Bible Dictionary
COUPLE
A couple is two similar objects considered together, such as two cakes or two animals. As a verb, it means to join or fasten things together, especially parts of the tabernacle.
Definition
A couple is two objects of the same kind considered together. As a verb, to couple is to join or fasten one thing to another. The word can describe paired cakes or animals and the joining of fabric or other parts.
Biblical Usage
The term is used of two cakes, two asses, and the joining of fear with chaste behavior. It occurs especially in descriptions of fastening the curtains and parts of the tabernacle.
Historical Background
In tabernacle construction, coupling referred to joining sections so that separate parts formed one structure.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kup'-l:</p><p>(1) Used as a noun, indicates two objects of the same kind that are considered together. Thus we read of a couple of cakes (2Sa 13:6, used loosely), and a couple of asses (2Sa 16:1, Hebrew tsemedh).</p><p>(2) Used as a verb, it means to join or fasten one thing to another. This term occurs most frequently in the description of the tabernacle (see Ex 26:6,9,11; 36:10,13,16). Couple is used in 1Pe 3:2 to describe the joining of fear to chaste behavior (Hebrew chabhar) .</p>