Exodus 36:27 — Word Study
WLCוּֽלְיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יָ֑מָּה עָשָׂ֖ה שִׁשָּׁ֥ה קְרָשִֽׁים׃
BSAHe madeʻâsâh■ [created, constructed] sixshêsh framesqeresh [boards, planks] for the rearyᵉrêkâh [back, hinder part] of the tabernaclemishkân [a portable place of worship, the dwelling place of God] the west sideyâm [toward the sea, flank, area]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּֽלְיַרְכְּתֵ֥י | and for [the] innermost parts of | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine dual construct |
| הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן | the tabernacle | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יָ֑מָּה | west -ward | Noun common masculine singular absolute, suffix |
| עָשָׂ֖ה | he made | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| שִׁשָּׁ֥ה | six | Adj |
| קְרָשִֽׁים׃ | frames | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He made six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side, |
| KJV | And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. |
| ASV | And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. |
| YLT | and for the sides of the tabernacle, westward, hath he made six boards; |
| WEB | For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. |
| BBE | And for the west side of the House, at the back, they made six boards, |
Where they part company is קְרָשִֽׁים — see How Translations Differ.
The main verb governs the action, with two prepositional phrases providing context for the frames' purpose and location.
3 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָשָׂה
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 36:27
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 — The Construction of the Tabernaclegenerated
Exodus 36:27 describes the making of the tabernacle, a portable dwelling place for God among the Israelites. This verse specifies the creation of six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, emphasizing the careful construction process that was essential for the tabernacle's function and significance in Israelite worship.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 26:22–27 | Make six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — קְרָשִֽׁים, ke.ra.Shimgenerated
The word קְרָשׁ (qeresh) refers to a board or plank, indicating a flat piece of wood used in construction. Its usage in this verse highlights the physical components required for the tabernacle's structure, which was crucial for its stability and function.
The plural form קְרָשִׁים indicates multiple frames, emphasizing the scale of the construction. This term is often associated with building materials and signifies the importance of each frame in the overall design of the tabernacle.
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 verb of the verse is עָשָׂ֖ה, he made, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes a series of noun phrases detailing the components of the tabernacle, specifically the frames for the rear.
The Hebrew syntax places the verb first, followed by the object of the action, emphasizing the act of making as the focal point of the sentence.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 36:27 tells us that six frames were made for the rear of the tabernacle, which was a portable place of worship for the Israelites. This construction was an important part of the tabernacle's design, ensuring it was sturdy and functional.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The frames provide structural support for the tabernacle, allowing it to be a stable and portable dwelling place for God among the Israelites.
The precise measurements and components were essential to ensure that the tabernacle met God's specifications for worship and served its purpose effectively.
The detailed construction of the tabernacle signifies God's desire to dwell among His people, providing a physical space for worship and communion.
The tabernacle was constructed using various materials, including wood for the frames, fabrics for the coverings, and metals for the bases, all of which were specified in earlier chapters.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the construction of the tabernacle teach us about the importance of worship in our lives?
- How can we apply the principles of careful planning and execution seen in the tabernacle's construction to our own projects?
- In what ways can we create spaces in our lives that are dedicated to worship and connection with God?
- What can we learn from the Israelites' commitment to following God's instructions for the tabernacle?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Christian writers referenced the tabernacle's construction to illustrate God's presence among His people. Bede discusses the significance of the tabernacle's orientation in relation to the sea.
And since the reprobate perish in eternity while the righteous are reigning with the Lord, rightly is it said further on that this side of the tabernacle looks to the sea.Early Church Fathers on Exodus 36 →
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 36:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 36 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(20-34) After the construction of the roof, that of the walls is described, the order of Exodus 26 being still followed. Exodus 36:20-34 correspond to Exodus 36:15-29 of Exodus 26. The correspondence is closer than would appear from the Authorised Version.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 36 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleAND AHOLIAB, Exodus 36:30-35. See notes on Exodus 31:1-11. OF , Exodus 36:1-7. 5.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 36 →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
He made six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side,
For the far part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
He made six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side,
And for the back of the tabernacle on the west he made six frames.
Tyndale line
And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.
Likewise toward the Westside of the Tabernacle he made sixe boardes.
Strictly literal
And at the rear of the tabernacle, westward, he made six boards;
and for the sides of the tabernacle, westward, hath he made six boards;
and for the sides of the Dwelling Place westward, he has made six boards;
And for the back wall of the tabernacle, westward, he made six boards.
For the back of the tabernacle on the west, Bezalel made six frames.
From the Latin
But against the west, to wit, at that side of the tabernacle, which looketh to the sea, he made six boards,
Simplified
They made six frames for the back (west side) of the Tabernacle,
And for the west side of the House, at the back, they made six boards,
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 states, "וּֽלְיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יָ֑מָּה עָשָׂ֖ה שִׁשָּׁ֥ה קְרָשִֽׁים׃" which translates to, "He made six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side." The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word. The Septuagint's word-by-word correspondence matches 5 of the 6 words from the Masoretic Text, but the exact phrasing and structure differ due to its own translation style.
וּֽלְיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יָ֑מָּה עָשָׂ֖ה שִׁשָּׁ֥ה קְרָשִֽׁים׃
5 of the 6 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.
ולירכתי המשׁכן ימה עשׂה שׁשׁה קרשׁים
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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 36:27
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.
יַרְכָה (yrekah) refers to the flank or side, often indicating extreme parts or recesses. It is a feminine form of a related word and is used figuratively to denote borders or sides. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to physical sides and recesses, without significant disagreement among lexicons.
[יַרְכָה, or יְרֵכָה] flank, side, du. extreme parts, recesses
base
H3411 [יַרְכָה, or יְרֵכָה] flank, side, du. extreme parts, recesses
3411 yrekah yer-ay-kaw'
feminine of 3409; properly, the flank; but used only
figuratively, the rear or recess:--border, coast, part,
quarter, side.
see HEBREW for 03409
יַרְכָה (ye.re.khah) — flank.
1) flank, side, extreme parts, recesses
1a) side
1b) sides, recesses (dual)
Aramaic equivalent: yar.kah (יַרְכָא "thigh" H3410)
Conj | Prep | N-fd — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine dual constructHC/R/Ncfdc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan) means 'dwelling-place' or 'tabernacle.' It is derived from a root meaning to dwell and can refer to various types of residences, including the Tabernacle in the Old Testament. The term encompasses both literal and figurative meanings, such as a grave or the Temple.
מִשְׁכָּן 139 n.m. dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’
base
H4908 מִשְׁכָּן dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’
4908 mishkan mish-kawn'
from 7931; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair
of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple);
specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden
walls):--dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle,
tent.
see HEBREW for 07931
מִשְׁכָּן (mish.kan) — tabernacle.
1) dwelling place, tabernacle
1a) dwelling-place
1b) dwellings
Aramaic equivalent: mish.kan (מִשְׁכַּן "habitation" H4907)
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
tab'-er-na-k'l ('ohel mo`edh "tent of meeting," mishkan, "dwelling"; skene):
A. STRUCTURE AND HISTORY
I. INTRODUCTORY
1. Earlier "Tent of Meeting"
2. A Stage in Revelation
3. The Tabernacle Proper
II. STRUCTURE
1. The Enclosure or Court
2. Structure, Divisions and Furniture of the Tabernacle
(1) Coverings of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:1-14; 36:8-19)
(a) Tabernacle Covering Proper
(b) Tent Covering
(c) Protective Covering
(2) Framework and Divisions of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:15-37; 36:20-38)
Arrangement of Coverings
(3) Furniture of the Sanctuary
(a) The Table of Shewbread
(b) The Candlestick (Lampstand)
(c) The Altar of Incense
III. HISTORY
1. Removal from Sinai
2. Sojourn at Kadesh
3. Settlement in Canaan
4. Destruction of Shiloh
5. Delocalization of Worship
6. Nob and Gibeon
7. Restoration of the Ark
Tabernacle
(1.) A house or dwelling-place (Job 5:24; 18:6, etc.).
(2.) A portable shrine (comp. Acts 19:24) containing the image of Moloch (Amos 5:26; marg. and R.V., “Siccuth”).
(3.) The human body (2 Cor. 5:1, 4); a tent, as opposed to a permanent dwelling.
(4.) The sacred tent (Heb. mishkan, “the dwelling-place”); the movable tent-temple which Moses erected for the service of God, according to the “pattern” which God himself showed to him on the mount (Ex. 25:9; Heb. 8:5). It is called “the tabernacle of the congregation,” rather “of meeting”, i.e., where God…
The tabernacle was the tent of Jehovah, called by the same name as the tents of the people in the midst of which it stood. It was also called the sanctuary and the tabernacle of the congregation. The first ordinance given to Moses, after the proclamation of the outline of the law from Sinai, related to the ordering of the tabernacle, its furniture and its service as the type which was to be followed when the people came to their own home and "found a place" for the abode of God. During the forty days of Moses’ first retirement with God in Sinai, an exact pattern of the whole was shown him, and all was made according to it. (Exodus 25:9,40; 26:30; 39:32,42,43; Numbers 8:4; Acts 7:44;
A tent, booth, pavilion, or temporary dwelling. For its general meaning and uses, see TENT. In the Scriptures it is employed more particularly of the tent made by Moses at the command of God, for the place of religious worship of the Hebrews, before the building of the temple. The directions of God, and the account of the execution of them, are contained in Ex 25:1-40, and the following chapters. This is usually called the tabernacle of the congregation, or tent of assembly, and sometimes the tabernacle of the testimony.
The tabernacle was of an oblong rectangular form, thirty cubits long, ten broad, and ten in height, Ex 26.15-30; 36.20-30; that is, about fifty-five feet long, eighteen broad, and eighteen high. The two sides and the western end were formed of boards of shittim wood, overlaid with thin plates of gold, and fixed in…
יָם (yam) means 'sea' and refers to various large bodies of water, including the Mediterranean, Red, and Dead Seas, as well as the Sea of Galilee. It can also denote a mighty river like the Nile and has geographical implications, indicating directions such as west or south. The term is derived from a root meaning to roar, suggesting the noise of breaking surf.
יָם 390 n.m. sea
base
H3220 יָם sea
3220 yam yawm
from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in
noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the
article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or
an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the
south:--sea (X -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern,
side, -ward).
יָם (yam) — sea.
: sea
1) sea
1a) Mediterranean Sea
1b) Red Sea
1c) Dead Sea
1d) Sea of Galilee
1e) sea (general)
1f) mighty river (Nile)
1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)
1h) seaward, west, westward
יָם (yam) — sea: west.
: west
1) sea
1a) Mediterranean Sea
1b) Red Sea
1c) Dead Sea
1d) Sea of Galilee
1e) sea (general)
1f) mighty river (Nile)
1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court)
1h) seaward, west, westward
יָם (yam) — (Mt. Ephron in the) West.
This name means sea, seaward, westward
Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular absolute · suffixHNcmsa/Sd
word: "Ward" and "guard" are two different spellings of the same word, and in consequence no clear line can be drawn between them. English Versions of the Bible, however, has used "guard" only in the sense of "a special body of soldiers" (Ge 37:36, etc.), while "ward" is used, not only in this sense (Jer 37:13; contrast 39:9), but also in a variety of others. So a "ward" may mean "any body of men on special duty," as 1Ch 9:23; the King James Version 1Ch 26:16; Ne 12:24,25 (the Revised Version (British and American) "watch"), or the duty itself, as Isa 21:8;
Ward
A prison (Gen. 40:3, 4); a watch-station (Isa. 21:8); a guard (Neh. 13:30).
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
The Hebrew word שֵׁשׁ, transliterated as shesh, means 'six' and can function as both a cardinal and ordinal number, indicating the sixth position. It is a primitive number that signifies an excess beyond five, as noted in the entries. The Aramaic equivalent is שֵׁת (shet).
שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה 216 n.m. et f. six
base
H8337 שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה six
8337 shesh shaysh
masculine shishshah {shish-shaw'}; a primitive number; six
(as an overplus (see 7797) beyond five or the fingers of the
hand); as ord. sixth:--six((-teen, -teenth)), sixth.
see HEBREW for 07797
שֵׁשׁ (shesh) — six.
1) six
1a) six (cardinal number)
1b) sixth (ordinal number)
1c) in combination with other numbers
Aramaic equivalent: shet (שֵׁת "six" H8353)
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
קֶ֫רֶשׁ (qeresh) refers to a board or plank, with implications for use in constructing decks or benches. The term is derived from a root meaning to split off, indicating a connection to the process of shaping wood. It is primarily used in contexts related to building materials.
קֶ֫רֶשׁ 51 n.m. board, boards
base
H7175 קֶ֫רֶשׁ board, boards
7175 qeresh keh'-resh
from an unused root meaning to split off; a slab or plank; by
implication, a deck of a ship:--bench, board.
קֶ֫רֶשׁ (qe.resh) — board.
1) board, boards, plank
1a) board
1b) boards
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa