Exodus Chapter 26 — The Design of the Tabernacle
God provides Moses with detailed blueprints for the Tabernacle's curtains, structural boards, and the veil that separates the Holy Place.
1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. You shall make them with the work of a skillful workman.
2The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits,*A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters. and the width of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.
3Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
4You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling, and you shall do likewise on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second coupling.
5You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one another.
6You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains to one another with the clasps. The tabernacle shall be a unit.
7“You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
8The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
9You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.
10You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outermost in the second coupling.
11You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.
12The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent—the half curtain that remains—shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
13The cubit on the one side and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
14You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
15“You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.
16Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
17There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.
19You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.
20For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
21and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
22For the far side of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.
23You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side.
24They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.
25There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26“You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,
27and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward.
28The middle bar in the middle of the boards shall pass through from end to end.
29You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold.
30You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.
31“You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman.
32You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.
33You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.
34You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.
35You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south. You shall put the table on the north side.
36“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.
37You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Exodus 26:1
“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim.”
This verse introduces the artistic and intricate nature of the Tabernacle's interior decor.
Exodus 26:30
“You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.”
It emphasizes that the construction must strictly follow the divine pattern revealed to Moses.
Exodus 26:33
“The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.”
This defines the physical and spiritual boundary within the sanctuary.
Chapter Summary
Exodus 26 outlines the precise architectural instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary for the Israelites. The chapter begins with descriptions of the ten inner curtains made of fine linen and colorful yarns embroidered with cherubim. Above these, a covering of goats' hair curtains is prescribed, followed by protective layers of rams' skins dyed red and sea cow hides. The structural frame is described as upright acacia wood boards overlaid with gold, resting on silver sockets and secured with gold-plated bars. A significant portion of the chapter is dedicated to the veil, a decorative partition hung on four gold-overlaid pillars. This veil serves to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat are to be located. Finally, instructions are given for a screen at the entrance of the tent.
Frequently Asked Questions
The inner curtains were made of fine twined linen with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, featuring embroidered cherubim. The outer coverings were made of goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sea cow hides for durability.
The veil was a partition made of linen and colorful yarn that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. It served to protect the sanctity of the area where the Ark of the Covenant was housed.
The frame consisted of upright boards made of acacia wood, each overlaid with gold. These boards were set into silver sockets and held together by acacia wood bars that passed through gold rings.
Study Note
Acacia wood was chosen for the Tabernacle structure because it is highly durable, water-resistant, and readily available in the Sinai wilderness.
Related Chapters
Exodus 25
This chapter provides the instructions for the furniture kept inside the Tabernacle described here.
Exodus 36
This chapter records the actual construction of the items commissioned in Exodus 26.
Hebrews 9
The New Testament offers a detailed reflection on the layout and significance of the Tabernacle.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.