Exodus 38:27
And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֗י
H1961
וַיְהִ֗י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לִמְאַ֥ת
And of the hundred
H3967
לִמְאַ֥ת
And of the hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
2 of 17
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
כִּכָּ֥ר
a talent
H3603
כִּכָּ֥ר
a talent
Strong's:
H3603
Word #:
3 of 17
a circle, i.e., (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the ghor or valley of the jordan; also a (round) loaf; also a talent (or l
הַכֶּ֔סֶף
of silver
H3701
הַכֶּ֔סֶף
of silver
Strong's:
H3701
Word #:
4 of 17
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
לָצֶ֗קֶת
were cast
H3332
לָצֶ֗קֶת
were cast
Strong's:
H3332
Word #:
5 of 17
properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard
אֵ֚ת
H853
אֵ֚ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
of the sanctuary
H6944
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ
of the sanctuary
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
8 of 17
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
וְאֵ֖ת
H853
וְאֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לִמְאַ֥ת
And of the hundred
H3967
לִמְאַ֥ת
And of the hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
12 of 17
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
לִמְאַ֥ת
And of the hundred
H3967
לִמְאַ֥ת
And of the hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
14 of 17
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
כִּכָּ֥ר
a talent
H3603
כִּכָּ֥ר
a talent
Strong's:
H3603
Word #:
15 of 17
a circle, i.e., (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the ghor or valley of the jordan; also a (round) loaf; also a talent (or l
Cross References
Exodus 26:19And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.Exodus 26:25And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.Exodus 26:32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.Exodus 26:21And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
Historical Context
The sockets (approximately 75-100 pounds each) provided substantial foundation, anchoring the boards and pillars in place. Using precisely one talent per socket demonstrated remarkable engineering—calculating needed materials exactly, then collecting exact amounts through the census. This precision reflected divine planning, not human estimation.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the exact correspondence (one talent per socket, ninety-six sockets from ninety-six talents) teach about God's perfect provision?
- How does each socket bearing one talent of redemption-silver illustrate every believer's complete dependence on purchased salvation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The hundred talents of silver cast into sockets (אֲדָנִים, adanim—'foundations') for sanctuary and veil—'a talent for a socket' (כִּכָּר לָאָדֶן, kikkar la-aden)—demonstrates that redemption provides precise foundation: ninety-six sockets (forty-eight for boards, forty-eight for veil pillars) from ninety-six talents. Four talents remaining (v. 28) went to hooks and capitals. This mathematical precision teaches that God's redemption is neither insufficient nor wasteful—exactly enough, perfectly distributed. Every socket bearing tabernacle boards stood on one talent of atonement silver, illustrating that believers' standing rests entirely on purchased redemption.