tabernacle (noun)

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “tabernacle” in English is translated in San Blas Kuna as “house of prayer that can be carried.” (Source: Ronald Ross)

In Bandi it is translated as “holy sitting place.” The “sitting place for the Bandi is where you live.” Therefore the tabernacle is the place where God lived. (Source: Becky Grossmann in this newsletter )

In Vidunda it is translated as “God’s tent” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Tibetan as gur mchog (གུར་​མཆོག) or “perfect tent” (source: gSungrab website )

In American Sign Language it is translated with with a sign for “tent” combined with a sign referring to the outer court surrounding the tent (see Exodus 27:9 and following). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Tabernacle” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

See also tabernacle (verb) / dwell, festival of Tabernacles and ark of the covenant.

complete verse (Exodus 26:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 26:30:

  • Kupsabiny: “Someone raise that tent to stay as how I told you in the mountain.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then make the Tent of Meeting according to the module I have shown you on the mountain.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘[You (sing.)] must have-(someone)-raise-up the Tent exactly according to the plan I told you (sing.) here on the mountain.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “‘Make all of the shelter’s things to be the same as the image which I show to you (sing.) on the mountain.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Thus, you will erect Dwelling-Tent-of-God as I showed you it on top of this mountain.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Erect the Sacred Tent in the way that I have shown you here on this mountain.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 26:30

And you shall erect the tabernacle is literally “And you [singular] shall cause to stand up the mishkan.” According to the plan for it is literally “as its specifications.” This is a different word from that used in 25.9 and 40, where Revised Standard Version uses “pattern,” but the meaning is the same. The word here, mishpat, is used elsewhere for “legal decision” or “justice.” The focus here seems to be on the details, or “specifications” (Durham), rather than on the overall pattern.

Which has been shown you on the mountain is literally “which you [singular] were shown on the mountain.” The verb is the same as 25.40, where the participle is used. But the passive form, “you were shown,” is used here. Another way to express this verse is “Set up [or, erect] the sacred tent in the way that I have now shown you on this mountain.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .