Exodus 36:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.

NIV: Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,

NASB: Ten cubits was the length of each board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board.

CSB: Each support was fifteen feet long and twenty-seven inches wide.

NLT: Each frame was 15 feet high and 27 inches wide,

KJV: The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.

NKJV: The length of each board was ten cubits, and the width of each board a cubit and a half.

Exodus 36:8–38 indicates that the Israelites follow God's instructions precisely. They are constructing a tabernacle for the Lord (Exodus 25:8–9) under the direction of two assigned supervisors (Exodus 35:30—36:1). The actions of this passage are a point-by-point response to the designs recorded in Exodus 26.

Israel responds to the call for donations with enthusiasm. The people are so eager to donate that Moses must command the people to stop giving. Working under Bezalel, skilled workers begin following God's instructions for crafting the tabernacle (Exodus 25—31). Most of these descriptions repeat the exact wording from God's command, rephrased as what Israel actually did.

After renewing the covenant (Exodus 34), Moses is passing along the Lord's commands regarding the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9). This began with a call for materials and recently included the appointment of Bezalel and Oholiab to supervise the project (Exodus 35). This and following chapters (Exodus 37—39) record Israel following those original instructions very closely. The text is virtually identical to the written designs recorded earlier (Exodus 25—31).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 8/30/2025 10:10:00 PM