Exodus 27:14 — Word Study
WLCוַחֲמֵ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה אַמָּ֛ה קְלָעִ֖ים לַכָּתֵ֑ף עַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃
BSAMake the curtainsqelaʻ [hangings of the gate] on one sidekâthêph fifteenchâmêsh [ten and five] cubits longʼammâh [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] with threeshâlôwsh [thrice] postsʻammûwd [pillars, columns] and threeshâlôwsh [thrice] basesʼeden [sockets, foundations]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַחֲמֵ֨שׁ | and [will be] fif- | Conjunction |
| עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה | teen | |
| אַמָּ֛ה | cubit[s] | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| קְלָעִ֖ים | curtains | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| לַכָּתֵ֑ף | for the side | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| עַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣ם | pillars their | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה | three | Adj |
| וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם | and bases their | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ | three | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases, |
| KJV | The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three. |
| ASV | The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. |
| YLT | And the hangings at the side [are] fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their sockets three. |
| WEB | The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. |
| BBE | On the one side of the doorway will be hangings fifteen cubits long, with three pillars and three bases; |
Where they part company is עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause detailing the action of making the curtains, followed by a prepositional phrase that specifies the support structure.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectקֶלַע
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 27:14
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Instructions for the Tabernaclegenerated
Exodus 27:14 provides specific measurements and details for the construction of the curtains on one side of the tabernacle. This verse is part of a series of instructions given by God to Moses regarding the design of the tabernacle, which served as a dwelling place for God's presence among the Israelites. The meticulous attention to detail reflects the significance of the tabernacle in Israelite worship and community life.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 27:9 | You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits long on one side, |
| 2 | Exodus 26:36 | For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָמֵשׁ, va.cha.Meshgenerated
The word חָמֵשׁ (chamesh) means 'five' in Hebrew. It serves as both a cardinal number and can indicate a multiple of five when combined with another number. The parsing shows it as a conjunction, connecting it to the preceding number in the context of measurement.
This numeral appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts that involve counting or specifying quantities, such as the five loaves of bread mentioned in Matthew 14:17.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the finite verb עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה, ten, indicating the length of the curtains. It establishes the primary action of making, with several phrases detailing the specifics of the curtains, including their length and the number of supporting posts and bases.
The structure is straightforward, with the Hebrew word order emphasizing the dimensions and materials used, reflecting the importance of precision in the instructions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חָמֵשׁ as καὶ, indicating a straightforward numerical representation without additional interpretation. This choice maintains the clarity of the measurement.
The word for קְלָעִ֖ים is rendered as ἱστίων, which specifically refers to curtains or hangings, aligning with the context of the tabernacle's design.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 27:14 gives instructions for making the curtains on one side of the tabernacle, specifying that they should be fifteen cubits long, supported by three posts and three bases. This verse emphasizes the detailed design required for the tabernacle, which was central to Israelite worship.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The measurement of fifteen cubits indicates the specific length required for the curtains, reflecting the precise dimensions necessary for the tabernacle's construction.
The three posts and bases provide structural support for the curtains, ensuring stability and functionality in the design of the tabernacle.
This verse is part of a larger set of instructions detailing the construction of the tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of following God's commands for worship.
While this verse specifies the dimensions, other parts of the tabernacle instructions detail that the curtains were made from fine linen and dyed materials.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the precision in these measurements teach us about God's instructions?
- How can we apply the concept of careful planning and execution in our own lives?
- In what ways do the details of the tabernacle reflect God's presence among His people?
- What significance do you think the number three holds in the context of the tabernacle's design?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 27:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe hangings of one side of the gate,.... Or entrance into the court: shall be fifteen cubits; or seven yards and a half: their pillars three, and their sockets three; and so stood at the same
Read John Gill on Exodus 27 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 27 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThese fifteen cubits, with the fifteen cubits , and the twenty cubits , make up the fifty cubits mentioned.
Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 27 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(14) The hangings of one side.—Rather, at one side. On three sides of the court—the south, the west, and the north—there was to be no interruption in the hangings—no entrance or gateway. But it was otherwise on the fourth side, towards the east. Here was to be the entrance to the court, and here consequently the line of hangings was to be broken in the middle. A curtain, similar to that at the east end of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:36), but hung on four pillars instead of five, and capable of being drawn up of down, was to give admission to the court on this side, and was to occupy twenty cubits out of the fifty which formed the entire width of the court. On either side would remain a space…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 27 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible12-18. Breadth of the court — The court was one hundred cubits long and fifty broad, (150 x 75 feet,) and its linen fence five cubits high.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 27 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases,
The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases,
The hangings on one side of the gate are to be twenty-two and a half feet long, with their three posts and their three bases.
Tyndale line
The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Also hangings of fifteene cubites shalbe on the one side with their three pillars and their three sockets.
Strictly literal
the hangings on the one wing, of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their bases three.
And the hangings at the side [are] fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And the hangings at the side [are] fifteen cubits, their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And fifteen cubits of hangings shall be on the one wing; their pillars shall be three and their sockets three.
The hangings for one side of the entrance must be fifteen cubits long. They must have three posts with three bases.
From the Latin
In which there shall be for one side hangings of fifteen cubits, and three pillars and as many sockets.
Simplified
Make the curtains on one side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three stands,
On the one side of the doorway will be hangings fifteen cubits long, with three pillars and three bases;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches the Hebrew closely in this verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using the word עמודיהם (pillar) instead of the expected term in the MT. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial agreement, with some words restored or supplied by editors.
וַחֲמֵ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה אַמָּ֛ה קְלָעִ֖ים לַכָּתֵ֑ף עַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃
9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
חמשׁ עשׂרה אמה קלעים לכתף עמודיהם שׁלשׁה ואדניהם שׁלשׁה נחשׁת
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: עמודיהם (pillar), נחשׁת (bronze)
[וחמש] [עשרה] [אמה] [קלעים] [לכתף] עמדי׳הם שלשה [ואדני׳הם]
8 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.
שלשה [ואדני׳הם] [שלשה]
3 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 27:14
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
חָמֵשׁ (chamesh) means 'five' in Hebrew. It serves as both a cardinal number and can indicate a multiple of five when combined with another number. The word also has an ordinal form, 'fifth.' The entries consistently define this numeral without any noted disagreement.
חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה 342 n.m. and f. five
base
H2568 חָמֵשׁ, חֲמִשָּׁה five
2568 chamesh khaw-maysh'
masculine chamishshah {kham-ish-shaw}; a primitive numeral;
five:--fif(-teen), fifth, five (X apiece).
חָמֵשׁ (cha.mesh) — five.
1) five
1a) five (cardinal number)
1b) a multiple of five (with another number)
1c) fifth (ordinal number)
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Acbsc
עָשָׂר (asar) means 'ten' and is used exclusively in combination with other numbers to form the teen numbers (11-19), both as cardinal and ordinal forms. The entries indicate that it is derived from another Hebrew root, but do not elaborate on its etymology.
עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal
base
H6240 עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal
6240 `asar aw-sawr'
for 6235; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also
(ordinal) -teenth:--(eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-,
six-, thir-)teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, +
twelve(-th).
see HEBREW for 06235
עָשָׂר (a.sar) — ten.
1) ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers)
1a) used only in combination to make the numbers 11-19
HAcbsa — HAcbsa
אַמָּה (ammah) primarily means 'cubit,' a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 0.5 meters, derived from the word for 'mother' or 'forearm.' It can also refer to a foundation or base, as noted in Isaiah 6:4. The lexicons mention different types of cubits used in the Old Testament, including the common cubit and the legal cubit.
אַמָּה 246 n.f. ell, cubit
cubit
† measure, full measure, limit
base
[אַמָּה] n.f. (etym. & mng. dub.; Thes foundation) only Is 6:4.
ref
H520a אַמָּה ell, cubit H520b אַמָּה
520 'ammah am-maw'
prolonged from 517; properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure,
or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a
door-base (as a bond of the entrance):--cubit, + hundred (by
exchange for 3967), measure, post.
see HEBREW for 0517
see HEBREW for 03967
אַמָּה (am.mah) — cubit.
cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment.
Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)
אַמָּה (am.mah) — foundation.
foundation
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
קֶ֫לַע (qela`) refers to both a 'sling' and a 'curtain' or 'hanging.' It is derived from the root word for 'to be thrown' and encompasses items that can be slung or hung, such as a door screen or valve. The entries consistently highlight these two primary meanings without significant disagreement.
קֶ֫לַע n.[m.] sling
base
[קֶ֫לַע] 15 n.[m.] curtain, hanging (P)
base
H7050a קֶ֫לַע sling H7050b קֶ֫לַע curtain, hanging
7050 qela` keh'-lah
from 7049; a sling; also a (door) screen (as if slung
across), or the valve (of the door) itself:--hanging, leaf,
sling.
see HEBREW for 07049
קֶ֫לַע (qe.la) — sling.
sling, slingstones
קֶ֫לַע (qe.la) — curtain.
curtain, drape, hanging
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
כָּתֵף (katheph) means 'shoulder' and can refer to the shoulder-blade, side, or slope of a mountain. It is derived from a root meaning to clothe, indicating the shoulder as the place where garments hang. The term can also describe shoulder-pieces of animals and supports, as well as lateral projections.
כָּתֵף n.f. shoulder, shoulder-blade, side
base
H3802 כָּתֵף shoulder, shoulder-blade, side
3802 katheph kaw-thafe'
from an unused root meaning to clothe; the shoulder (proper,
i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the
garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection
of anything:--arm, corner, shoulder(-piece), side,
undersetter.
כָּתֵף (ka.teph) — shoulder.
1) shoulder, shoulder-blade, side, slope
1a) shoulder, shoulder-blade (of man)
1b) shoulder, shoulder-pieces (of animals)
1c) side, slope (of mountain)
1d) supports (of laver)
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
si'-de (Side): An ancient town of Pamphylia, occupying a triangular promontory on the coast. It was one of the towns to which a letter favorable to the Jews was sent by the Roman consul Lucius (1 Macc 15:23). The town seems to have been of considerable antiquity, for it had existed long before it fell into the possession of Alexander the Great, and for a time it was the metropolis of Pamphylia. Off the coast the fleet of Antiochus was defeated by the Rhodians. During the 1st century, Side was noted as one of the chief ports of pirates who disposed of much of their booty there. The ruins of the city, which are now very extensive, bear the name Eski Adalia, but among them there are no occupied houses. The two harbors protected by a sea wall may still be traced, but they are now filled with sand. The wall on the land side of the city was provided with a gate which was protected with round…
a city on the coast of Pamphylia, 10 or 12 miles to the east of the river Eurymedon. It is mentioned in 1 Macc. 15:23, and was a colony of Cumaeans.
עַמּוּד (ammuwd) means 'pillar' or 'column,' referring to a vertical support structure. It can denote both a physical pillar and a platform. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to stand.' The entries consistently emphasize its architectural connotation, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
עַמּוּד, עַמֻּד 110 n.m. pillar, column
base
H5982 עַמּוּד, עַמֻּד pillar, column
5982 `ammuwd am-mood'
or ammud {am-mood'}; from 5975; a column (as standing); also
a stand, i.e. platform:--X apiece, pillar.
see HEBREW for 05975
עַמּוּד (am.mud) — pillar.
1) pillar, column
1a) pillar
1b) column, upright
1c) column (of smoke)
עַמּוּד (am.mud) — (Hall of) Pillars.
Combined with u.lam (אוּלָם "Hall" H0197)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word שָׁלֹשׁ (*shalosh*) means 'three' or 'triad.' It can also refer to the ordinal 'third' and is used in various contexts, including multiplication as 'thrice.' The entries consistently define it as a primitive number without significant disagreement.
שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה 430 n.m. et f. a three, triad
base
H7969 שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה a three, triad
7969 shalowsh shaw-loshe'
or shalosh {shaw-loshe'}; masculine shlowshah {shel-o-shaw'};
or shloshah {shel-o-shaw'}; a primitive number; three;
occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multipl.) thrice:--+ fork,
+ often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, + thrice.
Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07991
שָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) — three.
1) three, triad
1a) 3, 300, third
Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
(shalosh; treis).
See NUMBER.
The phrase "three days and three nights," Mt 12:40, was equivalent in Hebrew to the English "three days;" the Jews employing the expression "a day and a night" to denote our "day" of twentyfour hours. Nor did "three days," 1Sa 30:13, literally "this third day," according to their usage, necessarily include the whole of three days, but a part of three days, a continuous period including one whole day of twenty-four hours, and a portion of the day preceding it and the day following it. Compare Ge 7:12,17 1Sa 30:12-13.
אֶ֫דֶן (eden) refers to a base or pedestal, indicating a strong foundation for structures like buildings or columns. It encompasses meanings such as sockets for tabernacle pillars and pedestals of gold. The word is linked to strength, as seen in its connection to another Hebrew term. It appears in contexts like Exodus 26:19.
[אֶ֫דֶן] 57 n.m. Ex 26:19 base, pedestal
pedestals of fine gold
pedestals of the earth on wh. its pillars were placed
(metal) pedestals, bases, or sockets in wh. tenons of planks & pillars of tabernacle were set up; two for each plank & one for each pillar
base
H134 [אֶ֫דֶן] base, pedestal
134 'eden eh'-den
from the same as 113 (in the sense of strength); a basis (of
a building, a column, etc.):--foundation, socket.
see HEBREW for 0113
אֶ֫דֶן (e.den) — socket.
1) base, pedestal, socket (strong, firm)
1a) pedestals of gold on which marble pillars were set
1b) pedestals of the earth, foundation of the earth
1c) pedestals, bases, or sockets on which tabernacle stood
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word שָׁלֹשׁ (*shalosh*) means 'three' or 'triad.' It can also refer to the ordinal 'third' and is used in various contexts, including multiplication as 'thrice.' The entries consistently define it as a primitive number without significant disagreement.
שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה 430 n.m. et f. a three, triad
base
H7969 שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה a three, triad
7969 shalowsh shaw-loshe'
or shalosh {shaw-loshe'}; masculine shlowshah {shel-o-shaw'};
or shloshah {shel-o-shaw'}; a primitive number; three;
occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multipl.) thrice:--+ fork,
+ often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, + thrice.
Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07991
שָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) — three.
1) three, triad
1a) 3, 300, third
Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
(shalosh; treis).
See NUMBER.
The phrase "three days and three nights," Mt 12:40, was equivalent in Hebrew to the English "three days;" the Jews employing the expression "a day and a night" to denote our "day" of twentyfour hours. Nor did "three days," 1Sa 30:13, literally "this third day," according to their usage, necessarily include the whole of three days, but a part of three days, a continuous period including one whole day of twenty-four hours, and a portion of the day preceding it and the day following it. Compare Ge 7:12,17 1Sa 30:12-13.