōmᵉḏîm, a Qal participle: not "upright" as a trait but "standing," caught in the act (⚙ my reading of the parse; the participle is in the Berean data). The Geneva Study Bible supplies the reason they stand: "to bear up the curtains of the tabernacle" — load-bearing bone under woven skin. The wood is šiṭṭîm, acacia, named by Strong's "from its scourging thorns": the desert's most thorn-armored, rot-proof timber becomes the frame of God's house. Cambridge presses the noun under miškān: not "tabernacle" but "the Dwelling." The tenons are yāḏōṯ — literally "hands" (H3027) — "set in order one against another," as the Pulpit Commentary corrects the older "equally distant"; Cambridge calls them "clamped together." The boards stand with hands.

ii. Forty silver bases — a foundation of ransom — 36:23-30

South (the parched negeḇ), north (ṣāḟôn, "the hidden"), and seaward west: twenty boards, twenty boards, eight boards, each gripping its silver footings. The foundation-word is ’eden (H134), "a basis (of a building, a column)" — and the silver of these very bases, Exodus 38 records, was the atonement-money of the numbered people. The Dwelling literally stands on ransom. The text's bookkeeping is exact and even confesses its seams: at v.30 Ellicott judges that the clause "takhath hak-keresh ha-ekhâd... have accidentally fallen out here in one place" — an honest textual scar the smooth English heals over. Keil notes the whole section runs on a third-singular "he made" with "an indefinite subject, corresponding to the German man"; Gill hears in that anonymous "he" either Moses, or Bezalel, "or each and everyone of the artificers severally concerned" — a named craft made nameless in service.

iii. The bars and the gold — bolted into one, clothed in glory — 36:31-34

Five bᵉrîḥê (H1280, "bolts") per rib-wall belt the free-standing boards into a single panel, and one is singled out: hattîḵōn (H8484), "the middle bar," a rare word (nine occurrences in all Scripture), made liḇrōaḥ — "to run/bolt through" (Geneva: "to shoot through") from end to end. Then the climax: ṣippāh ... zāhāḇ, "he sheeted [it] over with gold" — the intensive Piel of plating — with zāhāḇ sounded three times in one verse (boards, rings, bars). Even the gold rings are called bāttîm, "houses" (H1004), for the bars: the very fastenings bear the word for home, fitting in a structure whose whole name is "the Dwelling." The thorn-wood is never seen once it stands; it is wholly clothed in gold. Matthew Henry reads the finished work as fit "for our imitation" in "the exactness with which they performed it," and elsewhere hears the gospel in the Dwelling itself: "the Word being made flesh... he did tabernacle among us."

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

⚙ My own fallible reading, offered under Sola Scriptura to be tested against the text: the boards preach the doctrine of the saint and the church in miniature. Take a single plank — common desert acacia, a thorn-tree (šiṭṭîm, "from its scourging thorns"). Left alone it is rough wood. But it is cut to one measure, given two "hands" (yāḏōṯ) by which it is socketed into silver — and silver, the ransom-money, is the price of a soul. So the board does not stand on the ground; it is held, footed in atonement. Then it is bolted to its neighbors by bars that bolt (bᵉrîaḥ) the whole wall into one, and over it all is sheeted gold, so that the thorn within is never seen, only glory without. A ransomed soul, founded on a price not its own, bound to its fellows into one house, and clothed in a righteousness that hides the thorn: this is the sermon I hear in the joinery. I hold it loosely — the text states no allegory; it states measurements. But the measurements are not idle, and the One who later "tabernacled among us" (Jn 1:14, in Henry's reading) was himself founded, framed, and clothed for our dwelling with God.

Common thorn-wood, footed in ransom-silver and clothed in gold — that is the saint, and the sermon is in the joinery. (⚙ a reading to be tested, not a verse)

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripturecross-refs · verify+

AI-generated connections. Each carries a verification badge with a recorded basis; contested links are flagged.

The command and its execution — the boards of Exodus 26 verbal / quotation — confirmed

This whole panel is the obedient mirror of the building-command in Exodus 26:15-30. The boards (qeresh), their acacia wood (šiṭṭâh), and the Dwelling (mishkân) recur word-for-word; the Verifier records the rare shared lexeme qeresh (in only 34 verses) plus šiṭṭâh (28 vv) tying the make-report directly to the make-order. Ellicott: "the order of Exodus 26 being still followed... the correspondence is closer than would appear from the Authorised Version." What God said, the people did, board for board.

Exodus 26:15 · Exodus 26:18 · Exodus 26:23

basis: rare shared lexemes verified: H7175 qeresh (34 vv), H7848 shiṭṭâh (28 vv), H4908 mishkân (129 vv); Ex 36:20↔26:15 also shares H6086 ʻêts, H5975 ʻâmad — the execution narrates the command

The bars and rings — the command for the bolts (Exodus 26:26-29) verbal / quotation — confirmed

The crossbars (bᵉrîaḥ) and gold rings answer the bolt-command of Exodus 26:26-29. The Verifier confirms the rare bolt-word bᵉrîyach (in 36 vv) shared between 36:31 and 26:26, and between 36:34 and 26:29 it records bᵉrîyach with the rings-word ṭabbaʻath (38 vv) and the plating-verb tsâphâh (40 vv). The middle bar of 36:33 carries the very rare tîykôwn ("central," only 9 occurrences) shared with 26:28 — a near-quotation of the bolt-command.

Exodus 26:26 · Exodus 26:28 · Exodus 26:29

basis: rare shared lexemes verified: H1280 bᵉrîyach (36 vv), H8484 tîykôwn (9 vv, 36:33↔26:28), H2885 ṭabbaʻath (38 vv) and H6823 tsâphâh (40 vv, 36:34↔26:29)

The Dwelling re-erected and carried — Exodus 40 and Numbers 3-4 structural / thematic — confirmed

The same boards-and-bases reappear when the tabernacle is finally set up (Exodus 40:18) and when the Kohathites and Merarites are charged to carry the boards, bars, and bases through the wilderness (Numbers 3:36; 4:31). These verses share the standard structural vocabulary qeresh + mishkân but make no quotation claim — they describe the same objects in new settings (erected, then portable), so the link is structural rather than a citation. The Verifier returns "structural / thematic" for 36:20↔Numbers 4:31, sharing H7175 and H4908 only.

Exodus 40:18 · Numbers 3:36 · Numbers 4:31

basis: shared structural lexemes H7175 qeresh, H4908 mishkân (Verifier: 36:20↔Num 4:31 tiered structural — same objects, no quotation)

The finished frame in the inventory — Exodus 35:11 and 39:33 structural / thematic — confirmed

The boards, bars, bases, and rings are listed both in the call for materials (Exodus 35:11) and in the final hand-over of the completed work to Moses (Exodus 39:33), where the mishkân with its qᵉrāšîm and bars is brought as one finished whole. The shared terms are the common structural pair qeresh + mishkân; this is an inventory echo, a thematic frame around the construction, not a quotation.

Exodus 35:11 · Exodus 39:33

basis: shared structural lexemes H7175 qeresh, H4908 mishkân — inventory/hand-over of the same components, no quotation claim

The rib of the Dwelling and the rib of Adam — ṣela‘ (Genesis 2:21-22) structural / thematic — confirmed

⚙ A quieter verbal echo, offered carefully. The long walls of the Dwelling are each a ṣela‘ (H6763, vv. 25, 31-32), "a rib (as curved)" — the very noun used for the rib God took from the sleeping man to build the woman (Genesis 2:21-22). The Verifier confirms the shared lexeme but tiers the link structural / thematic, not verbal: ṣela‘ is a moderately common word (31 verses), and here it lives in two unrelated domains — architecture versus anatomy — so this is a wordplay/motif resonance, not a quotation or citation. I note the shared term honestly and hold any figural payload (a rib enclosing a dwelling where God and his people meet, as the rib of Adam framed the one who would meet him) loosely: the text states a wall, not an allegory. The connection is mine, marked, and downgraded by rule because a single mid-frequency lexeme across genres cannot carry a "verbal" badge.

Genesis 2:21 · Genesis 2:22

basis: shared lexeme H6763 tsêlâʻ (31 vv), but used in different domains (wall vs. anatomy) — Verifier returns structural, not verbal; a wordplay/motif echo, not a quotation

Christ in the Unittypology · verify+

AI-generated reading; weigh it against the text.

The Dwelling and the Word made flesh widely-held

The aim of all this joinery is the mishkân, "the Dwelling" — God's residence with men (Cambridge: "the Dwelling. So vv. 22, 23, &c."). Matthew Henry, on this very chapter, hears the gospel in the word: "this love was shown by Christ's taking up his abode on earth; by the Word being made flesh, Joh 1:14, wherein, as the original expresses it, he did tabernacle among us." John's verb eskēnōsen (literally "pitched his tent / tabernacled," Jn 1:14) is widely held to recall this tent of meeting — and the Septuagint regularly renders mishkân with the cognate σκηνή, the consonants of which (š-k-n) shadow the Hebrew root šākan, "to dwell." That cross-linguistic root-play is suggestive, but it is not a shared Strong's number: this is a Greek↔Hebrew link, and the Verifier finds no shared original-language lexeme, so the badge is typological/structural — argued from the concept of God dwelling with man, not asserted from vocabulary. By rule a cross-Testament link can never be tiered "verbal." The attestation is ancient and widely held in the church.

John 1:14 · Exodus 36:20

Acacia clothed in gold — the two natures housed for our dwelling widely-held

⚙ A more tentative figural reading: the frame is humble desert thorn-wood (šiṭṭîm) wholly sheeted in gold (zāhāḇ, v.34), the wood never seen once it stands. Christian tradition has long read the gold-over-acacia of the tabernacle's wood as a figure of Christ — true humanity (the lowly, incorruptible wood) within true glory (the gold) — the one in whom God came to dwell. This is a typological reading argued from the materials, not from any shared lexeme (a cross-Testament figure, so verbal tiering is excluded); I mark it as the more widely-held patristic line, yet hold the specific allegory loosely, since the text states materials, not meanings. Compare the gold-and-wood ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10-11) and Hebrews' reading of the sanctuary as "a copy and shadow of the heavenly things" (Heb 8:5).

Hebrews 8:5 · Exodus 36:34

Apparatus & Provenance

The biblical text is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain (CC0). Hebrew/Greek text, transliteration, morphology and Strong’s are transcribed from the Berean interlinear (CC0) + Strong’s lexicons (PD); the literal renderings, divergence notes, word notes and all synthesis are this tool’s own work (⚙) — fallible; verify them.

Named voices, quoted verbatim from public-domain works:

This is a measurement-and-construction unit (Hebrew only), so the synthesis stays close to the carpentry: literal renderings restore the participle "standing" (‘ōmᵉḏîm), the body-words "hands" (yāḏōṯ) and "head" (rōš), and the foundation-word "bases" (’eden). Honesty notes: (1) The voices_raw for this chapter are unusually repetitive — Matthew Henry, Barnes, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Gill, and Keil reproduce the same chapter-level or section-level note on every verse; Barnes and Poole add only cross-references ("See the notes to Exodus 26" / no text), and JFB's note is actually on v.5 (the restrained giving), not on the boards at all. I have therefore drawn verse-specific voices chiefly from Geneva, Cambridge, the Pulpit Commentary, and Ellicott; to broaden the chorus I added one verbatim Gill line on the gift-fitted workers and one verbatim JFB line on the craftsmen's integrity, each flagged via editorial_note as a chapter/v.5 excerpt rather than a comment on these verses. (2) Verse 30 has a genuine textual seam: Ellicott (and the comparison with Exodus 26:25) judges a repeated clause has "accidentally fallen out" of the Masoretic text — recorded openly rather than smoothed. (3) All Hebrew↔Hebrew threads were re-run through the Verifier and tiered by the rarity of the shared lexeme: qeresh (34 vv), šiṭṭâh (28 vv), bᵉrîyach (36 vv), and especially tîykôwn (9 vv) carry the "verbal" tier (36:20↔26:15, 36:31↔26:26, 36:33↔26:28, 36:34↔26:29 all confirmed verbal); the merely structural pair qeresh+mishkân with high-frequency partners (Ex 40:18, 39:33, 35:11, Num 3:36, 4:31, and Ex 26:23) was kept at "structural/thematic." The added Genesis 2 rib-link shares only ṣela‘ (31 vv) across two different domains (wall vs. anatomy); the Verifier returns structural, not verbal, so it is badged structural and its figural read held loosely. (4) Both Christ entries are cross-Testament (Greek↔Hebrew), so by rule they are tiered typological/structural, never verbal — the Verifier confirms no shared Strong's lexeme exists for Ex 36:20↔John 1:14 or Ex 36:34↔Heb 8:5 (both return "flagged — verify source: no shared original-language lexeme"); they are argued from concept (God's dwelling; gold-clad wood), the σκηνή/šākan root-play noted as suggestive not probative, and the specific gold-over-acacia allegory marked as held loosely. The Joshua 1:5→Hebrews 13:5 flag rule does not apply: this unit contains no Joshua text and no NT quotation of these verses.

= human, public-domain source, quoted and named. = machine synthesis, to be verified. Flagged cross-references are left visible on purpose — the verifier working in the open. “Search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)