Exodus 27:16

The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God instructs Moses on the construction specifications for the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle.

The words — מָסָךְ (ma.Sakh) denotes a woven screen, and עֶשְׂרִים אַמּוֹת ('es.Rim 'a.Mah) fixes the gate’s length at exactly twenty cubits.

The thread — The blue, purple, and scarlet curtain pattern appears at the tent entrance (Exodus 26:36) and the inner veil (Exodus 26:31), while fine linen weaving is commanded for priestly garments (Exodus 28:39).

Why it lands — The text mandates exact dimensions and specific dyed materials for the courtyard gate. It establishes a fixed, measurable boundary that separates the outer court from the sanctuary.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּלְשַׁ֨עַרu./le./Sha.'arand/ for/ [the] gate of הֶֽחָצֵ֜רhe./cha.Tzerthe/ courtyard מָסָ֣ךְ׀ma.Sakha screen עֶשְׂרִ֣ים'es.Rimtwenty אַמָּ֗ה'a.Mahcubit[s]תְּכֵ֨לֶתte.Khe.letviolet stuff וְאַרְגָּמָ֜ןve./'ar.ga.Manand/ purple וְתוֹלַ֧עַתve./to.La.'atand/ scarlet stuff of שָׁנִ֛יsha.Niscarlet וְשֵׁ֥שׁve./Sheshand/ fine linen מָשְׁזָ֖רma.she.Zartwisted מַעֲשֵׂ֣הma.'a.Seh[the] work of רֹקֵ֑םro.Kema worker in colors עַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙'a.mu.dei./Hempillars/ their אַרְבָּעָ֔ה'ar.ba.'Ahfour וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖םve./'ad.nei./Hemand/ bases/ their אַרְבָּעָֽה׃'ar.ba.'Ahfour

King James Version

And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

Cross-references

Exodus 26:36 For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.
Exodus 26:31 Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
Exodus 28:39 You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash.
Exodus 36:37 For the entrance to the tent, he made a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen,
Exodus 39:29 and the sash of finely spun linen, embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Judges 5:30 ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil—a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’
Psalms 45:14 In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you.