What is the meaning of Exodus 38:18?

the curtain

• Exodus 38:18 opens, “The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered…”. Curtains in the tabernacle were never mere decorations; they set boundaries that God Himself designed (Exodus 25:8-9).

• By calling it “the” curtain, the text highlights a single, designated way in—echoing God’s pattern of one approach to His presence, later fulfilled in “I am the gate” (John 10:9) and “I am the way” (John 14:6).

• Just as Eden had a cherub-guarded eastward entrance (Genesis 3:24), the tabernacle’s curtain guarded the sacred space, underscoring the holiness of God (Leviticus 19:2).

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for the entrance to the courtyard

• The courtyard was the first realm inside the tabernacle complex where worshipers could draw near (Exodus 27:9-19).

• Passing this curtain led to the bronze altar and laver—places of sacrifice and cleansing (Exodus 30:18-20). The sequence pictures how forgiveness and purification come before deeper fellowship (Hebrews 10:19-22).

• That “entrance” points to Christ, who opens the way not only to the outer court but all the way to the Father (Ephesians 2:18).

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embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen

• Blue evokes heaven (Numbers 15:38-40); purple suggests royalty (Judges 8:26); scarlet recalls sacrifice (Hebrews 9:19-22). Each color hints at Jesus—heaven-sent King who sheds blood for sinners.

• The fine linen pictures purity and righteousness (Revelation 19:8). God required spotless material, mirroring the sinless life of Christ (1 Peter 1:19).

• Embroidery shows deliberate craftsmanship (Exodus 31:1-6). Our God delights in beauty and precision, inviting His people to excellence in worship (Colossians 3:23).

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twenty cubits long

• At roughly thirty feet, the curtain’s width ensured it was unmistakably the only access point. No side doors existed, no shortcuts around the altar.

• This singular span prefigures the exclusive nature of salvation—“there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12).

• The clear dimensions also demonstrate God’s concern for order, a principle Paul later applies to corporate worship (1 Corinthians 14:40).

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five cubits high

• Standing about seven and a half feet tall, the curtain was high enough to block casual glances yet low enough for priests to handle. Holiness is guarded, but grace invites approach.

• Its height matched the surrounding courtyard hangings (Exodus 27:18), maintaining a unified look—much as believers are called to “maintain the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3).

• The elevation reminds worshipers they must look up—lifting eyes toward God’s dwelling (Psalm 121:1-2).

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summary

Exodus 38:18 records more than construction specs. The sole curtain marks the divinely appointed entrance, clothed in colors that proclaim heaven, royalty, sacrifice, and purity, sized to focus all attention on one way in. Every stitch points forward to Christ, the pure and royal Redeemer who opens the only door to God and calls His people to orderly, beautiful worship.