The Meaning of Exodus 26:3 Explained

Exodus 26:3

KJV: The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.

YLT: five of the curtains are joining one unto another, and five curtains are joining one to another.

Darby: Five of the curtains shall be coupled one to another, and the other five curtains coupled one to another.

ASV: Five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The five  curtains  shall be coupled together  one  to another;  and [other] five  curtains  [shall be] coupled  one  to another. 

What does Exodus 26:3 Mean?

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 26:3 mean?

Five curtains shall be coupled one to another and five [the other] curtains [shall be] coupled another
חֲמֵ֣שׁ הַיְרִיעֹ֗ת תִּֽהְיֶ֙יןָ֙ חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־ אֲחֹתָ֑הּ וְחָמֵ֤שׁ יְרִיעֹת֙ חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת אֲחֹתָֽהּ

חֲמֵ֣שׁ  Five 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: חָמֵשׁ  
Sense: five.
הַיְרִיעֹ֗ת  curtains 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: יְרִיעָה  
Sense: curtain, drape.
תִּֽהְיֶ֙יןָ֙  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת  coupled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: הִתְחַבְּרוּת 
Sense: to unite, join, bind together, be joined, be coupled, be in league, heap up, have fellowship with, be compact, be a charmer.
אִשָּׁ֖ה  one 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
אֲחֹתָ֑הּ  another 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: אָחֹות  
Sense: sister.
וְחָמֵ֤שׁ  and  five 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, feminine singular
Root: חָמֵשׁ  
Sense: five.
יְרִיעֹת֙  [the  other]  curtains 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: יְרִיעָה  
Sense: curtain, drape.
חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת  [shall  be]  coupled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: הִתְחַבְּרוּת 
Sense: to unite, join, bind together, be joined, be coupled, be in league, heap up, have fellowship with, be compact, be a charmer.
אֲחֹתָֽהּ  another 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: אָחֹות  
Sense: sister.