What was the hanging for the tabernacle door in this passage?

The hanging for the tabernacle door was a curtain that served as the entrance covering to the holy place. It was made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, along with fine twined linen, and it was skillfully worked. This hanging stood between the outer court, where the people gathered, and the inner sanctuary, where only the priests could go. It was not a solid door, but a richly made curtain that marked the way into the place where God’s presence was shown among his people.

Why were blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen used for the tabernacle door?

The passage highlights these colors and materials because they match the rest of the tabernacle’s holy fabric. Blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, woven into fine twined linen, set this doorway apart from ordinary cloth. The rich colors and careful needlework showed that this entrance was for God’s dwelling, not just a common tent. The people saw by the beauty and order of the fabric that coming near to God was special and set apart from everyday life, and that he deserved their best work and materials.

What is the difference between the veil and the door hanging in the tabernacle?

In this section, two different curtains are described. One veil was inside, separating the holy place from the most holy place where God’s presence was especially shown. Only the high priest could pass that inner veil at certain times. The hanging in these verses was for the tabernacle door, between the outer court and the holy place. The people could come up to this outer door, but they were not allowed to go through. So the inner veil marked a deeper separation, while the door hanging marked the main entrance to the holy place.

Why were the pillars covered with gold but the sockets made of brass?

The five pillars at the tabernacle door had their tops and bands covered with gold, while their bases were made of brass. Gold often marked what was closest to the holy areas inside, showing honor and glory around God’s dwelling. Brass, being strong and solid, made a firm base on which the pillars could stand. This mix of metals fits the pattern in the tabernacle where inner parts are more richly covered. It shows both beauty and strength at the entrance where people came as near to God as they were allowed.

What does this passage show about how people approached God then?

This passage shows that people could come near to God, but only so far. They gathered at the door of the tabernacle, where this colorful hanging and the five pillars stood, yet they were not free to enter the holy place. The door curtain marked that limit. It reminded them that God lived among them, but there was still distance and separation. They needed priests to go in on their behalf. So this doorway showed both welcome and warning, nearness and boundary, all at the same time.

How might this description of the tabernacle door matter for believers today?

While this passage describes an old covenant structure, it still helps believers today see how God ordered access to his presence. The careful work, rich colors, and solid pillars show that coming near to God is not casual. The people could draw close to the door but not pass through, which points to the idea that, on our own, we cannot just walk into God’s presence. It encourages respect, awe, and a sense that worship should reflect God’s holiness and beauty, not be treated as something light or careless.

What does this teach about God’s character and his presence among his people?

These verses show that God chooses to live among his people, but he also keeps clear boundaries. He gave them a visible place where his presence was shown and a doorway where they could come near. At the same time, the detailed design, rich fabric, gold, and brass all speak of his holiness and glory. God is not distant in the sense of being absent, yet he is not common or ordinary. The tabernacle door shows that he is near enough to approach, yet still to be honored and feared.

Exod.36.37

Exodus 36:37

KJV

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

The Curtain for the Entrance

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

And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.