The Meaning of Exodus 26:1 Explained

Exodus 26:1

KJV: 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.

YLT: And thou dost make the tabernacle: ten curtains of twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet; with cherubs, work of a designer, thou dost make them;

Darby: And thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of twined byssus, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of artistic work shalt thou make them.

ASV: Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shalt thou make them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 26:1 Mean?

Study Notes

cherubims
fine twined linen Fine linen typifies personal righteousness Revelation 19:8 . The fine linen here typifies the sinless life of Christ.
blue Blue. Christ's heavenly origin; purple, His royalty as David's son; scarlet, His sacrifice.
cherubims .
living creatures
The "living creatures" are identical with the Cherubim. The subject is somewhat obscure, but from the position of the Cherubim at the gate of Eden, upon the cover of the ark of the covenant, and in Revelation 4, it is clearly gathered that they have to do with vindication of the holiness of God as against the presumptuous pride of sinful man who, despite his sin, would "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life" Genesis 3:22-24 . Upon the ark of the covenant, of one substance with the mercy-seat, they saw the sprinkled blood which, in type, spake of the perfect maintenance of the divine righteousness by the sacrifice of Christ Exodus 25:17-20 . (See Scofield " Romans 3:24 ") . See Scofield " Romans 3:25 ". See Scofield " Romans 3:26 ". The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. See Scofield " Isaiah 6:2 ". The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim. Isaiah 6:2-7 . They appear to have to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin; the Seraphim with uncleanness in the people of God. The passage in Ezekiel is highly figurative, but the effect was the revelation to the prophet of the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Such revelations are connected invariably with new blessing and service. Cf.; Exodus 3:2-10 ; Isaiah 6:1-10 ; Daniel 10:5-14 ; Revelation 1:12-19 .
fine twined linen Fine linen typifies personal righteousness Revelation 19:8 . The fine linen here typifies the sinless life of Christ.
blue Blue. Christ's heavenly origin; purple, His royalty as David's son; scarlet, His sacrifice.
cherubims .
living creatures
The "living creatures" are identical with the Cherubim. The subject is somewhat obscure, but from the position of the Cherubim at the gate of Eden, upon the cover of the ark of the covenant, and in Revelation 4, it is clearly gathered that they have to do with vindication of the holiness of God as against the presumptuous pride of sinful man who, despite his sin, would "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life" Genesis 3:22-24 . Upon the ark of the covenant, of one substance with the mercy-seat, they saw the sprinkled blood which, in type, spake of the perfect maintenance of the divine righteousness by the sacrifice of Christ Exodus 25:17-20 . (See Scofield " Romans 3:24 ") . See Scofield " Romans 3:25 ". See Scofield " Romans 3:26 ". The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. See Scofield " Isaiah 6:2 ". The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim. Isaiah 6:2-7 . They appear to have to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin; the Seraphim with uncleanness in the people of God. The passage in Ezekiel is highly figurative, but the effect was the revelation to the prophet of the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Such revelations are connected invariably with new blessing and service. Cf.; Exodus 3:2-10 ; Isaiah 6:1-10 ; Daniel 10:5-14 ; Revelation 1:12-19 .
blue Blue. Christ's heavenly origin; purple, His royalty as David's son; scarlet, His sacrifice.
cherubims .
living creatures
The "living creatures" are identical with the Cherubim. The subject is somewhat obscure, but from the position of the Cherubim at the gate of Eden, upon the cover of the ark of the covenant, and in Revelation 4, it is clearly gathered that they have to do with vindication of the holiness of God as against the presumptuous pride of sinful man who, despite his sin, would "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life" Genesis 3:22-24 . Upon the ark of the covenant, of one substance with the mercy-seat, they saw the sprinkled blood which, in type, spake of the perfect maintenance of the divine righteousness by the sacrifice of Christ Exodus 25:17-20 . (See Scofield " Romans 3:24 ") . See Scofield " Romans 3:25 ". See Scofield " Romans 3:26 ". The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. See Scofield " Daniel 10:5-14 ". The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim. Isaiah 6:2-7 . They appear to have to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin; the Seraphim with uncleanness in the people of God. The passage in Ezekiel is highly figurative, but the effect was the revelation to the prophet of the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Such revelations are connected invariably with new blessing and service. Cf.; Exodus 3:2-10 ; Isaiah 6:1-10 ; Isaiah 6:2 ; Revelation 1:12-19 .

Context Summary

Exodus 26:1-25 - The Curtains And Boards Of The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle was constructed of upright boards, over which four sets of curtains were thrown. The innermost set, which made the ceiling, was of tapestry, embroidered with cherubim in various colors-blue, scarlet and purple-the cunning work of a damask weaver. Over these was a second set, of goats' hair, longer and broader, so as to protect them; while the third and fourth sets were of rams' and seals' skins, respectively, to protect the whole from the weather. In these curtains we may find profound teaching concerning the human nature of our Lord; for we are told that, the Word of God became flesh and tabernacled among us; and that phrase naturally suggests that His human body was the tent or tabernacle in which His spirit dwelled. See John 1:14. In the fine-twined linen His holiness; in the blue His heavenly origin; in the purple His majesty; in the scarlet His sufferings. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 26

1  The ten curtains of the tabernacle
7  The eleven curtains of goats' hair, the covering of rams' and badgers' skins
15  The boards of the tabernacle, with their sockets and bars
31  The veil for the ark
36  The hanging for the door

What do the individual words in Exodus 26:1 mean?

Moreover the tabernacle you shall make ten [with] curtains [of] linen fine woven and blue and purple and scarlet [thread] cherubim with designs of artistic you shall weave them
וְאֶת־ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֥ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה עֶ֣שֶׂר יְרִיעֹ֑ת שֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֗ר וּתְכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ וְתֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֔י כְּרֻבִ֛ים מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֹשֵׁ֖ב תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם

וְאֶת־  Moreover 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֥ן  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה  you  shall  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עֶ֣שֶׂר  ten 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
יְרִיעֹ֑ת  [with]  curtains  [of] 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: יְרִיעָה  
Sense: curtain, drape.
שֵׁ֣שׁ  linen 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁשׁ 
Sense: something bleached white, byssus, linen, fine linen.
מָשְׁזָ֗ר  fine  woven 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁזַר  
Sense: to twist, be twisted.
וּתְכֵ֤לֶת  and  blue 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּכֵלֶת  
Sense: violet, violet stuff.
וְאַרְגָּמָן֙  and  purple 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַרְגָּמָן  
Sense: purple, red-purple.
שָׁנִ֔י  scarlet  [thread] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁנִי  
Sense: scarlet, crimson.
כְּרֻבִ֛ים  cherubim 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּרוּב  
Sense: cherub, cherubim (pl).
מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה  with  designs 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
חֹשֵׁ֖ב  of  artistic 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָשַׁב 
Sense: to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה  you  shall  weave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.