What Does Exodus 26:5 Mean in the King James?

Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.

Exodus 26:5 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The loops are arranged as counterparts, each to its sister, so separate curtains can become one dwelling.

THE MEANING

A dwelling takes shape through exact correspondence: fifty loops on one curtain answer fifty on the adjoining curtain. Each meets its counterpart, and the next verse names the result as one tabernacle. The joining is prepared in the details.

THE ROOT

מַחְבֶּרֶת

maḥberet

GROWS FROM

חבר

ḥābar

To join, bind together, or associate.

The curtain edge is described by its joining: ⁨מַחְבֶּרֶת⁩ (maḥberet), a coupling. This same root can name a companion or a city joined together, showing connection as a bond between distinct parts, not mere proximity.

ALSO GROWS

ḥāvēr: Companion; associate.

חָבֵר

The root can describe a person joined to another, giving the curtains’ coupling a relational sense.

ḥubbərāh: Was joined together; was compact together.

חֻבְּרָה

This form appears in Psalm 122:3, where Jerusalem is described as a city compact together, extending the same joining from curtains to a whole city.

THE PATTERN

Distinct parts become one dwelling when their points of connection are prepared and brought together.

And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

Exodus 26:6 · KJVThe matching loops receive the clasps, and the separate curtains become one tabernacle.

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

Psalm 122:3 · KJVThe city is pictured as joined together, using the same Hebrew root as the coupling of the curtains.

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Ephesians 2:21 · KJVThe building grows as its parts are fitted together into one dwelling.

THE THREAD

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

Psalm 122:3 · KJV

“Compact together” translates ⁨חֻבְּרָה⁩ (ḥubbərāh), from the same ⁨חָבַר⁩ (ḥābar) root as “coupling.” The root joins the curtains here and the city there, carrying the image of distinct parts held together as one.

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