Exodus 26:36-37
“You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This beautiful, embroidered hanging wasn't just a door; it represented the threshold between the ordinary and the sacred. Its intricate needlework, unlike the veil separating the Holy of Holies, was designed to be seen and appreciated from the outside, marking the boundary where God's presence was approached.
The instructions continue for building the tabernacle, focusing now on the entrance. After detailing the intricate inner coverings and the veil separating the Holy of Holies, God commands a beautiful screen for the opening of the tent itself, made from the same rich materials. This hanging would serve as the primary entrance and visual statement for the dwelling place of God on earth.
Imagine walking up to the Tabernacle. What would greet you? This isn't just any door covering; it's a statement.
This hanging, or screen, for the entrance of the Tabernacle was made of the same beautiful, costly materials as the inner veil: blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. It was embroidered with needlework.
Intended for Visibility
Unlike the inner veil separating the Holy of Holies, which was described as 'cunning work' and featured cherubim, this entrance screen was 'wrought with needlework.' While still exquisite, this suggests a slightly less intricate, yet still magnificent, design. Its primary role was to mark the entrance to the Holy Place, the area accessible to priests.
Symbol of Approach
This rich hanging served as a visible boundary. It separated the common space of the people from the sacred space where God's presence resided. The vibrant colors and fine materials signaled that this was no ordinary tent, but a dwelling set apart for the Lord, requiring reverence and a distinct approach.
The Tabernacle was a place where God met His people. This entrance screen was the very first threshold to that sacred encounter.
This hanging acted as the 'door' to the Holy Place, marking the transition from the outer court (where the people gathered) into the sacred tent itself. It wasn't just a physical barrier but a visual cue that a deeper encounter with God was about to begin for the priests.
A Distinctive Welcome
While the ultimate goal for Israel was to draw near to God, the journey was progressive. This entrance hanging, with its vibrant colors and skilled craftsmanship, was the initial step into that hallowed space. It was a clear signal that entering the Tabernacle was a transition into God's immediate presence, requiring reverence and preparation.
More Than Just a Curtain
When compared to the inner veil (which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy), this entrance hanging was described as "wrought with needlework" rather than "cunning work" or "embroidered with cherubim." This suggests a beautiful but perhaps less ornate design, fitting for the entrance to the Holy Place accessible to priests, rather than the singular, awe-inspiring barrier to the Ark of the Covenant.
Understand the original words
masak · Hebrew Noun
A partition or covering used to regulate access to a sacred space, symbolizing the separation between God's holiness and humanity. In the Tabernacle, these emphasized the need for proper access to God's presence.
shesh mishzar · Hebrew Noun phrase
A material made from flax, prized for its white color and purity. In the Tabernacle, it signifies the righteousness required to stand before God.
shittim · Hebrew Noun
A durable, decay-resistant wood used in the construction of the Tabernacle furniture and structures. It is often understood symbolically as representing the humanity of Christ—strong, enduring, and capable of being fitted for God's purposes.
zahav · Hebrew Noun
This verse describes the high priest's breastpiece, which also uses the same rich materials—blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen—highlighting their sacred significance in worship.
Exodus 39:1This passage mirrors the description of the materials and craftsmanship for the priestly garments, emphasizing the meticulous care and costly resources dedicated to God's service.
Hebrews 9:3This New Testament passage directly compares the veil mentioned here (the hanging for the door) with the inner veil, linking these physical structures to the spiritual realities of Christ's atoning work.
Isaiah 61:10The prophet Isaiah speaks of being clothed in garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness, echoing the symbolic richness of the tabernacle's hangings and pointing to Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God's people's adornment.
cambridgeExodus 26:36: "And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework."
Exodus 36-7 ( Exodus 26:36-37 ). The screen , to cover the entrance to the Dwelling. This was of the same materials as the veil ( v. 31), but, as it was further from the shrine, of less elaborate workmanship, the ‘work of the variegator,’ or ‘embroiderer’ (not of the ‘designer’ or pattern-weaver see on v. 1), and without cherubim.
clarkeExodus 26:36: "And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework."
A hanging for the door of the tent - This may be called the first veil, as it occupied the door or entrance to the tabernacle; the veil that separated the holy place from the holy of holies is called the second veil, Hebrews 9:3 . These two veils and the inner covering of the tabernacle were all of the same materials, and of the same workmans…
This beautiful, embroidered hanging wasn't just a door; it represented the threshold between the ordinary and the sacred. Its intricate needlework, unlike the veil separating the Holy of Holies, was designed to be seen and appreciated from the outside, marking the boundary where God's presence was approached.
The instructions continue for building the tabernacle, focusing now on the entrance. After detailing the intricate inner coverings and the veil separating the Holy of Holies, God commands a beautiful screen for the opening of the tent itself, made from the same rich materials. This hanging would serve as the primary entrance and visual statement for the dwelling place of God on earth.
The instructions continue for building the tabernacle, focusing now on the entrance. After detailing the intricate inner coverings and the veil separating the Holy of Holies, God commands a beautiful screen for the opening of the tent itself, made from the same rich materials. This hanging would serve as the primary entrance and visual statement for the dwelling place of God on earth.
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A precious metal representing glory, royalty, and divinity. In the Tabernacle, its usage signifies that the structure is a dwelling place for the Most High, reflecting His heavenly majesty.
nechosheth · Hebrew Noun
A metal alloy often representing judgment or endurance under testing in the Old Testament. Its use in the bases of the pillars points to the stability and strength required by the righteousness of God's judgment.
"“You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hoo…" — This beautiful, embroidered hanging wasn't just a door; it represented the threshold between the ordinary and the sacred. Its intricate needlework, unlike the veil separating the Holy of Holies, was…
