Understanding the Divine Blueprint of the Tabernacle of Moses in Exodus 25: 8-9 by Dr. Terry Harman

Blueprint of the Tabernacle of Moses

Pattern Making

I was in junior high school (grades 7-8) in the 1970s. During this period in the United States, part of the vocational curriculum was "shop classes." Students not interested in going to university were encouraged to learn the basics of a "trade" in various "blue-collar" jobs.

There were classes in woodworking, electricity, metalworking, plastics, and technical drawing. The class for aspiring "draftsman" covered the fundamentals of technical drawing ("block printing"), including the use of tools like drawing boards, compasses, and rulers. Drafting classes were often part of vocational education programs, and they played a crucial role in preparing students for careers in engineering and technical fields.

Looking back, my capstone project was more than just an assignment, it was an opportunity to bring an idea to life from blueprint to reality. The task was to design a detailed plan for an object that we would eventually build in the wood, metal, or plastic shop. I chose to create a scaled blueprint of wooden bookends, complete with riveted metal plates at the base to help them stand upright. At the time, I didn’t realize how one day the drawing class would help me to understand what "the pattern of the tabernacle."

"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall ye make it."

Exodus 25:8-9 JPS 1917

Bogged Down in Details

Reading through the intricate details of the tabernacle’s construction can feel overwhelming at first. It’s easy to get tangled in the measurements, the lists of materials, and the careful assignment of tasks.

I’ll be honest, when I first began studying the tabernacle back in the 1980s, my attitude was, “Forget the soil analysis, just give me the fruit!” But over time, I realized how much richness lies beneath the surface.

So, I invite you to pause with me for a moment and dig a little deeper into the biblical “soil.” Let’s look together at the Hebrew word often translated as pattern in English.

I hope that as we uncover its meaning, you’ll begin to see the divine “blueprint” of the number three woven into the design of the tabernacle, the Mishkan, the dwelling place.

And perhaps, as you reflect on its structure and purpose, you’ll discover a personal pattern that helps you draw nearer to the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.

The Word "Pattern" in Hebrew

When we pause to study the word most often translated as “pattern” in Exodus, we discover something beautiful waiting beneath the surface.

The Hebrew word תַּבְנִית (tabnît) is a feminine noun that means pattern, model, form, plan, or blueprint. It carries the idea of something divinely designed, an intentional shape or structure revealed by God Himself. Lexical studies show that the Torah uses tabnît specifically for the pattern of the Tabernacle.

Exodus 25:9

This isn’t a human invention or artistic guesswork; it’s a heavenly plan shown to Moses, a direct revelation of how God desired His dwelling place to be made.In Exodus 25:9, we read the phrase תַּבְנִית הַמִּשְׁכָּן (tabnît haMishkan), “the pattern of the tabernacle.” The Lord tells Moses, “According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all its furniture, even so you shall make it.”

Exodus 25:40

Again, in Exodus 25:40, God instructs, “See that you make them after their pattern,” reflected in the Hebrew וּרְאֵה וַעֲשֵׂה בְּתַבְנִיתָם (ure’eh va’aseh b’tabnîtam), “their pattern.”

These verses remind us that the Mishkan was not a random collection of ideas. Every detail, every dimension, every material came from the mind of God, not human creativity. It reflects the same order and intentionality that He brings into His relationship with us.

Exodus 26:30

Later, in Exodus 26:30, another word appears, מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat). Usually, mishpat means judgment, ordinance, or decision, but here it takes on a strikingly different shade of meaning: “rule,” “prescribed arrangement,” or “specified plan.”

The verse reads כְּמִשְׁפָּטוֹ (kə‑mishpāṭo), literally, “according to its rule” or “according to its plan.” English translations vary, “according to its fashion” (KJV), “according to its plan” (CSB, NASB), or “according to the pattern” (NLT, NKJV), but all point to the same truth: this was the plan God Himself established.

Here, I like to paraphrase the meaning of mishpat as,

“In God’s judgment,

this is the plan to be followed when constructing the Mishkan.”

Building Relationship, not Architecture

When we connect these verses, a clear theme emerges. The Tabernacle, the Mishkan, was to be built exactly as shown, following a divine tabnît and mishpat. God’s design wasn’t just about architecture; it was about relationship.

The dwelling place of God among His people reflected order, holiness, and purpose. And in that, there’s a message for us: if our lives are to become true dwelling places of His presence, then we too must build according to His pattern, a life shaped not by our own blueprints, but by His revealed design.

Blueprint of the Tabernacle of Moses (1)

Exodus 40:33-34 JPS 1917

“And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

 Leviticus 9:22-23 JPS 1917

“And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out, and blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.”

Leviticus 9:24 JPS 1917

“And there came forth fire from before the LORD,

and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat;

And when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”

Importance of Following God's Pattern

When we think of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, as a reflection of God’s character, it speaks deeply into our own spiritual journey. Every beam, curtain, and golden vessel had a divine purpose. Nothing was accidental.

The “pattern” wasn’t only about sacred architecture; it revealed a way for God’s people to approach Him and experience His presence.

The same is true for us today. God still invites us to build according to His pattern. Nothing from our past or present is wasted or of no use. In His hands, it all becomes building materials for our personal tabernacle.

Our lives become His dwelling place when we allow Him to shape our hearts, our routines, and our decisions according to His design. Just as Moses was called to follow the blueprint shown on the mountain, we are called to live by the patterns God reveals through His Word and Spirit.

Too often, we’re tempted to design our own version of the “tabernacle," to make life work the way we think it should. But God’s plan always surpasses ours. His design provides both beauty and order; it holds everything together in a way we could never create on our own.

When we stop trying to engineer our own lives and instead surrender to His pattern, we find peace, purpose, and divine presence.

The Mishkan stood as a physical reminder that God desired to dwell among His people. Today, that dwelling has moved into the hearts of believers. We have become His living tabernacle.

So let’s allow the Master Builder to guide the construction of our inner lives, piece by piece, pattern by pattern, until our hearts reflect His intended design.

Fire in Your Tabernacle?

When the Israelites built according to God’s pattern and set apart the structure for His glory, something extraordinary happened.

The presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. His glory settled among them, confirming that obedience to the heavenly blueprint always draws His nearness.

There’s a profound lesson in that for us today: when we choose to align our lives with God’s divine design, His presence fills our “tabernacle” too, our hearts, our homes, and every space yielded to Him.

When the Pattern is Right, the Fire Falls!

photo adapted from Pinterest (2)

Sources

(1) A Blueprint to the Tabernacle: Moses’s Divine Vision. Wire Blueprint, https://wireblueprint.com/diagram-of-the-tabernacle-of-moses. Accessed 22  Jan. 2026.

(2) Photo of Tabernacle with the pillar of fire adapted from Pinterest.