What Does Exodus 39:34 Mean in the King James?

And the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers’ skins, and the vail of the covering,

Exodus 39:34 · 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 coverings make concealment part of the sanctuary’s form: they hide the dwelling while marking its boundary.

THE MEANING

The sacred meets you through layers: what is covered is still present, held within a visible boundary. The verse names two hides and then the veil, making concealment part of how the dwelling is encountered.

THE ROOT

מִכְסֶה

mikhseh

GROWS FROM

כסה

To cover, conceal, or clothe.

⁨מִכְסֶה⁩ (mikhseh, covering) carries the same root consonants as ⁨כָּסָה⁩ (kasah, to cover): the noun holds the action of covering within it. Its related forms include covering oneself, so the root reaches from a layer over a dwelling to the act of being enclosed or clothed.

ALSO GROWS

kasah: To cover or conceal.

כָּסָה

This verb is the action named by ⁨מִכְסֶה⁩ (mikhseh, covering): the covering is the result of covering.

hitkassah: To cover oneself or be clothed.

הִתְכַּסָּה

The same root turns inward as well, linking the hides over the dwelling with covering as an act of enclosure or clothing.

THE PATTERN

A covering marks the boundary around what is held within, whether it conceals the sacred or defines how it is approached.

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.

Exodus 26:14 · KJVThe same layers of hides form the tent’s outer boundary.

And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

Numbers 4:5 · KJVThe veil becomes a covering over the ark, marking the boundary around what is held within.

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

2 Corinthians 3:16 · KJVThe veil marks a boundary that can be removed as the Lord is encountered.

THE THREAD

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins.

Exodus 26:14 · KJV

Exodus 26:14 uses the same ⁨מִכְסֶה⁩ (mikhseh, covering) and names the same dyed ram skins and tachash skins. Read beside it, the repeated word shows that the coverings are part of the dwelling’s form, with the veil completing its boundary.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us