King James Version

What Does Exodus 38:18 Mean?

Exodus 38:18 in the King James Version says “And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework , of blue, and purple, and scarlet , and fine twined linen: and...” — study this verse from Exodus chapter 38 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework , of blue, and purple, and scarlet , and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.”

Exodus 38:18 · KJV

Context

16

All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen.

17

And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.

18

And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework , of blue, and purple, and scarlet , and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.

19

And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver.

20

And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.

Read Exodus 38 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The courtyard's total dimensions—hundred cubits by fifty cubits (approximately 150' × 75'), enclosed by five-cubit-high hangings (7.5 feet) of fine linen with bronze sockets—creates substantial but not overwhelming boundaries. The relatively low height (five cubits) allows seeing over curtains, teaching that holiness boundaries separate without completely isolating God's dwelling from the world. The visibility of tabernacle top and smoke from sacrifices maintained witness to surrounding peoples while protecting sacred space from intrusion. The size (larger than most ancient temples' courtyards) demonstrates God's generous provision of access space.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The 7,500 square-foot courtyard provided ample room for the bronze altar, laver, and worshiper traffic. The five-cubit height protected privacy for sacrificial rituals while allowing tabernacle visibility above curtains. Bronze sockets throughout (versus silver in tabernacle proper) demonstrated the courtyard's intermediate holiness—separated from common space but not equal to tabernacle interior.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the relatively low curtain height (allowing visibility above) teach about separation without isolation in God's witness?
  2. How does the generous courtyard size illustrate God's desire for accessible worship space?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וּמָסַ֞ךְ1 of 21

“And the hanging”

H4539

a cover, i.e., veil

שַׁ֤עַר2 of 21

“for the gate”

H8179

an opening, i.e., door or gate

הֶֽחָצֵֽר׃3 of 21

“of the court”

H2691

a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)

מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה4 of 21
H4639

an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property

רֹקֵ֔ם5 of 21

“was needlework”

H7551

to variegate color, i.e., embroider; by implication, to fabricate

תְּכֵ֧לֶת6 of 21

“of blue”

H8504

the cerulean mussel, i.e., the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith

וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן7 of 21

“and purple”

H713

purple (the color or the dyed stuff)

וְתוֹלַ֥עַת8 of 21
H8438

a maggot (as voracious); specifically (often with ellipsis of h8144) the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the color from it, and cl

שָׁנִ֖י9 of 21

“and scarlet”

H8144

crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with it

וְשֵׁ֣שׁ10 of 21

“linen”

H8336

bleached stuff, i.e., white linen or (by analogy) marble

מָשְׁזָ֑ר11 of 21

“and fine twined”

H7806

to twist (a thread of straw)

וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים12 of 21

“and twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

אַמּ֔וֹת13 of 21

“cubits”

H520

properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)

אֹ֔רֶךְ14 of 21

“was the length”

H753

length

וְקוֹמָ֤ה15 of 21

“and the height”

H6967

height

בְרֹ֙חַב֙16 of 21

“in the breadth”

H7341

width (literally or figuratively)

חָמֵ֣שׁ17 of 21

“was five”

H2568

five

אַמּ֔וֹת18 of 21

“cubits”

H520

properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)

לְעֻמַּ֖ת19 of 21

“answerable”

H5980

conjunction, i.e., society; mostly adverb or preposition (with prepositional prefix), near, beside, along with

קַלְעֵ֥י20 of 21

“to the hangings”

H7050

a (door) screen (as if slung across), or the valve (of the door) itself

הֶֽחָצֵֽר׃21 of 21

“of the court”

H2691

a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Exodus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Exodus 38:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Exodus 38:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 3:14

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