And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
Parallel translations
- WEB “You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make them eleven curtains.
- BSB You are to make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven curtains in all.
- NKJV “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
- NASB “Then you shall make curtains of goats’ hair as a tent over the tabernacle; you shall make eleven curtains in all.
- NLT “Make eleven curtains of goat-hair cloth to serve as a tent covering for the Tabernacle.
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
Over the linen curtains was a second covering of eleven goats'-hair curtains, forming a protective tent. This outer layer shielded the beautiful inner dwelling.
Overview
Goats' hair, a common and durable material, formed the tent that covered the costly linen curtains beneath. The layered coverings combined beauty within and protection without, fitting for God's portable dwelling. The plain exterior hiding glory within is a pattern echoed in Christ, who had no outward majesty yet was full of God's glory (Isaiah 53:2; John 1:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Exod 26:14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
- Exod 25:4And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
- Exod 26:9And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
- Exod 35:26And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.
- Exod 26:12And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.
- 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
- Exod 35:23And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them.
- Exod 36:14–18And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.
- Exod 26:1Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
- Ps 45:13The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
- 1 Pet 3:4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
- Num 31:20And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood.
- Isa 4:5And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
- Num 4:25And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers’ skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
- Exod 35:6And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
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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 26:7 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.