Exodus 27:15 — Word Study
WLCוְלַכָּתֵף֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔ית חְמֵ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה קְלָעִ֑ים עַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃
BSAand the curtainsqelaʻ [hangings, screens] on the othershênîy sidekâthêph [second, opposite] fifteen cubits longchâmêsh [ten and five] with threeshâlôwsh [thrice] postsʻammûwd [pillars, columns] and threeshâlôwsh [thrice] basesʼeden [sockets, foundations]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְלַכָּתֵף֙ | and for the side | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| הַשֵּׁנִ֔ית | second | Particle |
| חְמֵ֥שׁ | fif- | Adj |
| עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה | ten | |
| קְלָעִ֑ים | curtains | Noun common, masculine plural 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 | and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. |
| KJV | And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three. |
| ASV | And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. |
| YLT | And at the second side [are] hangings fifteen [cubits], their pillars three, and their sockets three. |
| WEB | For the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. |
| BBE | And on the other side, hangings fifteen cubits long, with three pillars and three bases. |
Where they part company is שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features a main clause followed by several phrases that provide additional details about the curtains and their supports.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
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 27:15
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 — Specifications for the Tabernaclegenerated
Exodus 27:15 provides details about the construction of the tabernacle, specifically the curtains on the second side. This verse is part of a larger section that outlines the dimensions and materials needed for the tabernacle, which served as a central place of worship for the Israelites. The instructions emphasize the importance of precise measurements and materials, reflecting the sacredness of the space being created.
Cross References
The Key Word — כָּתֵף, ve.la.ka.Tefgenerated
The word כָּתֵף (katheph) means 'shoulder' and refers to the side of the tabernacle where the curtains are to be placed. It indicates the upper part of the structure, where the hangings will be attached, signifying the importance of the side in the overall design of the tabernacle.
This term is derived from a root meaning 'to clothe,' highlighting its connection to how garments, or in this case, curtains, are hung. The use of this word here emphasizes the functional and aesthetic aspects of the tabernacle's construction.
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 structure that describes the specifications for the curtains. The sentence contains several phrases detailing the length of the curtains, the number of posts, and the bases.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the measurements and components, with the numeral phrases clearly marking the quantities involved, such as חְמֵ֥שׁ (five) and שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה (three), which are essential for understanding the construction.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word for curtains is rendered as ἱστίων, which indicates a similar meaning but may carry a slightly different connotation in the Greek context. This choice shows a continuity in the understanding of the tabernacle's structure across different cultures.
The Greek term κλίτος is used for the side, reflecting a broader interpretation of the physical space being described, while still aligning with the Hebrew concept of the tabernacle's design.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 27:15 describes the curtains on the second side of the tabernacle, which are to be fifteen cubits long and supported by three posts and three bases. This verse is part of detailed instructions for constructing the tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of precise measurements and materials.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The number of cubits indicates the exact length required for the curtains, which is crucial for the proper construction of the tabernacle.
The three posts and bases provide necessary support for the curtains, ensuring stability and structure for the tabernacle.
The curtains represent a boundary between the sacred and the common, creating a designated space for worship.
This verse connects to the overall design by detailing specific elements that contribute to the tabernacle's function as a holy space for the Israelites.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do the measurements of the tabernacle reflect God's desire for order and precision in worship?
- What can we learn from the instructions regarding the materials used in the tabernacle's construction?
- In what ways do the physical aspects of the tabernacle enhance its spiritual significance?
- How can we apply the principles of careful planning and execution seen in this verse to our own lives?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 27:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd on the other side [shall be] hangings fifteen cubits,.... On the other side of the gate, or entrance into the court, on the northeast side, as the other may be supposed to be the southeast side,
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 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersTHE COURT OF THE .(9-18) Almost every ancient temple stood within a sacred enclosure, which isolated it from the common working world, and rendered its religious character more distinctly apparent. Such enclosures were particularly affected by the Egyptians, and were usually oblong squares, surrounded by walls, with, for the most part, a single entrance. An open space of this kind, always desirable, was absolutely necessary where the sanctuary itself was covered in, since it would have been intolerable to kill and burn victims in a confined and covered space. The altar which has been described (Exodus 27:1-8) was necessarily placed outside the tabernacle, and formed the chief furniture of…
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
and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases.
For the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases.
On the second side there are to be hangings twenty-two and a half feet long, with their three posts and their three bases.
Tyndale line
And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And on the other side shall be hangings, fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Likewise on the other side shalbe hangings of fifteene cubites, with their three pillars and their three sockets.
Strictly literal
And on the other wing hangings of fifteen [cubits]; their pillars three, and their bases three.
And at the second side [are] hangings fifteen [cubits], their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And at the second side [are] hangings of fifteen [cubits], their pillars three, and their sockets three.
And on the other wing shall be fifteen cubits of hangings; their pillars shall be three, and their sockets three.
The other side must also have hangings fifteen cubits long. They must have their three posts and three bases.
From the Latin
And in the other side there shall be hangings of fifteen cubits, with three pillars and as many sockets.
Simplified
and the curtains on the other side just the same.
And on the other side, 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 all nine words in this verse. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch presents four differences, including terms for corner, cubit, pillar, and bronze, indicating some variation in the textual tradition.
וְלַכָּתֵף֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔ית חְמֵ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה קְלָעִ֑ים 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.
ולפאת השׁנית חמשׁ עשׂרה אמה קלעים עמודיהם שׁלשׁה ואדניהם שׁלשׁה נחשׁת
4 words differ from the Masoretic Text: פאת (corner), אמה (cubit), עמודיהם (pillar), נחשׁת (bronze)
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 27:15
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.
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)
Conj | Prep | N-fs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Rd/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.
שֵׁנִי (sheniy) means 'second' and can also imply 'again' or 'another.' It is an ordinal number used to denote position or sequence, as well as to indicate repetition. The word is derived from a root meaning 'double' and appears in various contexts in the Old Testament.
שֵׁנִי m. שֵׁנִית f. 157 adj.num.ord. second
base
H8145 שֵׁנִי m. שֵׁנִית f. adj. num. ord. second
8145 sheniy shay-nee'
from 8138; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially,
again:--again, either (of them), (an-)other, second (time).
see HEBREW for 08138
שֵׁנִי (she.ni) — second.
1) second
1a) second (the ordinal number)
1b) again (a second time)
1c) another, other (something as distinct from something else)
Art | Adj — ParticleHTd/Aofsa
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)
Adj — AdjHAcbsc
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
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
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.