What does Exodus 36:36 mean?
What is the meaning of Exodus 36:36?

He also made four posts of acacia wood for it

The craftsmen are following the precise pattern God gave Moses (Exodus 26:31-32). These four literal posts are the uprights that will hold the inner veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

• Acacia wood, durable and resistant to decay, pictures incorruptibility—fitting for something that stands so close to God’s presence (cf. Exodus 25:10).

• The number four, often connected with the whole earth (e.g., Revelation 7:1), hints that God’s holiness is absolute and universal, not limited to Israel alone.

Hebrews 9:3-5 later points back to this veil to explain how God dwelt among His people while still remaining distinct, underscoring both His nearness and His transcendence.


and overlaid them with gold

Just as the ark, table, and altar were covered in gold (Exodus 25:11; 30:3), these posts shine with the same glory:

• Gold points to deity, purity, and incorruptible worth (1 Kings 6:20-22; Revelation 21:18).

• The overlay assures us that even the support structure must reflect God’s holiness; nothing ordinary can stand before Him.

• Every time the priests approached the veil they saw that reflected brilliance, a visual reminder of Psalm 29:2—“Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness”.


along with gold hooks

Small pieces, big message:

• The hooks secured the veil to the posts (Exodus 26:32), making certain it never sagged or tore.

• Crafted of gold, they show that no detail is too minor for God’s glory. Jesus echoed this principle in Matthew 5:18: not even “the smallest letter, nor a single stroke of a pen” will pass away until all is fulfilled.

• Every hook silently preached that God’s Word—and His design for worship—is exact and trustworthy.


and he cast four silver bases for the posts

The posts needed firm footing. Silver, in Scripture, often symbolizes redemption (Exodus 30:12-16; Numbers 3:44-51).

• Each base was cast—poured, shaped, and solid—so the veil would never wobble. Our access to God must rest on a sure foundation (2 Timothy 2:19).

• Israel’s own redemption from Egypt was marked by silver (Exodus 12:35-36). That same metal now upholds the veil, hinting that redeemed people can approach God—though only through His ordained means.

1 Peter 1:18-19 links silver with the ransom price and then points to Christ’s “precious blood” as the ultimate fulfillment. The silver sockets foreshadow the redemptive footing on which the greater, final veil-opener—Jesus—would stand (Hebrews 10:19-20).


summary

Exodus 36:36 shows that the veil’s posts, overlay, hooks, and bases were all crafted exactly as God commanded. Acacia wood pictures durability; gold reveals divine splendor; the gold hooks remind us that every detail matters; silver bases speak of redemption’s secure foundation. Taken together, they teach that God’s holiness is uncompromising, yet He graciously provides a redeemed, rock-solid way for His people to draw near.

Why were specific colors chosen for the veil in Exodus 36:35?
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