^26:1¹ “The tabernacle itself² you are to make with³ ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet;⁴ you are to make them with⁵ cherubim that are the work of an artistic designer. ^26:2The length of each⁶ curtain is to be forty-two feet, and the width of each curtain is to be six feet⁷—the same size for each of the curtains.

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Footnotes

1 This chapter is given over to the details of the structure itself, the curtains, coverings, boards and walls and veil. The passage can be studied on one level for its function both practically and symbolically for Israel’s worship. On another level it can be studied for its typology, for the tabernacle and many of its parts speak of Christ. For this one should see the commentaries.
2 The word order in Hebrew thrusts the direct object to the front for particular emphasis. After the first couple of pieces of furniture are treated (chap. 25), attention turns to the tabernacle itself.
3 This is for the adverbial accusative explaining how the dwelling place is to be made.
4 S. R. Driver suggests that the curtains were made with threads dyed with these colors (Exodus, ). Perhaps the colored threads were used for embroidering the cherubim in the curtains.
5 The construction is difficult in this line because of the word order. “Cherubim” is an adverbial accusative explaining how they were to make the curtains. And מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב (ma’aseh khoshev) means literally “work of a designer”; it is in apposition to “cherubim.” The Hebrew participle means “designer” or “deviser” so that one could render this “of artistic designs in weaving” (S. R. Driver, Exodus, ). B. Jacob says that it refers to “artistic weavers” (Exodus, 789).
6 Heb “one” (so ).
7 Heb “twenty-eight cubits” long and “four cubits” wide.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker. All the curtains are to be the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains. You must make them of finely spun linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them. Each curtain should be forty-two feet long and six feet wide; all the curtains are to have the same measurements.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Make the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely woven linen. Decorate the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. These ten curtains must all be exactly the same size—42 feet long and 6 feet wide.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“And the tabernacle you will make with ten curtains; you will make them of finely twisted linen and blue and purple and crimson yarns, with cherubim, the work of a skilled craftsman. The length of the one curtain will be twenty-eight cubits, and the width will be four cubits for the one curtain; one measure will be for all the curtains.

KJV 1900King James Version

Moreover 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. The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.

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