Exodus 38:27
New International Version
The 100 talents of silver were used to cast the bases for the sanctuary and for the curtain—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base.

New Living Translation
The hundred bases for the frames of the sanctuary walls and for the posts supporting the inner curtain required 7,500 pounds of silver, about 75 pounds for each base.

English Standard Version
The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil; a hundred bases for the hundred talents, a talent a base.

Berean Standard Bible
The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.

Berean Literal Bible
And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the Holy Place and the bases of the veil—a hundred bases for the hundred talents, one talent per base.

King James Bible
And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

New King James Version
And from the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil: one hundred sockets from the hundred talents, one talent for each socket.

New American Standard Bible
The hundred talents of silver were used for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil; a hundred bases for the hundred talents, a talent for a base.

NASB 1995
The hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil; one hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

NASB 1977
And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil; one hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

Legacy Standard Bible
One hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil; one hundred bases for one hundred talents, a talent for a base.

Amplified Bible
The hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil (partition curtain); a hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

Berean Annotated Bible
The hundred talents of silver <3.77 t / 3.42 mt> were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.

Christian Standard Bible
There were 7,500 pounds of silver used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the curtain—one hundred bases from 7,500 pounds, 75 pounds for each base.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There were 7,500 pounds of silver used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from 7,500 pounds, 75 pounds for each base.

American Standard Version
And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; a hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

Contemporary English Version
Thirty-four kilograms of the silver were used to make each of the 100 stands for the sacred tent and the curtain.

English Revised Version
And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; an hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He used 7,500 pounds of silver to cast the 100 bases for the holy place and the canopy. This was 75 pounds per base.

Good News Translation
Of the silver, 7,500 pounds were used to make the hundred bases for the sacred Tent and for the curtain, 75 pounds for each base.

International Standard Version
One hundred talents of silver were used to cast the sockets for the sanctuary and the sockets for the curtain, 100 sockets for 100 talents, a talent per socket.

NET Bible
The one hundred talents of silver were used for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the special curtain--one hundred bases for one hundred talents, one talent per base.

New Heart English Bible
The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; one hundred sockets for the one hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

Webster's Bible Translation
And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; a hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base.

World English Bible
The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil: one hundred sockets for the one hundred talents, one talent per socket.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And one hundred talents of silver are for casting the sockets of the holy place, and the sockets of the veil; one hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket;

Berean Literal Bible
And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the Holy Place and the bases of the veil—a hundred bases for the hundred talents, one talent per base.

Young's Literal Translation
And a hundred talents of silver are to cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; a hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the hundred talents of silver shall be to cast the bases of the holy place, and the bases of the veil; a hundred bases to the hundred talents, a talent to a base.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A hundred sockets were made of a hundred talents, one talent being reckoned for every socket.

Catholic Public Domain Version
One hundred bases were made from one hundred talents, a single talent being counted for each base.

New American Bible
One hundred talents of silver were used for casting the pedestals of the sanctuary and the pedestals of the veil, one talent for each pedestal, or one hundred talents for the one hundred pedestals.

New Revised Standard Version
The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary, and the bases of the curtain; one hundred bases for the hundred talents, a talent for a base.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the total sum was one hundred talents of silver, for the casting of the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; a hundred sockets were made from a hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And there were a hundred talents of silver for casting the sockets of Holiness, and the sockets of the covering were a hundred sockets from a hundred talents, a talent to a socket.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil: a hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the hundred talents of silver went to the casting of the hundred chapiters of the tabernacle, and to the chapiters of the veil;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cost of the Tabernacle
26a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men. 27The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil— 100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base. 28With the 1,775 shekels of silver he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them.…

Cross References
The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary

Exodus 30:11-16
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. / Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. …

Exodus 36:24-30
with forty silver bases to put under the twenty frames—two bases for each frame, one under each tenon. / For the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty frames / and forty silver bases—two bases under each frame. …

Exodus 35:20-29
Then the whole congregation of Israel withdrew from the presence of Moses. / And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments. / So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. …
and the bases of the veil—

Exodus 26:31-33
Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. / Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. / And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Exodus 36:35-36
Next, he made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it. / He also made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold, along with gold hooks; and he cast four silver bases for the posts.

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,
100 bases from the 100 talents,

2 Kings 23:33
And Pharaoh Neco imprisoned Jehoahaz at Riblah in the land of Hamath so that he could not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

Exodus 26:15-25
You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. / Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. / Two tenons must be connected to each other for each frame. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. …

Numbers 4:31-32
This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases, / and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.
one talent per base.

Exodus 25:39-40
The lampstand and all these utensils shall be made from a talent of pure gold. / See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

2 Kings 5:5
“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.

2 Samuel 12:30
Then he took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city.
1 Kings 7:47
Solomon left all these articles unweighed, because there were so many. The weight of the bronze could not be determined.

2 Chronicles 4:18
Solomon made all these articles in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.

1 Chronicles 22:14
Now behold, I have taken great pains to provide for the house of the LORD—100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron too great to be weighed. I have also provided timber and stone, and you may add to them.

1 Chronicles 29:7
Toward the service of God’s house they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron.


Treasury of Scripture

And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.

and the sockets

Exodus 26:19,21,25,32
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…

Jump to Previous
Base Bases Cast Casting Curtain Holy Hundred Making Pillars Sanctuary Silver Socket Sockets Talent Talents Used Vail Veil
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Base Bases Cast Casting Curtain Holy Hundred Making Pillars Sanctuary Silver Socket Sockets Talent Talents Used Vail Veil
Exodus 38
1. The altar of burnt offering
8. The laver of brass
9. The court, and its hangings
21. The sum of what the people offered, and the use to which it was applied












The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary
The use of silver in the construction of the tabernacle highlights its significance and value. Silver, often associated with redemption in biblical symbolism, was collected as a ransom offering from the Israelites (Exodus 30:11-16). This connects to the idea of redemption and atonement, as each Israelite contributed a half-shekel of silver as a ransom for their lives. The bases of the sanctuary, made from this silver, provided a foundation for the structure, symbolizing the foundational role of redemption in the relationship between God and His people.

and the bases of the veil
The veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This separation emphasized the holiness of God and the barrier between God and humanity due to sin. The bases of the veil, made from the same silver, underscore the theme of redemption as the means by which this barrier could eventually be overcome. In the New Testament, the tearing of the temple veil at Jesus' crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) signifies the removal of this barrier, allowing direct access to God through Christ.

100 bases from the 100 talents
The precise number of bases and talents reflects the order and meticulousness in God's instructions for the tabernacle's construction. This attention to detail underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands. The number 100, being a complete and rounded figure, may symbolize completeness and sufficiency in the provision for the tabernacle, ensuring that every part had a firm foundation.

one talent per base
The allocation of one talent per base indicates a uniformity and equality in the foundation of the sanctuary. This can be seen as a reflection of the equal value of each person's contribution to the community and the equal standing of all before God. In a broader theological sense, it points to the idea that each believer, redeemed by Christ, is equally foundational in the spiritual house of God (1 Peter 2:5), where Christ is the chief cornerstone.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle from God.

2. Bezalel and Oholiab
Skilled craftsmen appointed by God to oversee the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

3. The Tabernacle
The portable sanctuary where God dwelled among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.

4. The Sanctuary and the Veil
The inner parts of the Tabernacle, including the Holy of Holies, separated by the veil.

5. The Israelites
The people of God who contributed materials for the construction of the Tabernacle.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience
The Israelites followed God's specific instructions for the Tabernacle, highlighting the importance of obedience in our walk with God.

God's Provision and Purpose
The use of silver for the bases shows God's provision and the purposeful design of His dwelling place, reminding us that God equips us for His purposes.

Symbolism of the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle serves as a symbol of God's presence and holiness, encouraging us to live lives that reflect His holiness.

Community Contribution
The construction of the Tabernacle was a communal effort, illustrating the importance of each member's contribution to the body of Christ.

Christ as the Fulfillment
The Tabernacle points to Christ, who is the ultimate dwelling place of God among men, encouraging us to find our identity and purpose in Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Exodus 38:27?

2. How does Exodus 38:27 demonstrate God's provision for the tabernacle's construction?

3. What significance does the use of silver in Exodus 38:27 hold for believers?

4. How does Exodus 38:27 connect to the theme of obedience in Exodus?

5. How can we apply the principle of resource stewardship from Exodus 38:27 today?

6. What lessons on community contribution can be drawn from Exodus 38:27?

7. How does Exodus 38:27 reflect God's instructions for the tabernacle's construction?

8. What is the significance of the silver used in Exodus 38:27?

9. How does Exodus 38:27 demonstrate God's attention to detail?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 38?

11. What are the Biblical weights and measures?

12. How could the Israelites realistically acquire and transport the vast amounts of gold, silver, and bronze mentioned in Exodus 38:24-31 while wandering in the desert?

13. How do the measurements and quantities listed in Exodus 38:21-23 harmonize with other parts of Exodus and Numbers that detail Israel's population and resources?

14. Does the altar design brought from Damascus (2 Kings 16:10-11) conflict with earlier temple instructions in Exodus and Leviticus?
What Does Exodus 38:27 Mean
The hundred talents of silver

- Exodus 30:11-16 explains that every Israelite male twenty years and older brought a half-shekel “atonement offering”; the collected silver totaled “one hundred talents” (Exodus 38:25-26).

- A talent weighed about 75 pounds, so 100 talents meant roughly four tons—an enormous reminder that the entire nation contributed to God’s dwelling.

- Silver in Scripture often carries redemptive overtones (1 Peter 1:18-19), underscoring that the Tabernacle stood on a foundation made possible by the redemption money of the people.


were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary

- The “sanctuary” refers to the Tabernacle’s framework of acacia boards (Exodus 26:15-25). Each board slipped into a pair of solid silver sockets, giving the portable structure stability in the wilderness.

- These sockets lifted the holy dwelling off the earth, picturing how God’s presence is set apart. Compare Ephesians 2:20, where the household of God is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.”


and the bases of the veil—

- Inside the sanctuary, a thick veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:31-33). Its four posts also rested in silver bases (Exodus 36:36-37).

- Hebrews 10:19-20 recalls that Christ opened “a new and living way through the veil,” yet even in Moses’ day the veil’s silver sockets hinted that access to God rests on redemption.


100 bases from the 100 talents,

- Moses records the exact math: every talent of silver became one socket, no surplus and no shortage (Exodus 38:27).

- This precision shows God’s orderly provision (1 Corinthians 14:33) and the completeness of His plan—nothing is random in His dwelling place.

- Because each Israelite gave the same half-shekel (Exodus 30:15), every person shared equally in forming the sanctuary’s very footing.


one talent per base.

- Each base weighed the same, held the same load, and served the same purpose, illustrating God’s impartiality (Acts 10:34).

- No single base could boast over another; together they upheld God’s house, just as believers today are “living stones” built together for His habitation (1 Peter 2:5).

- The uniform distribution also speaks to God’s fair valuation of every contribution, big or small (Mark 12:41-44).


summary

Exodus 38:27 records how the exact amount of silver collected from Israel’s atonement offerings was poured into 100 identical sockets that supported both the Tabernacle’s walls and its inner veil. The verse highlights God’s redemption-funded foundation, His precise and equitable provision, and the shared privilege of every believer in upholding His dwelling.

(27) The sockets of the sanctuary.--On these, see Exodus 26:19; Exodus 26:21; Exodus 26:25. They consisted of forty for each side, and sixteen for the western end--total, ninety-six.

The sockets of the vail.--On these, see Exodus 26:32. They were four in number, and supported the four pillars on which the vail was hung. Thus the total number of the silver sockets was, as the text expresses, one hundred.

Verse 27. - The sockets of the sanctuary and of the veil See above, Exodus 36:24, 26, 30, and 36. The numbers given are 40, 40, 16, and 4, making exactly the hundred.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The hundred
מְאַת֙ (mə·’aṯ)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3967: A hundred

talents
כִּכַּ֣ר (kik·kar)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3603: A round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money)

of silver
הַכֶּ֔סֶף (hak·ke·sep̄)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

were
וַיְהִ֗י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

used to cast
לָצֶ֗קֶת (lā·ṣe·qeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3332: To pour out, to melt, cast as metal, to place firmly, to stiffen, grow hard

the bases
אַדְנֵ֣י (’aḏ·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 134: A base, pedestal

of the sanctuary
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ (haq·qō·ḏeš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

and the bases
אַדְנֵ֣י (’aḏ·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 134: A base, pedestal

of the curtain—
הַפָּרֹ֑כֶת (hap·pā·rō·ḵeṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6532: A separatrix, screen

100
מְאַ֧ת (mə·’aṯ)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3967: A hundred

bases
אֲדָנִ֛ים (’ă·ḏā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 134: A base, pedestal

from the 100
לִמְאַ֥ת (lim·’aṯ)
Preposition-l | Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3967: A hundred

talents,
הַכִּכָּ֖ר (hak·kik·kār)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3603: A round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money)

one talent
כִּכָּ֥ר (kik·kār)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3603: A round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money)

per base.
לָאָֽדֶן׃ (lā·’ā·ḏen)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 134: A base, pedestal


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OT Law: Exodus 38:27 The one hundred talents of silver were (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 38:26
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