Exodus 38:20 — Word Study
WLCוְֽכָל־ הַיְתֵדֹ֞ת לַמִּשְׁכָּ֧ן וְלֶחָצֵ֛ר סָבִ֖יב נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ס
BSAAllkôl [every single one] the tent pegsyâthêd [nails, pins] for the tabernaclemishkân [a sacred dwelling place, the mishkan] and for the surroundingçâbîyb [enclosing, encompassing] courtyardchâtsêr [open space] were bronzenᵉchôsheth [made of, brass, a copper alloy]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְֽכָל־ | and all | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הַיְתֵדֹ֞ת | the tent pegs | Particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| לַמִּשְׁכָּ֧ן | for the tabernacle | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְלֶחָצֵ֛ר | and for the courtyard | Conjunction, preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| סָבִ֖יב | all around | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ס | [were] bronze | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze. |
| KJV | And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass. |
| ASV | And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass. |
| YLT | and all the pins for the tabernacle, and for the court round about, [are] of brass. |
| WEB | All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of bronze. |
| BBE | All the nails used for the House and the open space round it were of brass. |
Where they part company is with the term for 'tent pegs' — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is straightforward, presenting a single main clause that clearly states the material used for the tent pegs.
3 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 38:20
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 — Instructions for the Tabernaclegenerated
Exodus 38:20 describes the materials used in the construction of the tabernacle, a sacred dwelling place for God among the Israelites. The tent pegs are mentioned here as part of the overall structure, emphasizing their importance in securing the tabernacle and its courtyard. This context is crucial for understanding how the Israelites were to construct and maintain their place of worship, as outlined in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 27:19 | All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, including all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard, shall be made of bronze. |
| 2 | 2 Chronicles 3:9 | The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper area with gold. |
| 3 | Ezra 9:8 | But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes. |
| 4 | Ecclesiastes 12:11 | The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd. |
| 5 | Isaiah 22:23 | I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, and he will be a throne of glory for the house of his father. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נְחֹֽשֶׁת, ne.Cho.shetgenerated
The word נְחֹשֶׁת (nechosheth) refers to bronze or copper, often indicating items made from these metals. It is a feminine singular noun, which in this context signifies the material used for the tent pegs. The use of bronze suggests strength and durability, suitable for the structural needs of the tabernacle.
This word appears frequently in the Old Testament, often in contexts that highlight its value compared to other metals like gold and silver. In this verse, it underscores the practical aspects of the tabernacle's construction, as bronze was commonly used for various implements and fixtures.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as stating that all the tent pegs were bronze, which is consistent across several translations, including the KJV, ASV, and WEB.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause of the verse is governed by the predicate נְחֹֽשֶׁת, [were] bronze. The structure includes several noun phrases and prepositional phrases that specify what is being described: the tent pegs for the tabernacle and the courtyard surrounding it.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the components of the tabernacle and their materials, with the subject being the tent pegs and the predicate indicating their composition.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נְחֹֽשֶׁת as ξαλκοῖ, which also means bronze. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew term, maintaining the emphasis on the material's durability.
The use of the same material in both texts illustrates the continuity in the understanding of the tabernacle's construction across different translations.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 38:20 tells us that all the tent pegs used for the tabernacle and its surrounding courtyard were made of bronze. This indicates the materials chosen for the construction of the tabernacle, highlighting the significance of bronze in its design.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The use of bronze for the tent pegs signifies strength and durability, essential for securing the tabernacle and ensuring it remains stable.
Tent pegs were crucial for anchoring the tabernacle, which was a portable structure that needed to withstand various conditions as the Israelites traveled.
The choice of bronze for the tent pegs reflects the overall emphasis on durability and strength in the tabernacle's construction, as it was a sacred dwelling place for God.
Yes, bronze is mentioned in various contexts throughout the tabernacle's construction, indicating its importance in creating a sturdy and functional place of worship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the choice of bronze for the tent pegs tell us about the Israelites' approach to constructing the tabernacle?
- How can we understand the significance of materials used in sacred spaces in our own lives?
- In what ways do we see strength and stability represented in our own communities or places of worship?
- How does the description of the tabernacle's components influence our understanding of God's presence among His people?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 38:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits: The court.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 38 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9-20) The construction of the court follows upon that of the furniture which it contained. The passage runs parallel with Exodus 27:9-19.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 38 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTHE ALTAR OF BURNT , Exodus 38:1-7. See notes on Exodus 27:1-7. THE LAVER, Exodus 38:8. See notes on Exodus 30:17-21. THE COURT OF THE , Exodus 38:9-20. See notes on Exodus 27:9-19.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 38 →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
All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.
All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of bronze.
All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.
All the tent pegs of the tabernacle and of the courtyard all around were bronze.
Tyndale line
And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.
And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.
And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.
And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.
But all the pins of the Tabernacle and of the court round about were of brasse.
Strictly literal
And all the pegs for the tabernacle and for the court round about were of copper.
and all the pins for the tabernacle, and for the court round about, [are] of brass.
and all the pins for the Dwelling Place, and for the court all around, [are] of bronze.
And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about were of copper.
All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and courtyard were made of bronze.
From the Latin
The pins also of the tabernacle and of the court round about he made of brass.
Simplified
All the tent pegs for the Tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were made of bronze.
All the nails used for the House and the open space round it were of brass.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is confirmed by the Septuagint, which matches five of the six words. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using יתדות instead of הַיְתֵדֹ֞ת, indicating a variation in terminology for 'tent pegs.' The Dead Sea Scrolls have one word preserved, with the rest supplied by an editor, showing some textual damage.
וְֽכָל־ הַיְתֵדֹ֞ת לַמִּשְׁכָּ֧ן וְלֶחָצֵ֛ר סָבִ֖יב נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ס
5 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.
וכל יתדות למשׁכן ולחצר סביב נחשׁת
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: יתדות (peg)
[וכל] [היתדת] [למשכן] [ולחצר] [סביב] נחושת
1 word on the leather — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
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.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 38:20
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.
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
יָתֵד (yathed) refers to a pin or peg, often used for securing items like tents. It can also mean a nail or a pin in a figurative sense, and has applications in weaving. The word is built from an unused root meaning to fasten or pin through.
יָתֵד n.f. pin, peg
base
H3489 יָתֵד pin, peg
3489 yathed yaw-thade'
from an unused root meaning to pin through or fast; a
peg:--nail, paddle, pin, stake.
יָתֵד (ya.ted) — peg.
1) pin, stake, peg, nail
1a) pin, peg, tent pin, tent stake
1b) nail, pin (fig.)
1c) pin (used in weaving)
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHTd/Ncfpa
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.
מִשְׁכָּן 139 n.m. dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’
base
H4908 מִשְׁכָּן dwelling-place, ‘tabernacle’
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
מִשְׁכָּן (mish.kan) — tabernacle.
1) dwelling place, tabernacle
1a) dwelling-place
1b) dwellings
Aramaic equivalent: mish.kan (מִשְׁכַּן "habitation" H4907)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
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
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…
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…
חָצֵר (chatser) refers to an enclosure or court, and can also mean a settled abode, settlement, or village, typically appearing in the plural form חֲצֵרִים. The word is derived from a root meaning to enclose, indicating spaces that are surrounded by walls or fences.
חָצֵר 145 n.m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court
base
[חָצֵר] 46 n.m. settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים
base
H2691a חָצֵר n. m. and (oftener) f. enclosure, court H2691b חָצֵר settled abode, settlement, village—always pl. abs. חֲצֵרִים
2691 chatser khaw-tsare'
(masculine and feminine); from 2690 in its original sense; a
yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly
surrounded with walls):--court, tower, village.
see HEBREW for 02690
חָצֵר (cha.tser) — court.
1) court, enclosure
1a) enclosures
1b) court
חָצֵר (cha.tser) — village.
settled abode, settlement, village, town
Conj | Prep | N-cs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHC/Rd/Ncbsa
סָבִיב (cabiyb) primarily means 'around' and is used as a noun, adverb, and preposition. It denotes a circle, neighbors, or the surrounding area, often implying a sense of being on every side or in a circuit. The entries consistently emphasize its usage in contexts of proximity and encirclement.
סָבִיב 336 subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about
base
H5439 סָבִיב subst., used mostly as adv. and prep., circuit, round about
5439 cabiyb saw-beeb'
or (feminine) cbiybah {seb-ee-baw'}; from 5437; (as noun) a
circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with
or without preposition) around:--(place, round) about,
circuit, compass, on every side.
see HEBREW for 05437
סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around.
: around/border
subst
1) places round about, circuit, round about
adv
2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about
prep
3) in the circuit, from every side
סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: side.
: side
subst
1) places round about, circuit, round about
adv
2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about
prep
3) in the circuit, from every side
סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: whole.
: whole
subst
1) places round about, circuit, round about
adv
2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about
prep
3) in the circuit, from every side
סָבִיב (sa.viv) — around: neighours.
: neighours
subst
1) places round about, circuit, round about
adv
2) in a circuit, a circuit, round about
prep
3) in the circuit, from every side
N-cs — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (nechosheth) refers to copper or bronze, often indicating items made from these metals, such as fetters. It is noted for being less valuable than gold but more than wood. Additionally, it can figuratively represent a harsh sky or, in specific contexts, suggest meanings related to lust or harlotry, as seen in Ezekiel 16:36.
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת 137 n.m. copper, bronze
copper
fetters of copper or bronze
as less in value than gold but more than wood
fig. of pitiless sky
base
[נְחֹ֫שֶׁת] n.[f.] Ez 16:36 where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.
ref
H5178a נְחֹ֫שֶׁת copper, bronze . copper
. fetters of copper or bronze
. as less in value than gold but more than wood
. fig. of pitiless sky
H5178b נְחֹ֫שֶׁת where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.
5178 nchosheth nekh-o'-sheth
for 5154; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e.
coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or
silver):--brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass),
filthiness, steel.
see HEBREW for 05154
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — bronze.
1) copper, bronze
1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy)
1b) fetters (of copper or bronze)
1c) copper (as value)
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — lust.
lust, harlotry
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa