Exodus 26:14

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 26:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams` skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams` skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.
Exodus 26:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams` skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, etc.] This was a covering that was put over the curtains of goats’ skin; but whether it went all over them, or only upon the roof of the tabernacle they covered, to keep out the rains from soaking through, is not certain, nor very evident; Jarchi thinks the roof was only covered with this covering of rams’ skins; but others think it more reasonable that the whole was covered with them to preserve from dust and rain: and a covering above of badgers’ skins; of these skins ((see Gill on “<022505>Exodus 25:5”)), this was a fourth covering of the tabernacle; the first was of linen curtains, the second of goats’ hair, the third…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“a covering . . . of rams' skins dyed red--that is, of Turkey red leather. [See on Exo 39:34.]”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Compare Exodus 36:8-33.) The tabernacle was to comprise three main parts, the tabernacle Exodus 26:1-6, more strictly so-called, its tent Exodus 26:7-13, and its covering Exodus 26:14 (Compare Exodus 35:11; Exodus 39:33-34; Exodus 40:19, Exodus 40:34; Numbers 3:25, etc.). These parts are very clearly distinguished in the Hebrew, but they are confounded in many places of the English Version (see Exodus 26:7, Exodus 26:9, etc.). The tabernacle itself was to consist of curtains of fine linen woven with colored figures of cherubim, and a structure of boards which was to contain the holy place and the most holy place; the tent was to be a true tent of goats’ hair cloth to contain and shelter the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Badger skins - So we translate it, but it should rather seem to have been some strong sort of leather, (but very fine) for we read of the best sort of shoes made of it. Eze 16:10. Exodus 26:15”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a covering: Exo 36:19; Num 4:5; Psa 27:5, Psa 121:4, Psa 121:5; Isa 4:6, Isa 25:4 rams' skins dyed red: Oroth ailim meoddamim, literally, the skins of red rams. It is a fact, attested by many respectable travellers, that in the Levant, sheep are often met with having red or violet coloured fleeces. Almost all ancient writers speak of the same thing. Exo 25:5, Exo 35:7, Exo 35:23, Exo 39:34; Num 4:10; Eze 16:10 badgers' skins: Oroth techashim, which nearly all the ancient versions have taken to be the name of a colour, though they differ very much with regard to the particular colour intended: the LXX, Vulgate, and Coptic, have skins dyed of a violet colour; the Syriac, azure; and the Arabic,…”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"The other coverings were placed on the top of this tent: one made of rams' skins dyed red, "as a covering for the tent," and another upon the top of this, made of the skins of the sea-cow (תּחשׁים, see at Exo 25:5). Exodus 26:15”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification