And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

EXODUS 26:37KJV
Know the Bible

Exodus 26:37 (KJV)

What does Exodus 26:37 mean?

Exodus 26:37 gives instructions for making five pillars out of shittim wood (acacia wood) to support the hanging curtain at the entrance of the tabernacle. These pillars are to be covered with gold, have gold hooks, and stand in five bases made of brass (bronze).

God is speaking to Moses, giving him detailed directions for building the tabernacle, the sacred tent where the Israelites will worship. This verse focuses on the entrance structure, showing the care and value placed on every part of the tabernacle, even the doorway. The materials—wood, gold, and bronze—highlight both beauty and strength in the design.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 26:37

  • שִׁטִּים (shittim): This word means "acacia," a durable wood common in the region. Its use here shows the builders were to use strong, lasting materials for the pillars.
  • צָפָה (tsaphah): Translated as "overlay," this word means to cover something, in this case, covering the wood pillars with gold. The overlaying with gold emphasizes the tabernacle’s sacredness and value.
  • וָו (vav): This word means "hook." The hooks being made of gold would allow the curtain to hang securely and beautifully, showing attention to detail even in small parts.
  • אֶדֶן (eden): This word is translated as "socket" or "base." The bases being made of נְחשֶׁת (nechoshet, "brass" or "bronze") provided stability and durability for the pillars.

Why Exodus 26:37 matters

  • Exodus 26:37 shows that every part of the tabernacle, even the entrance, was made with careful attention and valuable materials, reflecting the importance of the space.
  • The verse highlights the combination of beauty (gold) and strength (acacia wood and bronze), which was meant to honor God and set the tabernacle apart from ordinary tents.
  • By giving specific instructions for the entrance, Exodus 26:37 connects to the larger theme of access to God’s presence being both special and orderly, not casual or haphazard.

Where else these words appear

“hooks” Hebrew H2053 · used in 13 verses

  • Exodus 26:32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
  • Exodus 36:36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
  • Exodus 38:12 And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

“hanging” Hebrew H4539 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 26:36 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
  • Exodus 39:38 And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,
  • Numbers 3:26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

“shittim” Hebrew H7848 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 25:5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
  • Exodus 27:6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
  • Exodus 37:4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.

“overlay” Hebrew H6823 · used in 39 verses

  • Exodus 25:11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
  • Exodus 36:38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.
  • 1 Kings 6:22 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.