Exodus 36:20 - He made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.

Generated Verse: Exodus 36:20

What does "Exodus 36:20" mean?


Exodus 36:20 describes the construction of the walls of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness. Let's break down the verse:

"He made the boards for the tabernacle..." This refers to Bezalel, the chief artisan appointed by God to oversee the construction of the Tabernacle, and his skilled workers.

"...of acacia wood..." Acacia wood was chosen for its durability, resistance to decay, and availability in the Sinai Peninsula where the Israelites were located. It was a valued and practical material.

"...standing up." This is the key part. It means the boards were upright, forming the vertical walls of the Tabernacle. They weren't lying flat but rather were positioned vertically to create a standing structure. The boards were likely held in place by mortise and tenon joints, and secured further by bars running horizontally across the outside of the boards.

In essence, the verse describes the creation of the vertical wooden planks, made of acacia wood, that would form the side walls of the Tabernacle structure. The verse emphasizes that they were intended to stand upright. This is an important detail because it establishes the basic architectural plan for the Tabernacle as a standing structure rather than something like a tent lying flat on the ground.

The subsequent verses in Exodus chapter 36 further explain the construction of these boards, including their dimensions, gold overlay, and the sockets they fit into for stability.

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