Exodus 27:9-21

The Courtyard

9 “Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits^[a] long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen,

10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

11 The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

12 “The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits^[b] wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases.

13 On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide.

14 Curtains fifteen cubits^[c] long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases,

15 and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

16 “For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits^[d] long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer—with four posts and four bases.

17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases.

18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide,^[e] with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits^[f] high, and with bronze bases.

19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

Oil for the Lampstand

20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.

21 In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 27:9-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 27

This chapter treats of the altar of burnt offering, and of all things relative to it, Ex 27:1-8, of the court of the tabernacle, its hangings on each side, with pillars, sockets, and hooks for them, Ex 27:9-19 and it is concluded with an order to the Israelites to bring oil olive for the lamp of the sanctuary, Ex 27:20,21.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 35:17; Exodus 40:8,33; Leviticus 6:16,26; Ezekiel 40:14; Ezekiel 42:1
• 2. Exodus 40:33
• 3. Exodus 36:37
• 4. S Exodus 25:6
• 5. Exodus 28:43; Exodus 29:42; Exodus 30:36; Exodus 33:7; Leviticus 1:1; Leviticus 6:26; Leviticus 8:3,31; Numbers 1:1; Numbers 31:54; Joshua 18:1; 1 Kings 1:39
• 6. S Exodus 16:34; Exodus 26:31,33
• 7. S Exodus 25:37; Exodus 30:8; 1 Samuel 3:3; 2 Chronicles 13:11
• 8. Exodus 29:9; Exodus 30:21; Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 16:34; Leviticus 17:7; Numbers 18:23; Numbers 19:21; 1 Samuel 30:25

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, about 150 feet or about 45 meters; also in verse 11
• [b]. That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters; also in verse 13
• [c]. That is, about 23 feet or about 6.8 meters; also in verse 15
• [d]. That is, about 30 feet or about 9 meters
• [e]. That is, about 150 feet long and 75 feet wide or about 45 meters long and 23 meters wide
• [f]. That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters