The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.

EXODUS 26:8KJV
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Exodus 26:8 (KJV)

What does Exodus 26:8 mean?

Exodus 26:8 gives the exact measurements for each of the eleven curtains used in the construction of the tabernacle, stating that each curtain should be thirty cubits long and four cubits wide, and that all eleven should be the same size. This verse is part of the detailed instructions God gives Moses for building the tabernacle in the wilderness.

God is speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, giving him step-by-step directions for making the portable sanctuary where the Israelites will worship. The verse focuses on uniformity and precision, showing that every curtain—no matter how many—must match in size. This careful attention to detail reflects the importance of following God's instructions exactly in the building of the tabernacle.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 26:8

  • "Curtain" (יְרִיעָה, yeriah): This word refers to a large piece of fabric, not just a small drape. In this context, it describes the main coverings of the tabernacle, emphasizing their significance as structural elements, not just decorations.
  • "Cubit" (אַמָּה, ammah): A cubit was an ancient unit of measurement, roughly the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (about 18 inches or 45 centimeters). Knowing this helps modern readers picture the actual size of the curtains.
  • "Measure" (מִדָּה, middah): This word means a standard or fixed measurement. Its use here stresses that every curtain must be made to the exact same specifications, highlighting the importance of consistency in the tabernacle's construction.

Why Exodus 26:8 matters

  • This verse clears up any confusion about whether the curtains could be different sizes; it insists on exact uniformity, which was essential for the structure to fit together properly.
  • The emphasis on precise measurements shows the seriousness with which God’s instructions were to be followed, setting a pattern for the rest of the tabernacle’s construction.
  • Understanding the size and number of these curtains helps readers visualize the scale and craftsmanship involved in building the tabernacle, giving a sense of the care and skill required by the Israelites.

Where else these words appear

“eleven” Hebrew H6249 · used in 18 verses

  • Exodus 26:7 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.
  • Deuteronomy 1:3 And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;
  • Jeremiah 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

“curtain” Hebrew H3407 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 26:1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
  • Exodus 26:13 And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
  • Exodus 36:17 And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.

“measure” Hebrew H4060 · used in 53 verses

  • Exodus 26:2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
  • Nehemiah 3:21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
  • Ezekiel 40:28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;

“breadth” Hebrew H7341 · used in 89 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 7:2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
  • Ezekiel 41:3 Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.