“You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
Parallel translations
- WEB “You shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make them eleven curtains.
- KJV And thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
- BSB You are to make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven curtains in all.
- 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 26:14You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
- Exod 25:4blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair,
- Exod 26:9You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.
- Exod 35:26All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair.
- Exod 26:12The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.
- 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Exod 35:23Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.
- Exod 36:14–18He made curtains of goats’ hair for a covering over the tabernacle. He made them eleven curtains.
- Exod 26:1“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman you shall make them.
- Ps 45:13The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
- 1 Pet 3:4but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.
- Num 31:20As to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood, you shall purify yourselves.”
- Isa 4:5Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.
- Num 4:25they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, and the covering of sealskin that is above on it, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
- Exod 35:6blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, 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
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