Exodus 27 21

Exodus 27:21 kjv

In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

Exodus 27:21 nkjv

In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.

Exodus 27:21 niv

In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

Exodus 27:21 esv

In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.

Exodus 27:21 nlt

The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the LORD's presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.

Exodus 27 verses

Exodus 27 21 Meaning

Exodus 27:21 describes a specific, perpetual duty for Aaron and his sons: to maintain the lamps of the Menorah inside the Tabernacle, ensuring they burn continually "from evening to morning." This solemn charge takes place within the Holy Place, before the veil that separates it from the Most Holy Place, emphasizing its sanctity and divine command. It signifies the ongoing presence of God's light among His people, the perpetual nature of priestly service, and a standing ordinance for all generations of Israel.

Exodus 27 21 Context

Exodus chapter 27 focuses on the instructions for building the Tabernacle's outer court and its furnishings, specifically the altar of burnt offering, the court hangings, and lampstand oil. Verse 21 appears amidst these architectural and functional details, following the command for pure olive oil for the lampstand (verse 20). It marks a transition from the construction of the sacred space to the ongoing priestly responsibilities within it. Historically, this command ensured the constant presence of light within the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's perpetual presence among His people, especially during the darkness of night. It emphasized order, dedication, and the solemnity of worshipping the one true God, distinct from the haphazard or transient rituals of surrounding pagan nations. This ongoing ritual served as a reminder of the covenant and God's ever-watchful presence.

Exodus 27 21 Word analysis

• In the tent of meeting (בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ - be'ohel mo'ed):
  • Ohel Mo'ed: Literally "Tent of Appointment" or "Tent of Assembly." This is the formal name for the Tabernacle, emphasizing that it is the designated place where God meets with His people, a holy and appointed location for divine encounter and revelation. It highlights God's initiative in establishing communion.
• outside the veil (מִחוּץ֮ לַפָּרֹ֣כֶת - michutz lapparokhet):
  • Parokhet: The thick curtain or veil separating the Holy Place (where the lampstand stood) from the Most Holy Place (where the Ark of the Covenant resided). This detail signifies the location of the lampstand within the Holy Place, accessible to the priests daily but distinct from the innermost, highly restricted Holy of Holies. It emphasizes separation and sacred space.
• that is before the Testimony (אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הָעֵדֻ֑ת - asher al-ha'edut):
  • Ha'edut: The "Testimony," referring to the two tablets of the covenant (the Ten Commandments) housed within the Ark of the Covenant. This reinforces the sanctity of the location and connects the physical light of the lampstand to the spiritual light of God's revealed law and covenant promises, illuminating the very core of His covenant.
• Aaron and his sons (אַהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָ֗יו - Aharon u'vanav):
  • Designates the specific, hereditary priesthood responsible for this holy duty. This was not a task for just anyone, but for those specially consecrated by God, emphasizing the exclusive and sacred nature of priestly service.
• shall tend it (יַעַרְכ֨וּ אֹתָ֜הּ - ya'arkhu otah):
  • From the root עָרַךְ ('arakh), meaning "to arrange," "to set in order," "to prepare." This isn't just about lighting, but maintaining, ordering, and preparing the lamps correctly—trimming wicks, ensuring a consistent flame, adding oil—signifying diligent, precise, and faithful service.
• from evening to morning (מֵעֶ֣רֶב עַד־בֹּ֗קֶר - me'erev ad-boker):
  • Indicates continuous, nocturnal vigilance. The lamp was to burn through the darkest hours, signifying God's unceasing presence, watchful eye, and enduring light even in times of obscurity or trouble for His people. It speaks to perpetual responsibility.
• before the LORD (לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה - lifnei YHWH):
  • Signifies that the service is performed directly in God's presence, as an act of worship and obedience. It highlights the reverence and accountability of the priests, knowing their actions are seen by God.
• It shall be a statute forever (חֻקַּת עוֹלָ֛ם - chukkat olam):
  • Chukkat: "Statute," "decree," a prescribed rule. Olam: "Forever," "perpetual," "enduring," "for eternity." This emphasizes the enduring, non-negotiable nature of this divine command. It's a permanent fixture of Israelite worship, pointing to a lasting truth.
• throughout their generations (לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֖ם - ledoroteikhem):
  • Reaffirms the perpetual nature of the command, extending through all future generations of priests. It speaks to the ongoing continuity of God's covenant and the specific roles within it.
• for the people of Israel (לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל - livnei Yisra'el):
  • Clarifies that this priestly duty is for the benefit and sake of the entire nation, signifying God's constant illuminating presence for them as His covenant people, providing guidance and warding off spiritual darkness.

Words-group Analysis:

• "In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the Testimony": This phrase precisely delineates the physical sacred space. It places the Menorah and its service in the Holy Place, mediating between the accessible court and the inaccessible Holy of Holies. It highlights the concept of progressive holiness and mediated access to God's ultimate presence through established divine protocols.
• "Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the LORD": This identifies the specific, perpetual, and solemn nature of the priestly duty. It signifies an unbroken spiritual watch, reflecting God's never-sleeping guardianship and His expectation of tireless devotion from His chosen servants, whose lives and actions are under His direct scrutiny and for His honor.
• "It shall be a statute forever throughout their generations for the people of Israel": This declarative statement establishes the perpetual, unchanging nature of this ordinance. It underscores the permanence of God's revealed will, the enduring significance of the lampstand's symbolic light for the covenant community, and the lasting obligation placed upon the Aaronic priesthood as spiritual representatives of the nation. It points to foundational, everlasting truths within God's dealings with Israel.

Exodus 27 21 Bonus section

The perpetual light of the Menorah served as a powerful contrast to pagan fire rituals. While many ancient religions involved maintaining fires, Israel's practice was meticulously ordered, ritually pure, and commanded by God for symbolic representation, not appeasement of fickle deities or the magical perpetuation of life. This set the true worship of YHWH apart as ordered, intentional, and covenantal. Furthermore, the light represents the living "Testimony" – God's Word – reminding the priests of their sacred duty to be custodians and proclaimers of divine truth. This enduring responsibility implies that the source of spiritual light must always be tended and diligently upheld by those called to minister for God.

Exodus 27 21 Commentary

Exodus 27:21 succinctly prescribes the daily, nocturnal responsibility of the Aaronic priesthood to maintain the Menorah in the Tabernacle's Holy Place. This continuous burning of light was not merely a functional necessity to illuminate the Tent during the dark hours, but profoundly symbolic. It represented God's unceasing presence and divine illumination among His people, serving as a constant testimony to His covenant and guidance.

The "pure olive oil" (from Exo 27:20) and the vigilant tending "from evening to morning" emphasize purity, dedication, and watchfulness in serving God. The light burning perpetually "before the LORD" symbolized the sustained worship, intercession, and fellowship offered by Israel. This priestly function highlights the crucial role of the priest in mediating God's light and truth to His people, just as they would prepare and burn the physical light.

The stipulation that it be "a statute forever throughout their generations" underscores the permanence of this spiritual principle. It prefigures the greater, unending light that would come through Christ (John 1:9, John 8:12), who is the true Light of the World and whose "new and living way" (Heb 10:20) tears the symbolic veil, granting believers direct access to God's presence, superseding the temporary Old Covenant mediations. The persistent light of the Menorah anticipated the eternal light of God's glory manifested in the Person of Jesus, the Church (Matt 5:14-16), and ultimately in the New Jerusalem where God Himself is the lamp (Rev 21:23).