Complete the tent covering with a protective layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather.
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
- KJV And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
- BSB Also make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.
- NKJV “You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that.
- NASB And you shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red and a covering of fine leather above.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Two further coverings were added: rams' skins dyed red and a tougher outer layer of sea cow (or fine leather) hides. These weatherproof layers protected the whole tent.
Overview
Above the goats' hair came rams' skins dyed red and a durable hide covering, completing four layers over the dwelling. The plain, weather-resistant exterior concealed the rich beauty within. Many have seen in the red-dyed rams' skins a hint of sacrifice and covering, ultimately fulfilled in the blood of Christ that covers His people, though the text itself simply describes the materials.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Exod 36:19He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
- Exod 25:5rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
- Ps 121:4–5Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
- Ps 27:5For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.
- Num 4:10They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.
- Ezek 16:10I clothed you also with embroidered work, and put sealskin shoes on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.
- Isa 25:4For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the dreaded ones is like a storm against the wall.
- Exod 35:7rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
- Exod 35:23Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.
- Isa 4:6There will be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.
- Num 4:5When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it,
- Exod 39:34the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 26:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.