And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that.
Parallel translations
- WEB He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
- BSB Additionally, he made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.
- NKJV Then he made a covering for the tent of ram skins dyed red, and a covering of badger skins above that.
- NASB And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of fine leather above.
- NLT He completed the tent covering with a layer of tanned ram skins and a layer of fine goatskin leather.
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 outer coverings of rams' skins dyed red and sea cow hides protected the tabernacle from the elements. They shielded the holy interior from weather and view.
Overview
These durable coverings formed the outermost layers over the beautiful inner curtains, hiding the glory within behind a plain exterior. Many in the Reformed tradition see here a picture of Christ, whose outward humility veiled His true glory (Isaiah 53:2). The faithful execution follows the instructions of Exodus 26:14.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Exod 26:14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.
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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 36:19 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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