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What the Bible Says About Tabernacle

Overview

The Bible addresses tabernacle across 400 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Numbers and Leviticus. Closely related themes include Offerings, Altar of Burnt Offering, the, Dedication and Liberality. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Aaron, David and Solomon.

Key Bible verses about tabernacle

Old Testament

Exodus

Exodus 23:17

Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

Exodus 25:1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exodus 25:2

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. bring me: Heb. take for me offering: or, heave offering

Exodus 25:3

And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, offering: or, heave offering

Exodus 25:4

And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, fine: or, silk

Exodus 25:5

And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,

Exodus 25:6

Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

Exodus 25:7

Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

Exodus 25:8

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25:9

According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exodus 26:15

And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.

Exodus 26:17

Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle. tenons: Heb. hands

Exodus 26:19

And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

Exodus 26:22

And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

Exodus 26:23

And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

Exodus 26:24

And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners. coupled: Heb. twinned

Exodus 26:25

And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

Exodus 26:26

And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

Exodus 26:27

And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.

Exodus 26:28

And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

Exodus 26:29

And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

Exodus 26:30

And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.

Exodus 26:31

And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

Exodus 26:32

And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

Exodus 26:33

And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

Exodus 26:34

And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

Exodus 26:35

And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

Exodus 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 26:37

And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

Exodus 27:9

And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:

Exodus 27:10

And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.

Exodus 27:11

And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

Exodus 27:12

And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.

Exodus 27:13

And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.

Exodus 27:14

The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Exodus 27:15

And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Exodus 27:17

All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.

Exodus 27:18

The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass. fifty: Heb. fifty by fifty

Exodus 27:19

All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.

Exodus 27:21

In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

Exodus 29:42

This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.

Exodus 29:43

And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. the tabernacle: or, Israel

Exodus 30:11

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exodus 30:12

When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. their number: Heb. them that are to be numbered

Exodus 30:13

This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.

Exodus 30:14

Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.

Exodus 30:15

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. give more: Heb. multiply give less: Heb. diminish

Exodus 30:16

And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

Exodus 30:25

And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. apothecary: or, perfumer

Exodus 30:26

And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,

Exodus 31:2

See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

Exodus 31:3

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

Exodus 31:4

To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

Exodus 31:5

And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

Exodus 31:6

And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

Exodus 31:7

The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, furniture: Heb. vessels

Exodus 33:7

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Exodus 33:8

And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

Exodus 33:9

And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

Exodus 33:10

And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.

Exodus 33:11

And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Exodus 35:4

And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,

Exodus 35:5

Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,

Exodus 35:6

And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,

Exodus 35:7

And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,

Exodus 35:8

And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,

Exodus 35:9

And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

Exodus 35:10

And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;

Exodus 35:11

The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,

Exodus 35:12

The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,

Exodus 35:13

The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,

Exodus 35:14

The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,

Exodus 35:15

And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,

Exodus 35:16

The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,

Exodus 35:17

The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,

Exodus 35:18

The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,

Exodus 35:19

The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.

Exodus 35:20

And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.

Exodus 35:21

And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

Exodus 35:22

And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.

Exodus 35:23

And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.

Exodus 35:24

Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD'S offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.

Exodus 35:25

And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

Exodus 35:26

And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.

Exodus 35:27

And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;

Exodus 35:28

And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

Exodus 35:29

The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

Exodus 35:30

And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;

Exodus 35:31

And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

Exodus 35:32

And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

Exodus 35:33

And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.

Exodus 35:34

And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

Exodus 35:35

Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

Exodus 36:1

Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.

Exodus 36:3

And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.

Exodus 36:4

And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;

Exodus 36:5

And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.

Exodus 36:6

And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.

Exodus 36:7

For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

Exodus 36:20

And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.

Exodus 36:22

One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

Exodus 36:23

And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:

Exodus 36:24

And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

Exodus 36:27

And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.

Exodus 36:28

And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

Exodus 36:29

And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners. coupled: Heb. twinned

Exodus 36:30

And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets. under: Heb. two sockets, two sockets under one board

Exodus 36:31

And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

Exodus 36:32

And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward.

Exodus 36:33

And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.

Exodus 36:35

And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.

Exodus 36:36

And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.

Exodus 38:9

And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits:

Exodus 38:10

Their pillars were twenty, and their brasen sockets twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.

Exodus 38:11

And for the north side the hangings were an hundred cubits, their pillars were twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

Exodus 38:12

And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

Exodus 38:13

And for the east side eastward fifty cubits.

Exodus 38:14

The hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Exodus 38:15

And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Exodus 38:16

All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen.

Exodus 38:17

And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.

Exodus 38:21

This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Exodus 39:32

Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

Exodus 39:42

According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.

Exodus 39:43

And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

Exodus 40:2

On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

Exodus 40:8

And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.

Exodus 40:9

And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.

Exodus 40:10

And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. most holy: Heb. holiness of holinesses

Exodus 40:11

And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.

Exodus 40:12

And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

Exodus 40:13

And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exodus 40:14

And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

Exodus 40:15

And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

Exodus 40:16

Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

Exodus 40:17

And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

Exodus 40:18

And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.

Exodus 40:19

And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:21

And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:22

And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.

Exodus 40:23

And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:24

And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

Exodus 40:25

And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:26

And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:

Exodus 40:29

And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:30

And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.

Exodus 40:34

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:35

And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:36

And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: went onward: Heb. journeyed

Exodus 40:37

But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

Exodus 40:38

For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Leviticus

Leviticus 8:10

And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.

Leviticus 15:31

Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.

Leviticus 16:15

Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

Leviticus 16:16

And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. remaineth: Heb. dwelleth

Leviticus 16:17

And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

Leviticus 16:18

And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.

Leviticus 16:19

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

Leviticus 16:20

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

Leviticus 17:4

And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:

Numbers

Numbers 1:50

But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

Numbers 1:51

And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Numbers 1:53

But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

Numbers 3:6

Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

Numbers 3:7

And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:8

And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:10

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Numbers 3:23

The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.

Numbers 3:29

The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.

Numbers 3:35

And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.

Numbers 4:5

And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

Numbers 4:6

And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.

Numbers 4:7

And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: cover: or, pour out withal

Numbers 4:8

And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.

Numbers 4:9

And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:

Numbers 4:10

And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar.

Numbers 4:11

And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:

Numbers 4:12

And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar:

Numbers 4:13

And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:

Numbers 4:14

And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it. basons: or, bowls

Numbers 4:15

And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 4:16

And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.

Numbers 4:17

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

Numbers 4:18

Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:

Numbers 4:19

But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:

Numbers 4:20

But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

Numbers 4:21

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 4:22

Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;

Numbers 4:23

From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. to perform: Heb. to war the warfare

Numbers 4:24

This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens: burdens: or, carriage

Numbers 4:25

And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,

Numbers 4:26

And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.

Numbers 4:27

At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. appointment: Heb. mouth

Numbers 4:28

This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 4:29

As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;

Numbers 4:30

From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. service: Heb. warfare

Numbers 4:31

And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,

Numbers 4:32

And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.

Numbers 4:33

This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 7:1

And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;

Numbers 7:2

That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: and were: Heb. who stood

Numbers 7:3

And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.

Numbers 7:4

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 7:5

Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

Numbers 7:6

And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.

Numbers 7:7

Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:

Numbers 7:8

And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 7:9

But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.

Numbers 7:10

And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.

Numbers 7:11

And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

Numbers 7:12

And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:

Numbers 7:13

And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:14

One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:

Numbers 7:15

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:16

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:17

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

Numbers 7:18

On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:

Numbers 7:19

He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:20

One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:21

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:22

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:23

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

Numbers 7:24

On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer:

Numbers 7:25

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:26

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:27

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:28

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:29

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

Numbers 7:30

On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer:

Numbers 7:31

His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:32

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:33

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:34

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:35

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

Numbers 7:36

On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:

Numbers 7:37

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:38

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:39

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:40

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:41

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

Numbers 7:42

On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:

Numbers 7:43

His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:44

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:45

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:46

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:47

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

Numbers 7:48

On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:

Numbers 7:49

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:50

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:51

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:52

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:53

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

Numbers 7:54

On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:

Numbers 7:55

His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:56

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:57

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:58

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:59

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

Numbers 7:60

On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:

Numbers 7:61

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:62

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:63

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:64

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:65

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

Numbers 7:66

On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:

Numbers 7:67

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:68

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:69

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:70

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:71

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

Numbers 7:72

On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:

Numbers 7:73

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:74

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:75

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:76

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:77

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.

Numbers 7:78

On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:

Numbers 7:79

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:80

One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

Numbers 7:81

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

Numbers 7:82

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:83

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

Numbers 7:84

This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:

Numbers 7:85

Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

Numbers 7:86

The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.

Numbers 7:87

All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.

Numbers 8:24

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: to: Heb. to war the warfare of, etc

Numbers 9:15

And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.

Numbers 10:3

And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 10:11

And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.

Numbers 10:12

And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 10:33

And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.

Numbers 10:34

And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.

Numbers 10:35

And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

Numbers 10:36

And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel. many thousands: Heb. ten thousand thousands

Numbers 16:19

And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

Numbers 16:42

And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

Numbers 16:43

And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 17:7

And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

Numbers 17:8

And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

People in the Bible and tabernacle

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying tabernacle for yourself

  • Begin with Exodus 23:17, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Exodus, Numbers and Leviticus each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Moses, Aaron and David and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Offerings, Altar of Burnt Offering, the, Dedication and Liberality.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about tabernacle?

The Bible addresses tabernacle across 400 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Numbers and Leviticus. Closely related themes include Offerings, Altar of Burnt Offering, the, Dedication and Liberality. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Aaron, David and Solomon.

How many Bible verses are about tabernacle?

The Bible references tabernacle in 400 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention tabernacle?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 23:17: “Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with tabernacle?

Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon and Joshua.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on tabernacle.

Preach a series on Tabernacle