And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,

EXODUS 39:34KJV
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Exodus 39:34 (KJV)

What does Exodus 39:34 mean?

Exodus 39:34 lists specific coverings and the veil made for the tabernacle, highlighting the use of rams’ skins dyed red, another layer of animal skins, and the veil that separated the holy spaces. This verse describes some of the carefully crafted materials that formed the protective and sacred layers of the tabernacle.

In this part of Exodus, skilled workers are finishing the tabernacle as God instructed Moses. The verse focuses on the coverings and veil, which were essential for both protecting the tabernacle and marking out its most holy areas. The details show the care and obedience given to God’s specific directions for worship.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 39:34

  • The word for "covering" (מִכְסֶה, mikseh, H4372) refers to an outer layer or protective covering, emphasizing that these skins were not just decorative but served as a shield for the tabernacle.
  • "Rams’" (אַיִל, ayil, H352) and "skins" (עוֹר, `or, H5785) together point to the use of animal hides, with the rams’ skins being specially dyed "red" (אָדֵם, adom, H119), which often symbolized richness or significance.
  • The "badgers’" (תַּחַשׁ, tachash, H8476) skins are from an animal whose exact identity is debated, but the term signals a second, distinct layer of animal hide, possibly for extra durability or weatherproofing.
  • The "vail" (פָּרֹכֶת, parokhet, H6532) and its "covering" (מָסָךְ, masakh, H4539) refer to the inner curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, marking the boundary of God’s presence.

Why Exodus 39:34 matters

  • This verse shows the attention to detail and obedience in following God’s instructions, which is a theme throughout the tabernacle’s construction.
  • The mention of multiple coverings and the veil highlights the importance of both protecting what is holy and setting apart sacred space within Israel’s worship.
  • Understanding the materials and their arrangement helps clarify how the tabernacle was both a practical shelter and a symbol of God’s presence among the people.

Where else these words appear

“red” Hebrew H119 · used in 10 verses

  • Exodus 25:5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
  • Exodus 35:23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.
  • Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

“covering” Hebrew H4372 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 8:13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
  • Exodus 36:19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that.
  • Numbers 4:10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar.

“badgers'” Hebrew H8476 · used in 14 verses

  • Exodus 25:5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
  • Exodus 36:19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that.
  • Numbers 4:11 And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:

“vail” Hebrew H6532 · used in 23 verses

  • Exodus 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
  • Exodus 38:27 And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.
  • Leviticus 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.