Exodus 38:18
And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.
Exodus 38:18 (KJV)
Context
This verse belongs to the account of building the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God dwelled among Israel in the wilderness. The court was an open area around the tabernacle, enclosed by curtains. The gate was the single entrance into that court, through which the people brought their offerings and the priests carried out their service. Its position and construction show that approaching God was a deliberate and ordered act, not a casual one.
Meaning
The hanging for the gate was made of needlework, a skilled craft that combined four materials. Blue, purple, and scarlet were costly dyes, and fine twined linen was a strong, smooth fabric. The colours carried meaning: blue spoke of God’s heavenly nature and authority, purple of His royalty and kingship, scarlet of sacrifice and atonement, and white linen of purity and righteousness. Together they presented a picture of the God whom Israel worshipped.
The dimensions were twenty cubits long and five cubits high, matching the other hangings of the court. A cubit was roughly the length from a person’s elbow to the tip of the fingers, so the gate stood about seven and a half feet high. This consistency gave the whole court a unified and orderly appearance, and it made the gate a clear and worthy entrance into God’s presence.
Biblical connections
The gate as the sole entrance points to Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7). Just as the court had one way in, Christ is the one way to the Father (John 14:6). The colours of the gate also find their fulfilment in Him: He is the King of kings (Revelation 19:16), the Lamb who takes away sin (John 1:29), and our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). The harmony of the gate with the rest of the court reminds us that God’s plan of redemption is consistent and complete.
Application
Because the gate was the only entrance, it teaches that access to God is not by many paths but by the one way He has provided. Approaching Him still requires reverence, for He is holy and we come on His terms, not our own. The beauty and order of the gate also encourage believers to give their best in worship, offering God excellence rather than carelessness.
The unity of the gate with the court hangings carries a lesson for the church. Paul urges believers to be united in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10) and to function as one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Just as every part of the tabernacle worked together, so every member of the church should work in harmony, each contributing to the whole.
Reflection
The gate of the court was more than a curtain; it was a daily reminder that God’s presence was near, yet approachable only through His appointed way. Its colours declared who God is, and its dimensions declared that His way is ordered and sure. As you consider this gate, ask yourself whether you approach God with the same reverence and trust that the tabernacle design required. The same God who gave Israel a gate of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen has given you a living way through Christ, and that way is still open.
