Exodus 27:16
New International Version
“For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer—with four posts and four bases.

New Living Translation
“For the entrance to the courtyard, make a curtain that is 30 feet long. Make it from finely woven linen, and decorate it with beautiful embroidery in blue, purple, and scarlet thread. Support it with four posts, each securely set in its own base.

English Standard Version
For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. It shall have four pillars and with them four bases.

Berean Standard Bible
The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

King James Bible
And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

New King James Version
“For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets.

New American Standard Bible
And for the gate of the courtyard there shall be a curtain of twenty cubits, of violet, purple, and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver, with their four pillars and their four bases.

NASB 1995
“For the gate of the court there shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver, with their four pillars and their four sockets.

NASB 1977
“And for the gate of the court there shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver, with their four pillars and their four sockets.

Legacy Standard Bible
And as for the gate of the court there shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver, with their four pillars and their four bases.

Amplified Bible
For the gate of the court there shall be a screen [to provide a covering] of twenty cubits, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and finely woven [embroidered] linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four pillars and four [base] sockets.

Christian Standard Bible
The gate of the courtyard is to have a 30-foot screen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It is to have four posts and their four bases.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The gate of the courtyard is to have a thirty-foot screen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It is to have four posts including their four bases.”

American Standard Version
And for the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.

Contemporary English Version
Use four more of these posts for the entrance way, then hang on them an embroidered curtain of fine linen nine meters long and woven with blue, purple, and red wool.

English Revised Version
And for the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer: their pillars four, and their sockets four.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The entrance to the courtyard must have a 30-foot screen made from fine linen yarn, embroidered with violet, purple, and bright red yarn, [hung] on four posts [set in] four bases.

Good News Translation
For the entrance itself there is to be a curtain 10 yards long made of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and red wool, and decorated with embroidery. It is to be supported by four posts in four bases.

International Standard Version
There is to be a screen of 20 cubits of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine woven linen, the work of an embroiderer, for the gate of the court, and it is to have four pillars and four sockets.

Majority Standard Bible
The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

NET Bible
For the gate of the courtyard there is to be a curtain of thirty feet, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four posts and their four bases.

New Heart English Bible
For the gate of the court shall be a screen of thirty-four feet five inches, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars six feet eleven inches, and their sockets six feet eleven inches.

Webster's Bible Translation
And for the gate of the court shall be a hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needle-work: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

World English Bible
For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And for the gate of the court [is] a covering of twenty cubits of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, the work of an embroiderer; their pillars four, their sockets four.

Young's Literal Translation
'And for the gate of the court a covering of twenty cubits, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen, work of an embroiderer; their pillars four, their sockets four.

Smith's Literal Translation
And for the gate, of the enclosure a covering twenty cubits, cerulean purple, and red purple, and double scarlet, and twisted byssus, a variegated work: their pillars four, and their bases four.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And in the entrance of the court there shall be made a hanging of twenty cubits of violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine twisted linen, with embroidered work: it shall have four pillars with as many sockets.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, at the entrance of the atrium, there shall be made a hanging of twenty cubits, of hyacinth and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twisted linen, wrought with embroidery. It shall have four columns, with the same number of bases.

New American Bible
At the gate of the court there shall be a variegated curtain, twenty cubits long, woven of violet, purple, and scarlet yarn and of fine linen twined. It shall have four columns and four pedestals.

New Revised Standard Version
For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen, embroidered with needlework; it shall have four pillars and with them four bases.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And for the gate of the court there shall be a hanging of twenty cubits of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twined linen made of embroidered work; and their pillars shall be four and their sockets four.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And for the gate of the courtyard a covering of twenty cubits, blue fringes and purple and dye of scarlet and fine woven white linen, work of embroidery; their pillars, four, and their sockets, four.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And for the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the weaver in colours: their pillars four, and their sockets four.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And a veil for the door of the court, the height of it of twenty cubits of blue linen, and of purple, and spun scarlet, and of fine linen spun with the art of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Courtyard
15and the curtains on the other side fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. 16The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases. 17All the posts around the courtyard shall have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases.…

Cross References
Exodus 26:36-37
For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. / Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain, overlay them with gold hooks, and cast five bronze bases for them.

Exodus 38:18-19
The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high, / with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops.

Numbers 4:26
the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items.

1 Kings 6:31-35
For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, Solomon constructed doors of olive wood with five-sided doorposts. / The double doors were made of olive wood, and he carved into them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold. / In the same way he made four-sided doorposts of olive wood for the sanctuary entrance. ...

2 Chronicles 3:14
He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it.

Ezekiel 40:28-31
Next he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements as the others. / Its gate chambers, side pillars, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both the gateway and its portico had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. / (The porticoes around the inner court were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits deep.) ...

Ezekiel 41:21-25
The outer sanctuary had a rectangular doorframe, and the doorframe of the sanctuary was similar. / There was an altar of wood three cubits high and two cubits square. Its corners, base, and sides were of wood. And the man told me, “This is the table that is before the LORD.” / Both the outer sanctuary and the inner sanctuary had double doors, ...

Isaiah 54:12
I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.

Revelation 21:12-13
The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates. / There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west.

Revelation 21:21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, with each gate consisting of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

John 10:9
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. / But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Hebrews 9:2-3
A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. / Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,

Hebrews 10:19-20
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,

Ephesians 2:14-18
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility / by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace / and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, worked with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

of blue

Exodus 26:31,36
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: …

needle-work

Exodus 28:39
And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.

Exodus 36:37
And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;

Exodus 39:29
And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.

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Bases Best Blue Byssus Colours Court Courtyard Cubits Doorway Embroidered Embroiderer Entrance Fine Four Gate Hanging Linen Material Needlework Needle-Work Pillars Posts Provide Purple Red Scarlet Screen Sockets Stuff Twenty Twined Twisted Veil Weaver Work Wrought Yarn
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Bases Best Blue Byssus Colours Court Courtyard Cubits Doorway Embroidered Embroiderer Entrance Fine Four Gate Hanging Linen Material Needlework Needle-Work Pillars Posts Provide Purple Red Scarlet Screen Sockets Stuff Twenty Twined Twisted Veil Weaver Work Wrought Yarn
Exodus 27
1. The altar of burnt offering, with the vessels thereof
9. The court of the tabernacle enclosed with hangings and pillars
18. The measure of the court, and the furniture of brass
20. The oil for the lamp














For the gate of the courtyard
The "gate" here signifies an entrance, a point of access to the sacred space of the Tabernacle. In Hebrew, the word for gate is "שַׁעַר" (sha'ar), which often denotes a place of decision or transition. The courtyard gate was the only way into the Tabernacle, symbolizing that there is one way to approach God, foreshadowing the New Testament teaching that Christ is the way to the Father (John 14:6).

there is to be a curtain
The "curtain" (Hebrew: "מָסָךְ", masak) served as a barrier, yet also as a means of entry. It represents the separation between the holy and the common, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament. The curtain's presence reminds us of the holiness of God and the need for purity when approaching Him.

twenty cubits long
A "cubit" is an ancient measurement roughly equivalent to the length of a forearm, about 18 inches. Thus, twenty cubits would be approximately 30 feet. The specific dimensions indicate God's precise instructions for worship, emphasizing that approaching God is not a matter of human invention but divine revelation.

woven of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn
The colors "blue, purple, and scarlet" are significant in biblical symbolism. Blue often represents heaven or divinity, purple signifies royalty, and scarlet denotes sacrifice or atonement. Together, these colors woven into the curtain reflect the divine nature, kingship, and sacrificial work of Christ, who fulfills the law and the prophets.

and finely spun linen
"Finely spun linen" (Hebrew: "שֵׁשׁ", shesh) was a high-quality fabric, symbolizing purity and righteousness. Linen was used for priestly garments, indicating that those who serve God must be clothed in righteousness. This points to the righteousness of Christ, imputed to believers.

with four posts and four bases
The "four posts and four bases" provide structure and support for the curtain. The number four often symbolizes universality or completeness in Scripture, suggesting that the invitation to enter God's presence is extended to all who come through the prescribed way. The posts and bases ensure stability, reflecting the unchanging nature of God's covenant and His faithfulness to His promises.

(16) For the gate of the court--i.e., the entrance.

An hanging.--The word is the same as that similarly translated in Exodus 26:36 and Exodus 26:37 of Exodus 26; and the description of the "hanging" is also, word for word, the same. It would contrast strongly with the plain white "sail-cloth" round the rest of the enclosure, and would clearly point out to all the place of entrance.

Verse 16. - For the gate. The word used is the common one for "gate;" but here it rather signifies "entrance." Strictly speaking, there was no "gate;" the worshippers entered by drawing aside the curtain. This was a hanging of similar material, colours, and workmanship to that which hung in front of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:36). By its contrast with the white linen screen which surrounded the rest of the court, it would show very clearly where men were to enter.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The gate
וּלְשַׁ֨עַר (ū·lə·ša·‘ar)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

of the courtyard
הֶֽחָצֵ֜ר (he·ḥā·ṣêr)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

shall be twenty
עֶשְׂרִ֣ים (‘eś·rîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 6242: Twenty, twentieth

cubits [long],
אַמָּ֗ה (’am·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

with a curtain
מָסָ֣ךְ ׀ (mā·sāḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4539: A covering, screen

embroidered
רֹקֵ֑ם (rō·qêm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7551: To variegate color, embroider, to fabricate

with blue,
תְּכֵ֨לֶת (tə·ḵê·leṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8504: The cerulean mussel, the color, obtained therefrom, stuff dyed therewith

purple,
וְאַרְגָּמָ֜ן (wə·’ar·gā·mān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 713: Purple, red-purple

and scarlet yarn,
וְתוֹלַ֧עַת (wə·ṯō·w·la·‘aṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8438: The crimson-grub, of the color, from it, cloths dyed therewith

and finely spun
מָשְׁזָ֖ר (mā·šə·zār)
Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7806: To be twisted

linen.
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ (wə·šêš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8336: Bleached stuff, white linen, marble

It shall have four
אַרְבָּעָ֔ה (’ar·bā·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 702: Four

posts
עַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙ (‘am·mu·ḏê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5982: A column, a stand, platform

and four
אַרְבָּעָֽה׃ (’ar·bā·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 702: Four

bases.
וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם (wə·’aḏ·nê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 134: A base, pedestal


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OT Law: Exodus 27:16 For the gate of the court shall (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 27:15
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