And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.

EXODUS 36:18KJV
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Exodus 36:18 (KJV)

What does Exodus 36:18 mean?

Exodus 36:18 describes how fifty brass clasps were made to join the sections of the tent together so that the entire structure would be unified as one piece. This verse highlights a specific step in constructing the tabernacle, focusing on how its parts were connected to form a single, cohesive tent.

In this passage, the narrative is about the skilled workers, led by Bezalel and Oholiab, building the tabernacle as God instructed Moses. The "taches of brass" are metal fasteners used to link the fabric coverings of the tent. By making and using these clasps, the builders ensured that the tabernacle coverings would not be separate pieces but would function together as one unified tent, which was important for both practical and symbolic reasons.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 36:18

  • The word "taches" (קֶרֶס, qeres) refers to hooks or clasps, which were practical items used to fasten the tent coverings. This detail shows the careful attention to how the tabernacle was held together.
  • The verb "couple" (חָבַר, chavar) means to join or connect. The use of this word emphasizes that the tent was not just assembled, but purposefully joined to become a single unit.
  • The word "one" (אֶחָד, echad) means "one" or "united." Its use here underlines the goal: the many parts of the tent were to function as a single whole, not as separate pieces.

Why Exodus 36:18 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the tabernacle was designed to be a unified structure, not a collection of separate parts, which reflects the importance of unity in its construction.
  • The specific mention of "fifty" clasps and their material ("brass") shows the attention to detail and the care taken to follow God's instructions exactly.
  • Understanding how the tent was joined helps make sense of the larger passage, where each part of the tabernacle has a purpose and fits into a carefully ordered whole.

Where else these words appear

“taches” Hebrew H7165 · used in 7 verses

  • Exodus 26:6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
  • Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
  • Exodus 36:13 And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.

“couple” Hebrew H2266 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 14:3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
  • Exodus 36:16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.
  • Psalms 94:20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

“brass” Hebrew H5178 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

“fifty” Hebrew H2572 · used in 141 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.
  • Numbers 4:35 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:
  • 1 Chronicles 5:21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.