Exodus 26:9 - You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.

Generated Verse: Exodus 26:9

What does "Exodus 26:9" mean?


This verse is describing how to construct the tent covering for the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. Let's break down the verse:

"You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves..." This means to sew or join together five curtains to make one large section, and then sew six curtains together to make another large section. These curtains were made of finely woven linen with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into the design.

"...and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent." This is the trickiest part. Since there are eleven curtains in total (5 + 6), the intention seems to be that the sixth curtain is from the set of six and is to be folded in half on the front of the tent.

Why fold over the sixth curtain?

The purpose of folding over the sixth curtain is debated among scholars, but common interpretations include:

Creating an Entrance Flap: Folding it could create an entrance flap that could be raised or lowered.
Providing Extra Protection: Folding the curtain doubled the material at the front, adding extra protection from the elements (dust, sun, rain).
Structural Integrity: The fold could add strength to the front of the tent.
Aesthetic Reason: It could have been for visual symmetry or to simply neaten the appearance.

In summary, this verse is giving instructions on how to assemble the tent covering for the Tabernacle. Eleven curtains were to be made, grouped into two sections (five and six). The sixth curtain was to be doubled over at the front, likely to create a type of entrance flap or to add extra protection or strength to the front of the tent.

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