Question 1

What is the court of the tabernacle in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The court of the tabernacle is the open area that surrounded the tent where God’s presence was shown. It was like a large yard or courtyard, fenced in with linen curtains. The people did not go straight into the tent itself, but they came into this court to bring their sacrifices, to pray, and to watch the priests serve. It was the first place they entered when they came to worship. This court showed that worship was not just private, but something done in a set-apart place, before God and in the sight of His people.

Question 2

Why were the hangings made of fine twined linen?

Accepted Answer

The hangings were made of fine twined linen to mark the court as clean and set apart from common life. Linen was used for tents and clothing, but here it is described as fine and carefully worked, showing care and purity. These white curtains formed a clear boundary around God’s dwelling place. They pictured a people separated from the world and marked out for God. Later in Scripture, clean white linen is linked with the righteousness God gives to His people, so these hangings fit that same picture of holy living.

Question 3

What is the meaning of the brass sockets and silver hooks on the pillars?

Accepted Answer

The pillars held up the linen hangings, and each pillar stood in a brass socket with silver hooks and bands. The brass bases show strength and stability, like a firm footing for the court. The silver at the top tied the hangings together and added beauty. Many readers see in these pillars a picture of those who support and guard the worship of God, especially leaders who hold up the truth. The mixture of metals also reminds us that God’s people live on earth with very real limits, yet they are called to a higher, purer way as they serve Him.

Question 4

Why was the gate of the court different from the other hangings?

Accepted Answer

The gate on the east side was not plain white like the rest of the hangings. It was a special curtain, twenty cubits wide, made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, worked with needlework. It was more beautiful and noticeable than the other sides. There was only this one entrance into the court. This pictures that there is a single, God-given way to come near to Him. Later, Jesus calls Himself the door for the sheep, and many see this colorful gate as an early picture of Him as the only way into God’s presence.

Question 5

What do the dimensions of the tabernacle court teach us about God?

Accepted Answer

The court was one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, twice as long as it was broad, and five cubits high. These careful measurements show that God cares about order and clarity in worship. Nothing was left to guesswork. The curtains were high enough to separate the court from common life, yet low enough that the tabernacle itself still rose above them, visible to all. This reminds us that God is not a God of confusion. He sets clear patterns so His people can worship Him with respect, not in a careless or random way.

Question 6

Why could the people only enter the court and not the tabernacle itself?

Accepted Answer

The people could gather in the court, but only priests could go into the tent. This showed both God’s nearness and His holiness. On one hand, the court was a place where ordinary Israelites could bring offerings and be reconciled to God, so they were not shut out completely. On the other hand, the inner tent remained off limits, reminding them that, by themselves, they were not fit to walk right into God’s presence. This tension helped them feel both comfort and humility as they approached Him through the way He had set up.

Question 7

How does the court of the tabernacle picture the church today?

Accepted Answer

The court formed a visible community gathered around God’s dwelling place, set apart from the rest of the camp. In a similar way, the church is a people called out from the world, marked off by God’s word and worship. Not everyone in that court was a true believer at heart, and in the same way, the visible church today holds both true and false professors. The white linen reminds us of the righteousness God gives His people, and the strong pillars picture those who support and guard the teaching and life of the church.

Question 8

What does this passage teach about how worship should be ordered?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that worship among God’s people is not left to human taste or random habit. God gave exact instructions about the size of the court, the number of pillars, the materials, and even the way curtains were fastened with pins. The result was a space that was stable, clean, and clearly marked out. Today, while we are not called to copy these exact shapes, the principle still applies. Worship should be reverent, thoughtful, and in line with what God has said, so that His character and holiness are honored among His people.

Question 9

Why are all the vessels and pins of the tabernacle said to be of brass?

Accepted Answer

The passage ends by saying that all the vessels used in the tabernacle service, and all the pins that held the hangings and the court in place, were made of brass. Brass is a strong, durable metal. Using it for even the small items shows that every part of God’s worship mattered, not just the most visible objects. The pins kept the curtains from sagging or being blown away, so the court stayed firm and ordered. This reminds us that faithful care in small, unnoticed duties also helps keep the life and worship of God’s people steady.

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:

The Courtyard

Cross References

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:

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The Courtyard

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