### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chôbereth**, represented by `{{H2279}}`, is a feminine active participle meaning a **joint** or that **which coupleth**. It is defined as **coupling** and appears **4 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Its usage is highly specific, referring to the joining mechanism in the construction of the Tabernacle's curtains.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2279}}` is used exclusively within the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle. It denotes the functional edge of a set of curtains designed to be joined to another set. The term appears when God commands the creation of loops on the edge of a curtain "in the **coupling**" [[Exodus 26:4]]. It is also used in its active participle sense to describe the function of the curtain itself, as "the curtain which **coupleth** the second" ([[Exodus 26:10]], [[Exodus 36:17]]). This highlights its role as a point of connection that unites separate components into a larger whole.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of joining and making within this context:
* `{{H3924}}` **lulâʼâh** (loop): This word refers to the **loop** itself, the physical object made on the edge of the curtains. The loops were made "in the **coupling** `{{H2279}}`" [[Exodus 26:4]] and were essential for fastening the curtains together.
* `{{H4225}}` **machbereth** (coupling): Defined as a **junction**, this term is used in parallel with `{{H2279}}` to describe the point of connection. It appears in the same instructional passages for the Tabernacle curtains [[Exodus 26:4]] and is also used for the **coupling** on the priest's ephod [[Exodus 28:27]].
* `{{H6213}}` **ʻâsâh** (to do or make): This primitive root, meaning **to do or make**, is the primary verb used to command the creation of the Tabernacle elements. The instructions repeatedly use this verb to direct the artisans to **make** `{{H6213}}` the loops and curtains as specified ([[Exodus 26:4]], [[Exodus 26:10]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H2279}}` is derived entirely from its role in the Tabernacle's construction.
* **Precise Construction:** The word is part of a detailed divine blueprint. The repeated command to **make** `{{H6213}}` these couplings exactly as described underscores the importance of following the prescribed pattern for sacred items.
* **Achieving Unity:** The explicit purpose of the couplings and their corresponding loops was to "couple the tent together, that it may be one" [[Exodus 26:11]]. The function of **chôbereth** was to transform separate curtains into a single, unified tent.
* **Functional Element:** The term's meaning is tied to its physical function. It is not an abstract concept but a practical component necessary for the integrity and completion of the Tabernacle structure.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2279}}` is a highly specific architectural term for a joint or coupling. Its context is limited to the instructions for the Tabernacle curtains in Exodus, where it plays a crucial role in uniting separate pieces into a single dwelling. The word **chôbereth** illustrates how a functional component, made according to divine command, was essential to realizing the unified structure of God's sacred tent.
TRV