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Exodus 36:28 — Word Study

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WLCוּשְׁנֵ֤י קְרָשִׁים֙ עָשָׂ֔ה לִמְקֻצְעֹ֖ת הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן בַּיַּרְכָתָֽיִם׃

BSA[and]ʻâsâh twoshᵉnayim [a pair, dual] framesqeresh [boards, flat pieces of wood] for the two backyᵉrêkâh [a pair, dual, rear, hinder] cornersmᵉqutsʻâh [angles, sides] of the tabernaclemishkân [a special tent, dwelling place]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 36
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (bai.yar.kha.Ta.yim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 36:28quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse describes the construction of two frames for the back corners of the tabernacle.
Who is speakingThe text is from the account of the construction of the tabernacle, attributed to Moses.
Where we areThis verse is part of the detailed instructions for the tabernacle's construction.
The hard wordקְרָשִׁים
Take awayThe tabernacle is constructed with specific materials and dimensions.
3 commentators on this verse Jamieson, Ellicott, Whedon & more — read them › clause verbעָשָׂה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Exodus 36:28

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Construction of the Tabernaclegenerated

27He made six frames for the rear of the tabernacle, the west side,
28and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle,
29coupled together from bottom to top and fitted into a single ring. He made both corners in this way.
30So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.

Exodus 36:28 is part of the detailed account of the construction of the tabernacle, a portable dwelling place for God among the Israelites. This section outlines the specific materials and dimensions used in the tabernacle's construction, emphasizing the importance of following God's instructions precisely.


Cross References


The Key Word קְרָשִׁים, ke.ra.Shimgenerated

The word קְרָשׁ (qeresh) refers to a flat piece of wood, typically a board or plank. It is used in the context of building, particularly in the construction of the tabernacle and other structures. The plural form קְרָשִׁים indicates multiple boards, highlighting the need for several frames to support the structure.

This term appears frequently in the context of construction, indicating its significance in the building process. The choice of this word emphasizes the physicality and materiality of the tabernacle, which was built as a tangible representation of God's presence among His people.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered consistently across translations, with frames (BSB, KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, BBE) being the common term used for קְרָשִׁים.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb עָשָׂה (he made) governs the entire verse, indicating the action taken. The phrase structure includes a noun phrase for the object, a prepositional phrase specifying the location, and additional noun phrases describing the components involved.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the frames being made specifically for the corners of the tabernacle, highlighting their importance in the overall structure.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint does not provide a direct translation for this verse, but the Hebrew word קְרָשׁ is significant as it indicates the structural elements of the tabernacle. The absence of a Greek equivalent in this context may suggest a focus on the original Hebrew understanding of the materials used.

The lack of a corresponding Greek term in the Septuagint reflects the unique cultural and architectural significance of the tabernacle's construction in the Hebrew tradition.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 36:28 describes the making of two frames for the back corners of the tabernacle. This construction is part of the detailed instructions for building the tabernacle, which served as a special dwelling place for God among the Israelites.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the frames mentioned in this verse?

The frames are crucial for the structural integrity of the tabernacle, supporting its design and ensuring it functions as a dwelling place for God.

Why is the tabernacle important in the Old Testament?

The tabernacle represents God's presence among His people, serving as a place of worship and sacrifice during their journey in the wilderness.

How does the construction of the tabernacle reflect God's instructions?

The specific details in the construction, including the materials used, demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's commands in creating a space for His presence.

What materials were used in the tabernacle's construction?

The tabernacle was constructed using various materials, including wood, fabric, and metals, as outlined in the detailed instructions found in Exodus.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the construction of the tabernacle teach us about following God's instructions?
  2. How can we apply the concept of a dwelling place for God in our own lives today?
  3. In what ways does the physical structure of the tabernacle reflect spiritual truths?
  4. Why is it important to understand the significance of the materials used in the tabernacle's construction?

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 36:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 36 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20-34) After the construction of the roof, that of the walls is described, the order of Exodus 26 being still followed. Exodus 36:20-34 correspond to Exodus 36:15-29 of Exodus 26. The correspondence is closer than would appear from the Authorised Version.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 36 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

AND AHOLIAB, Exodus 36:30-35. See notes on Exodus 31:1-11. OF , Exodus 36:1-7. 5.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 36 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

He made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

and two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle,

NETBNew English Translation2006

He made two frames for the corners of the tabernacle on the back.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And two boards he made for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And two boardes made he in the corners of the Tabernacle, for either side,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and he made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the rear;

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and two boards hath he made for the corners of the tabernacle, in the two sides;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and he has made two boards for the corners of the Dwelling Place, in the two sides;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the back wall.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

He made two frames for the back corners of the tabernacle.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And two others at each corner of the tabernacle behind:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

along with two frames for its two back corners.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And two boards for the angles at the back.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וּandclausenoun phrase · objectשְׁנֵ֤יtwoקְרָשִׁים֙framesverbעָשָׂ֔הhe.madeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִfornoun phrasenoun phraseמְקֻצְעֹ֖תthe.cornersnoun phraseהַofמִּשְׁכָּ֑ןthe.tabernacleprepositional phraseבַּinnoun phrasethe.innermostיַּרְכָתָֽיִםparts

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the main elements of this verse, with all words matched. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using the term מקצעות (cut off) instead of the Masoretic לִמְקֻצְעֹ֖ת, indicating a variation in the description of the corners.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וּשְׁנֵ֤י קְרָשִׁים֙ עָשָׂ֔ה לִמְקֻצְעֹ֖ת הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן בַּיַּרְכָתָֽיִם׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וּשְׁנֵ֤י’’קְרָשִׁים֙’’עָשָׂ֔ה’’לִמְקֻצְעֹ֖ת’’הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן’’בַּיַּרְכָתָֽיִם׃’’

6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ושׁני קרשׁים עשׂה למקצעות המשׁכן בירכתים

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: מקצעות (cut off)

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Exodus 36:28שְׁנַ֫יִםand twoand twoשְׁנַ֫יִםקֶ֫רֶשׁframesframesקֶ֫רֶשׁעָשָׂהhe madehe madeעָשָׂהמִקְצֹעַfor [the] cfor [the] corneמִקְצֹעַמִשְׁכָּןthe tabernathe tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןיַרְכָהin the innein the innermosיַרְכָהקָצַעto scrapeto scrapeקָצַעשָׁכַןto dwellto dwellשָׁכַןשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִייָרֵךְthighthighיָרֵךְבְּרִיחַbarbarבְּרִיחַעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלאֶ֫דֶןsocketsocketאֶ֫דֶןמְלָאכָהworkworkמְלָאכָהתּוֹעֵבַהabominatioabominationתּוֹעֵבַהקֶ֫רֶשׁboardboardקֶ֫רֶשׁמִשְׁכָּןtabernacletabernacleמִשְׁכָּןצָפוֹןZaphonZaphonצָפוֹן
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Exodus 36:28

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and two frames he made for [the] corners of the tabernacle in the innermost parts
וּשְׁנֵ֤יu.she.Nei and two H8147 Conjunction
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Amplified meaning
a pair, dual
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction
HC/Acbdc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and two frames he made for [the] corners of the tabernacle in the innermost parts
קְרָשִׁים֙ke.ra.Shim frames H7175 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
51× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a flat piece of wood, like a board or plank, often used in building ships or other structures. It appears in descriptions of the tabernacle and Solomon's temple. The KJV Bible translates it as 'board' or 'bench'.
Amplified meaning
boards, flat pieces of wood
Tyndale gloss
board
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קֶ֫רֶשׁ (qeresh) refers to a board or plank, with implications for use in constructing decks or benches. The term is derived from a root meaning to split off, indicating a connection to the process of shaping wood. It is primarily used in contexts related to building materials.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קֶ֫רֶשׁ 51 n.m. board, boards

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7175 קֶ֫רֶשׁ board, boards

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7175 qeresh keh'-resh

from an unused root meaning to split off; a slab or plank; by

implication, a deck of a ship:--bench, board.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קֶ֫רֶשׁ (qe.resh) — board.

1) board, boards, plank

1a) board

1b) boards

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
and two frames he made for [the] corners of the tabernacle in the innermost parts
עָשָׂ֔ה'a.Sah he made H6213 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
2,629× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Tyndale gloss
to make
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make

Qal 2524

do (1560 t.)

deal with

oft. in phr. do kindness with

abs. act, act with effect

make (670 t.)

produce, yield

prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

make offering

attend to, put in order

observe, celebrate, religious festival

acquire property of various kinds

appoint priests

bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

use

spend, pass, days of life

Niph.

97be done

be made, of concr. things

be produced from vine

be prepared, of food

be offered

be observed, passover

be used

Pu. I was made

base

[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)

. deal with

. oft. in phr. do kindness with

. abs. act, act with effect

. . make (670 + t.)

. produce, yield

. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food

. make offering

. attend to, put in order

. observe, celebrate, religious festival

. acquire property of various kinds

. appoint priests

. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance

. use

. spend, pass, days of life

. . be done

. . be made, of concr. things

. be produced from vine

. be prepared, of food

. be offered

. be observed, passover

. be used

. I was made

H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6213 `asah aw-saw'

a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and

widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,

appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,

bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal

(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)

execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +

finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go

about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X

indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,

make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,

bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,

provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,

spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be

(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.

: do/perform

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

1a2c) to prepare

1a2d) to make (an offering)

1a2e) to attend to, put in order

1a2f) to observe, celebrate

1a2g) to acquire (property)

1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute

1a2i) to bring about

1a2j) to use

1a2k) to spend, pass

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be done

1b2) to be made

1b3) to be produced

1b4) to be offered

1b5) to be observed

1b6) to be used

1c) (Pual) to be made

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.

(Piel) to press, squeeze

עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.

: make(OBJECT)

1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to do, work, make, produce

1a1a) to do

1a1b) to work

1a1c) to deal (with)

1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect

1a2) to make

1a2a) to make

1a2b) to produce

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
and two frames he made for [the] corners of the tabernacle in the innermost parts
לִמְקֻצְעֹ֖תlim.kutz.'Ot for [the] corners of H4742 Preposition · verb pual participle (passive) feminine plural common
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a corner or angle of a structure, similar to H4740, and is used to describe a specific part of a building. It is used in various contexts, including architecture and design. The word is used to describe a corner post or buttress.
Amplified meaning
angles, sides
Tyndale gloss
corner
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִקְצֹעַ (miqtsá) refers to a corner or corner structure, specifically an inner corner-buttress or corner post. It is derived from a root meaning to bend, indicating its relation to angles. The term is used to describe architectural features in the Old Testament, particularly those involving corners.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִקְצֹעַ n.m. place of corner-structure, (inner) corner-buttress (as (place of) cutting off of an inner angle if √ rightly expl.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4742 מִקְצֹעַ place of corner-structure, (inner) corner-buttress (as (place of) cutting off of an inner angle if √ rightly expl.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4742 mquts`ah mek-oots-aw'

from 7106 in the denominative sense of bending; an

angle:--corner.

see HEBREW for 07106

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְקֻצְעָה (me.quts.ah) — corner.

1) place of corner structure, corner buttress, inner corner-buttress

1a) corner post

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | V-Pual-Inf-c — Preposition · verb pual participle (passive) feminine plural common
HR/VPsfpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and two frames he made for [the] corners of the tabernacle in the innermost parts
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ןha.mish.Kan the tabernacle H4908 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
139× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The tabernacle was a special tent where God met with the Israelites, as described in Exodus and Leviticus. It was a portable place of worship, like a dwelling place for God. The Israelites carried it with them.
Amplified meaning
a special tent, dwelling place
Tyndale gloss
tabernacle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan) means 'dwelling-place' or 'tabernacle.' It is derived from a root meaning to dwell and can refer to various types of residences, including the Tabernacle in the Old Testament. The term encompasses both literal and figurative meanings, such as a grave or the Temple.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁכָּן 139 n.m. dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4908 מִשְׁכָּן dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4908 mishkan mish-kawn'

from 7931; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair

of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple);

specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden

walls):--dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle,

tent.

see HEBREW for 07931

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁכָּן (mish.kan) — tabernacle.

1) dwelling place, tabernacle

1a) dwelling-place

1b) dwellings

Aramaic equivalent: mish.kan (מִשְׁכַּן "habitation" H4907)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tab'-er-na-k'l ('ohel mo`edh "tent of meeting," mishkan, "dwelling"; skene):

A. STRUCTURE AND HISTORY

I. INTRODUCTORY

1. Earlier "Tent of Meeting"

2. A Stage in Revelation

3. The Tabernacle Proper

II. STRUCTURE

1. The Enclosure or Court

2. Structure, Divisions and Furniture of the Tabernacle

(1) Coverings of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:1-14; 36:8-19)

(a) Tabernacle Covering Proper

(b) Tent Covering

(c) Protective Covering

(2) Framework and Divisions of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:15-37; 36:20-38)

Arrangement of Coverings

(3) Furniture of the Sanctuary

(a) The Table of Shewbread

(b) The Candlestick (Lampstand)

(c) The Altar of Incense

III. HISTORY

1. Removal from Sinai

2. Sojourn at Kadesh

3. Settlement in Canaan

4. Destruction of Shiloh

5. Delocalization of Worship

6. Nob and Gibeon

7. Restoration of the Ark

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Tabernacle

(1.) A house or dwelling-place (Job 5:24; 18:6, etc.).

(2.) A portable shrine (comp. Acts 19:24) containing the image of Moloch (Amos 5:26; marg. and R.V., “Siccuth”).

(3.) The human body (2 Cor. 5:1, 4); a tent, as opposed to a permanent dwelling.

(4.) The sacred tent (Heb. mishkan, “the dwelling-place”); the movable tent-temple which Moses erected for the service of God, according to the “pattern” which God himself showed to him on the mount (Ex. 25:9; Heb. 8:5). It is called “the tabernacle of the congregation,” rather “of meeting”, i.e., where God…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The tabernacle was the tent of Jehovah, called by the same name as the tents of the people in the midst of which it stood. It was also called the sanctuary and the tabernacle of the congregation. The first ordinance given to Moses, after the proclamation of the outline of the law from Sinai, related to the ordering of the tabernacle, its furniture and its service as the type which was to be followed when the people came to their own home and "found a place" for the abode of God. During the forty days of Moses’ first retirement with God in Sinai, an exact pattern of the whole was shown him, and all was made according to it. (Exodus 25:9,40; 26:30; 39:32,42,43; Numbers 8:4; Acts 7:44;

A tent, booth, pavilion, or temporary dwelling. For its general meaning and uses, see TENT. In the Scriptures it is employed more particularly of the tent made by Moses at the command of God, for the place of religious worship of the Hebrews, before the building of the temple. The directions of God, and the account of the execution of them, are contained in Ex 25:1-40, and the following chapters. This is usually called the tabernacle of the congregation, or tent of assembly, and sometimes the tabernacle of the testimony.

The tabernacle was of an oblong rectangular form, thirty cubits long, ten broad, and ten in height, Ex 26.15-30; 36.20-30; that is, about fifty-five feet long, eighteen broad, and eighteen high. The two sides and the western end were formed of boards of shittim wood, overlaid with thin plates of gold, and fixed in…

and two frames he made for [the] corners of the tabernacle in the innermost parts
בַּיַּרְכָתָֽיִם׃bai.yar.kha.Ta.yim in the innermost parts H3411 Preposition · noun common feminine dual absolute
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to the flank or side of something, and can also mean the rear or recess. It is used in the Bible to describe borders, coasts, or the sides of objects.
Amplified meaning
a pair, dual, rear, hinder
Tyndale gloss
flank
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יַרְכָה (yrekah) refers to the flank or side, often indicating extreme parts or recesses. It is a feminine form of a related word and is used figuratively to denote borders or sides. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to physical sides and recesses, without significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יַרְכָה, or יְרֵכָה] flank, side, du. extreme parts, recesses

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3411 [יַרְכָה, or יְרֵכָה] flank, side, du. extreme parts, recesses

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3411 yrekah yer-ay-kaw'

feminine of 3409; properly, the flank; but used only

figuratively, the rear or recess:--border, coast, part,

quarter, side.

see HEBREW for 03409

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יַרְכָה (ye.re.khah) — flank.

1) flank, side, extreme parts, recesses

1a) side

1b) sides, recesses (dual)

Aramaic equivalent: yar.kah (יַרְכָא "thigh" H3410)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fd — Preposition · noun common feminine dual absolute
HRd/Ncfda
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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