Word Studies¶
Metals -- The Three-Material Progression¶
Bronze/Brass -- H5178 nechosheth (נְחֹשֶׁת)¶
Original: נְחֹשֶׁת Transliteration: nechosheth Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: copper/bronze; something made of that metal; figuratively base (as compared with gold or silver) BLB Count: 141 occurrences
Translations: - "brass" (32x), "of brass" (35x), "brasen" (14x) = 81 occurrences as brass/bronze - Also: fetters/chains (8x), copper (1x), steel (1x)
Tabernacle Usage: - Bronze altar: overlay (Exo 27:2), grate (27:4), vessels/pots/shovels/firepans (27:3) - Laver and foot: both of bronze (Exo 30:18; 38:8) - Courtyard pillars: bronze sockets (27:10,11,17,18) - Door of tabernacle: five sockets of brass (Exo 26:37; 36:38) - Court gate sockets: four of brass (Exo 27:16; 38:19) - All pins: tabernacle and court (Exo 27:19; 38:20) - Total: 70 talents + 2,400 shekels (Exo 38:29)
Key Pattern: Bronze is exclusively the OUTER COURT material -- altar, laver, sockets, pins. It appears at the point of ENTRY and SACRIFICE. The door of the tabernacle transitions from bronze sockets to gold-overlaid structure.
Notable non-tabernacle uses: - Bronze serpent (Num 21:9 -- nechash nechosheth, wordplay) - Fetters/chains (Jdg 16:21; 2Ki 25:7) -- captivity imagery - Figurative baseness compared to gold/silver (Isa 60:17 -- "for brass I will bring gold, for iron I will bring silver")
Silver -- H3701 keseph (כֶּסֶף)¶
Original: כֶּסֶף Transliteration: keçeph Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: from root "to pale"; silver (from its pale color); by implication money BLB Count: 403 occurrences
Translations: - "silver" and "of silver" (184x combined), "money" (66x combined) - Dual meaning: both the metal and money/price
Tabernacle Usage: - FOUNDATION SOCKETS (eden): 96 sockets for boards (40 south + 40 north + 16 west) + 4 sockets for veil pillars = 100 sockets from 100 talents of silver (Exo 38:27) - Hooks and fillets: pillar hooks and fillets in courtyard (Exo 27:10,11,17; 38:10-12,17,19) - Chapiters (capitals): overlaid with silver on courtyard pillars (Exo 38:17,28) - Total: 100 talents + 1,775 shekels (Exo 38:25)
The Silver-Redemption Connection: Exodus 38:25-27 explicitly states the silver came from the census "atonement money" (Exo 30:12-16): - Half shekel per man = "ransom for his soul" (kopher, Exo 30:12) - 603,550 men x half shekel = 100 talents + 1,775 shekels - The 100 talents were cast into 100 sockets = the FOUNDATION of the tabernacle - Therefore: the tabernacle literally STANDS ON redemption money - Exo 30:15: "the rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less" -- equal price of redemption
Key Pattern: Silver forms the invisible STRUCTURAL FOUNDATION. It is not seen (hidden inside the boards) but holds everything up. It comes from redemption/ransom money. It connects to: atonement, equal value of every soul, the price paid.
Refining imagery: Pro 17:3; 25:4; Mal 3:3; Zec 13:9
Gold -- H2091 zahab (זָהָב)¶
Original: זָהָב Transliteration: zahab Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: from unused root meaning "to shimmer"; gold; figuratively something gold-colored BLB Count: 389 occurrences
Translations: - "gold" (103x), "of gold" (117x), "golden" (24x), "with gold" (29x) = 273+ as gold
Tabernacle Usage: - Ark: overlaid within and without (Exo 25:11), crown of gold, rings of gold, staves overlaid - Mercy seat: PURE gold (Exo 25:17) - Cherubim: beaten gold (Exo 25:18) - Table: overlaid with pure gold (Exo 25:24), vessels of pure gold (25:29) - Lampstand: entire piece of PURE gold, one talent (Exo 25:31-39) - Incense altar: overlaid with pure gold (Exo 30:3) - Boards: overlaid with gold (Exo 26:29) - Bars: overlaid with gold (Exo 26:29) - Hooks: gold hooks on veil pillars (Exo 26:32) - Inner curtain clasps: fifty taches of gold (Exo 26:6) - Total: 29 talents + 730 shekels (Exo 38:24)
Key Pattern: Gold is the INTERIOR material -- everything inside the tabernacle is gold or gold-overlaid. The closer to God's presence, the purer the gold. The mercy seat and lampstand are SOLID pure gold, not merely overlaid.
Symbolical: Dan 2:32-45 (golden head); Rev 21:18,21 (city of pure gold); 1Co 3:12 (gold as tested work)
Fabrics -- The Four Colors¶
Blue/Violet -- H8504 tekeleth (תְּכֵלֶת)¶
Original: תְּכֵלֶת Transliteration: tekeleth Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: the cerulean mussel; the color (violet) obtained from it; stuff dyed therewith BLB Count: 50 occurrences
Translations: "blue" in all instances (with articles/prepositions)
Tabernacle Distribution: - Inner curtains (Exo 26:1) - Loops on curtain edges (Exo 26:4) - Veil (Exo 26:31) - Door hanging (Exo 26:36) - Court gate (Exo 27:16) - Priestly garments: ephod (28:6), breastplate (28:15), robe (28:31), lace for gold plate (28:37)
Other significant uses: - Coverings for holy objects during transport (Num 4:6,7,9,11,12) -- blue cloth over ark, table, lampstand, golden altar - Fringes/borders on garments (Num 15:38) -- "a ribband of blue" for remembering commandments - Temple veil (2Ch 3:14)
Key Pattern: Blue/violet always listed FIRST in the color sequence (blue, purple, scarlet). Used to cover holy objects. Only color specified for fringes (Num 15:38). Produced from the cerulean mussel -- a costly dye.
Purple -- H713 argaman (אַרְגָּמָן)¶
Original: אַרְגָּמָן Transliteration: argaman Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: of foreign origin; purple (the color or dyed stuff) BLB Count: 38 occurrences
Translations: "purple" in all instances (with articles/prepositions)
Tabernacle Usage: Appears in the same four-color combination alongside blue (H8504), scarlet (H8144), and fine linen throughout Exodus 25-39.
Non-tabernacle uses: - Gideon's Midianite spoil (Jdg 8:26) -- royal garments - Solomon's palanquin (SS 3:10) -- the purple covering - Royal clothing (Est 8:15) -- Mordecai in blue and purple - Proverbs 31:22 -- virtuous woman's clothing - Tyre's trade (Ezk 27:7,16) - Associated with royalty and wealth throughout Scripture
Scarlet -- H8144 shaniy (שָׁנִי)¶
Original: שָׁנִי Transliteration: shaniy Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: crimson; properly the insect (kermes worm) or its color; stuff dyed with it BLB Count: 42 occurrences
Translations: "scarlet" (30x), "crimson" (1x)
Tabernacle Usage: Always paired with blue and purple in the four-color combination throughout Exodus tabernacle texts.
Significant non-tabernacle uses: - Rahab's scarlet thread (Jos 2:18,21) -- salvation marker - Birth of Zerah/Perez (Gen 38:28,30) -- tied on the firstborn's hand - Cleansing lepers (Lev 14:4,6,49,51) -- scarlet yarn in purification - Red heifer ceremony (Num 19:6) -- scarlet wool burned - Sin compared to scarlet (Isa 1:18) -- "though your sins be as scarlet" - Hebrews 9:19 -- "scarlet wool" used in covenant dedication
Key Pattern: The crimson/scarlet dye comes from an insect (tola'ath shaniy = "worm of scarlet"). This connects to Psalm 22:6 ("I am a worm") and the association with blood, sacrifice, and atonement.
Fine Linen -- H948 buwts (בּוּץ) and H906 bad (בַּד)¶
H948 buwts: Fine white linen/cotton (8 occurrences). Root meaning "to bleach." Used in Chronicles (temple), Esther (royal garments), Ezekiel (trade goods). NOT in the Exodus tabernacle texts.
H906 bad: Linen garments specifically (23 occurrences). Flaxen thread or yarn. Used for: - Priestly undergarments (Exo 28:42; 39:28) - Day of Atonement vestments: "holy linen coat, linen breeches, linen girdle, linen mitre" (Lev 16:4,23,32) - Samuel's ephod (1Sa 2:18) - David's ephod (2Sa 6:14; 1Ch 15:27) - The linen-clad man in Ezekiel (9:2,3,11; 10:2,6,7) - The linen-clad man in Daniel (10:5; 12:6,7)
Note: The Exodus tabernacle curtain material is described as shesh (H8336) = "fine twined linen," a separate but related word. The NT reference in Revelation 19:8 uses Greek byssinos (G1039) for "fine linen" = righteousness of saints.
Structural Terms¶
Socket/Base/Foundation -- H134 eden (אֶדֶן)¶
Original: אֶדֶן Transliteration: eden Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: from root meaning "strength"; a basis of a building, a column; foundation, socket BLB Count: 57 occurrences
Translations: "sockets" (25x), "and their sockets" (15x), "the sockets" (5x), "foundations" (1x)
Tabernacle Distribution: - South wall: 40 silver sockets (Exo 26:19) - North wall: 40 silver sockets (Exo 26:21) - West wall: 16 silver sockets (Exo 26:25) - Veil pillars: 4 silver sockets (Exo 26:32) - = 100 silver sockets total (Exo 38:27) - Door pillars: 5 BRASS sockets (Exo 26:37) - Court pillars: brass sockets (Exo 27:10,11,12,17,18) - Court gate pillars: 4 brass sockets (Exo 27:16)
Key pattern: Silver sockets = tabernacle proper (inner structure). Bronze sockets = outer structure (door, court). The foundation material distinguishes inner from outer zones.
Pattern/Model -- H8403 tabniyth (תַּבְנִית)¶
Original: תַּבְנִית Transliteration: tabniyth Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: from banah "to build"; structure, model, resemblance, pattern BLB Count: 20 occurrences
Key Occurrences: - Exo 25:9 (2x): "the PATTERN of the tabernacle, and the PATTERN of all the instruments" - Exo 25:40: "after their PATTERN, which was shewed thee in the mount" - 1Ch 28:11,12,18,19 (5x): David gives Solomon the pattern for the temple -- "all this the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me" - Deu 4:16-18: "lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the SIMILITUDE of any figure" -- forbidden images - 2Ki 16:10: Ahaz sends the PATTERN of the pagan altar to Urijah -- counterfeit pattern - Psa 106:20: "they changed their glory into the SIMILITUDE of an ox" -- idolatry
NT Parallel: The Greek equivalent is typos (G5179) used in Acts 7:44 ("according to the pattern he had seen") and Heb 8:5 ("according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount").
Key Pattern: The tabernacle is built after a heavenly original. The same word used for God's revealed design is also used for idolatrous counterfeits -- the contrast between true and false worship patterns.
Oracle/Inner Sanctuary -- H1687 debir (דְּבִיר)¶
Original: דְּבִיר Transliteration: debir Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary; oracle BLB Count: 16 occurrences
ALL occurrences are in Solomon's temple contexts: - 1Ki 6:5,16,19,20,21,22,23,31; 7:49; 8:6,8 - 2Ch 3:16; 4:20; 5:7,9 - Psa 28:2 ("toward thy holy oracle")
Key notes: This word is NOT used for the tabernacle. The tabernacle uses qodesh haqqodashim ("holy of holies"). Debir may derive from dabar ("to speak") -- the oracle is the place where God speaks. This connects to Exo 25:22 where God says "I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat."
Acacia Wood -- H7848 shittah (שִׁטָּה)¶
Original: שִׁטָּה Transliteration: shittah (plural: shittim) Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: the acacia (from its scourging thorns) BLB Count: 28 occurrences
Translations: "shittim" (26x), "shittim" and "shittah tree" (2x)
ALL tabernacle uses: Exo 25:5,10,13,23,28; 26:15,26,32,37; 27:1,6; 30:1,5; 35:7,24; 36:20,31,36; 37:1,4,10,15,25,28; 38:1,6 Other: Deu 10:3; Isa 41:19
Tabernacle items made of acacia wood: - Ark (Exo 25:10) - Ark staves (25:13) - Table of showbread (25:23) - Table staves (25:28) - Boards/frames of tabernacle (26:15) - Bars (26:26) - Veil pillars (26:32) - Door pillars (26:37) - Bronze altar (27:1) - Altar staves (27:6) - Incense altar (30:1) - Incense altar staves (30:5)
Key notes: Acacia is a desert tree -- thorny, extremely durable, resistant to decay. It is the ONLY wood used in the tabernacle. Every piece of wooden furniture was acacia overlaid with gold (inside) or bronze (outside). The acacia-overlaid-with-gold pattern is uniform: ark, table, incense altar, boards, bars, veil pillars.
Holy/Sacred -- H6918 qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ)¶
Original: קָדוֹשׁ Transliteration: qadosh Part of Speech: adjective Definition: sacred (ceremonially or morally); as noun: God (by eminence), angel, saint, sanctuary BLB Count: 116 occurrences
Translations: "holy" (51x), "the Holy One" (23x), saints (8x)
Key tabernacle-related verses: - Lev 19:2: "Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy" - Exo 19:6: "a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" - Lev 20:7,26: "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy"
Key Pattern: The root qadash means "to be set apart." The tabernacle's graduated holiness zones (courtyard -> holy place -> most holy) physically embody the concept of increasing separation/consecration as one approaches God's presence. The word for "sanctuary" (miqdash) derives from the same root.