Five of the curtains are to be joined together, and the other five joined as well.
Parallel translations
- WEB Five curtains shall be coupled together to one another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
- KJV The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.
- NKJV Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
- NASB Five curtains shall be joined to one another, and the other five curtains shall be joined to one another.
- NLT Join five of these curtains together to make one long curtain, then join the other five into a second long curtain.
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
The ten curtains were joined into two sets of five, each set coupled together. This formed two large panels that would then be linked into one unified covering.
Overview
By coupling five curtains to five, the craftsmen created two manageable sections to be united over the tabernacle frame. The detailed assembly underscores both the care of the workmanship and the theme of unity that runs through the structure. The many parts joined into one whole quietly foreshadow the one people God forms from many, united in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Col 2:19He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
- Exod 26:9Join five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another. Then fold the sixth curtain over double at the front of the tent.
- 1 Cor 12:4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- Eph 2:21–22In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
- Eph 4:3–6and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
- John 17:21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
- 1 Cor 12:12–27The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
- Col 2:2that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
- Exod 36:10And he joined five of the curtains together, and the other five he joined as well.
- Eph 4:16From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
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 26:3 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.