What Does Exodus 38:14 Mean in the King James?

The hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Exodus 38:14 · 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.

THE KEY

The gate is a shaped opening in the boundary, held by three pillars resting on three bases.

THE MEANING

The verse gives the threshold a shape: one side of the gate spans fifteen cubits, supported by three pillars on three bases. In the spaces you enter, access and enclosure can occupy the same design; an opening can have form and support.

THE ROOT

עַמּוּדֵיהֶם

ʿammûdêhem

GROWS FROM

עמד

ʿ-m-d

To stand, remain, or take one’s place.

“pillars” in this verse is ʿammûdêhem. The Hebrew name carries the action of standing inside the object: these are ‘standers’ that give the gate a place within the boundary. The opening is held by supports whose name speaks of standing and remaining.

ALSO GROWS

ʿāmad: To stand, remain, or take one’s place.

עָמַד

The pillars are named from this action; their standing holds the measured opening in place.

maʿămād: A standing place or position.

מַעֲמָד

This branch makes the structural idea spatial: the gate is an opening with a defined, supported position.

THE PATTERN

A threshold is a shaped passage whose opening belongs to the boundary and has a defined form.

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.

Exodus 27:16 · KJVThe court’s gate is given its own measured hanging, pillars, and sockets, making entry a formed part of the enclosure.

This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

Psalm 118:20 · KJVThe gate is a particular passage into the LORD’s space, a threshold defined by entry.

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 10:9 · KJVThe door is a defined way through which a person enters and goes out.

THE THREAD

And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

Exodus 33:9 · KJV

The same root appears in the ‘pillar’ (⁨עַמּוּד⁩, ʿammûd) and ‘stood’ (⁨עָמַד⁩, ʿāmad) at the tent door. In Exodus 38, standing supports shape the gate; here the pillar’s stance marks the doorway as a place of encounter, where the LORD speaks.

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