Exodus 29 42

Exodus 29:42 kjv

This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.

Exodus 29:42 nkjv

This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you.

Exodus 29:42 niv

"For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you;

Exodus 29:42 esv

It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.

Exodus 29:42 nlt

"These burnt offerings are to be made each day from generation to generation. Offer them in the LORD's presence at the Tabernacle entrance; there I will meet with you and speak with you.

Exodus 29 verses

Exodus 29 42 Meaning

This verse outlines the perpetual nature of the daily burnt offering to be presented at the entrance of the Tabernacle, the designated place where the Lord promised to meet and commune with His people across all generations. It signifies a continuous, commanded act of worship, establishing a consistent point of encounter between a holy God and His chosen nation through sacrifice and revelation.

Exodus 29 42 Context

Exodus 29 forms a crucial part of the instructions for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests, as well as detailing the establishment of the sacrificial system. This verse specifically introduces the daily and continual aspect of the burnt offering, highlighting its foundational role in Israel's corporate worship at the newly constructed Tabernacle. It underscores that God's presence and willingness to communicate are tied to the faithful execution of His commanded worship. Historically, in the ancient Near East, religious practices often involved rituals to appease deities or gain their favor. In contrast, this verse reveals a unique relationship: the Lord commands the worship, designates the meeting place, and promises to speak, demonstrating His sovereignty, initiative, and desire for a personal relationship rather than mere appeasement. This daily ritual marked Israel as distinct, in perpetual communion with their covenant God, setting a polemic against practices of other nations whose deities might be fickle or silent.

Exodus 29 42 Word analysis

• This (זֶה, zeh): Refers to the "burnt offering" specified in the preceding verses, a male lamb without blemish. This particular lamb sacrifice becomes the ongoing, foundational offering.
• shall be (יִהְיֶה, yihyeh): Indicative of a fixed command and future certainty, a divine mandate.
• a continual (תָּמִיד, tamid): Always, regularly, perpetually, without cessation. This term denotes the unceasing nature of the offering, presented every morning and evening. Its significance goes beyond just 'daily'; it implies a constant presence and remembrance before God, maintaining an unbroken covenant connection. It contrasts with intermittent, sporadic worship, emphasizing steadfastness.
• burnt offering (עֹלַת, olat, from עֹלָה, olah): An offering entirely consumed by fire on the altar, ascending to God as a "sweet aroma" (Exo 29:18). It symbolized complete dedication and atonement for general sin, recognizing God's absolute sovereignty and provision. It's unique because nothing is kept by the offerer or priests; it is wholly for God.
• throughout your generations (לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם, le'doroteichem): For future generations, emphasizing the perpetuity of this command across time. This sacrifice was not a temporary measure but a permanent fixture in the Levitical priesthood, to endure until its ultimate fulfillment.
• at the door (פֶּתַח, petach): The opening, entrance. This refers to the entryway to the Tabernacle, the only designated place for such sacrifices. It's a specific, accessible location, marking the threshold between common space and sacred space.
• of the tabernacle (אֹהֶל, ohel): Tent. This refers to the Tabernacle (also called "Tent of Meeting"), the portable sanctuary built according to God's precise instructions, serving as God's dwelling place among His people.
• of the congregation (מוֹעֵד, mo'ed): Meeting, appointed place, assembly. The "Tent of Meeting" (ohel mo'ed) signifies the divinely appointed place where God would meet with Moses and the Israelites. It emphasizes divine initiative in communion.
• before the Lord (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lifney Adonai): In the presence of Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This underscores that the offering is directed to God, presented within His immediate sphere of holiness and attention. It implies not just physical proximity but active awareness of His divine gaze.
• where (אֲשֶׁר, asher): A relative pronoun, specifying the exact location for divine interaction.
• I will meet you (אִוָּעֵד לָכֶם, ivva'ed lakhem, from יָעַד, ya'ad, "to appoint a meeting"): A divinely initiated appointment. This highlights God's promise to commune and reveals His desire for relationship with His people. It is not man reaching up to an unknown deity, but God graciously condescending to meet humanity at a prescribed point.
• to speak there (לְדַבֵּר שָׁמָּה, ledabber shammah): To declare, utter, communicate from that very place. God's purpose in meeting His people is not merely passive presence but active communication of His will, laws, and guidance. This demonstrates that revelation of the Divine Word is central to the Tabernacle's purpose.
• unto thee (אֵלֶיךָ, eilekha): Specifically addressing Moses (and by extension, the leader/people of Israel). This personal address underscores the intimate nature of God's communication with His covenant mediator.

Words-group analysis:

• "a continual burnt offering throughout your generations": This phrase emphasizes the permanence and ongoing nature of the atoning and dedicatory worship commanded by God. It’s not a one-time event, but an unending expression of Israel's relationship with Yahweh, symbolizing both constant purification and consecration. This foreshadows the spiritual sacrifices of the New Covenant and the eternal efficacy of Christ's perfect offering.
• "at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord": This pinpoints the singular, sacred, and divinely ordained location for true worship. It communicates order, sanctity, and God’s specific demand for worship on His terms, rejecting a fragmented or individualized approach to sacrificial worship. It signifies a central locus for encountering divine presence and truth, a precursor to Christ as the sole "door" or "way" to God.
• "where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee": This reveals the ultimate purpose of the Tabernacle and its rituals. It's not merely about adhering to commands, but about the Lord’s desire for relationship and revelation. God initiates the encounter and communicates His divine will, establishing that worship culminates in the receiving of God’s Word, making it distinct from pagan rites which often focused on human manipulation of deities.

Exodus 29 42 Bonus section

The Hebrew term tamid (continual) often extends beyond merely "daily" to imply a qualitative constancy or perpetual efficacy. In this context, it speaks to an unbroken covenant relationship. The twice-daily nature of the tamid burnt offering underscored a rhythm of consecration from the beginning to the end of each day for the entire community. It was designed to keep the people continually mindful of their sins and God's holiness, and His constant provision for reconciliation. This daily act built a spiritual muscle of dependency and responsiveness to God.

The Tabernacle, specifically the "Tent of Meeting" (ohel mo'ed), was not just a place for meeting between humans (like a public assembly tent), but emphatically the place where God had "appointed" or "fixed" a time and place to meet with His people. The very name highlights God’s gracious initiative to schedule encounters with sinful humanity.

Furthermore, this precise ritual prescribed in Exodus 29 for the ordination of the priests and the daily service ensures that worship is conducted "decently and in order" (1 Cor 14:40). This meticulous divine instruction avoids human innovation or subjective approaches to worship, safeguarding its purity and the integrity of the covenant relationship. It points to a God who cares about the details of how He is approached, foreshadowing the perfect order found in Christ's priestly ministry.

Exodus 29 42 Commentary

Exodus 29:42 is a foundational statement about the heart of Old Covenant worship: the establishment of the tamid (continual) burnt offering. This daily offering of two lambs, morning and evening, symbolized Israel's unbroken dedication to God and the perpetual need for atonement and cleansing. It was not merely a ritual but a consistent recognition of God’s sovereignty, presence, and a means by which sin was continually addressed on behalf of the community.

The chosen location—"at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord"—is critical. It was the specific, divinely ordained access point to God's presence, underscoring that communion with a holy God is possible only on His terms and at His appointed place. This centralizes worship and forbids individualistic or unsanctioned altars. The profound significance lies in God's explicit promise: "where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee." This reveals that the ritual itself was a means to an end—divine communion and revelation. God desired to actively encounter and communicate with His people, not just receive their offerings. This dynamic relationship distinguished Israel's God from silent idols.

Ultimately, the continual burnt offering and the entire Tabernacle system served as a vivid picture pointing to the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His perfect offering on the cross fulfilled and rendered obsolete the daily animal sacrifices, for by "one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" (Heb 10:14). Christ is the true "Tabernacle," God dwelling among us (John 1:14), and He is the perfect mediator who both meets with humanity and speaks God's final Word. Under the New Covenant, believers now approach God directly through Christ and are called to offer "continual" spiritual sacrifices of praise, prayer, and service (Heb 13:15, 1 Pet 2:5). The principle of a designated meeting place now transcends physical structures, as God’s Spirit indwells believers, making them temples themselves, through whom He continues to commune and reveal Himself.

For practical usage, this verse emphasizes the enduring truth of consistent, dedicated worship. While the animal sacrifice is fulfilled in Christ, the spirit of continual and accessible presence of God through Christ remains. Believers are encouraged to maintain a consistent devotional life (prayer, scripture reading) as a form of "continual offering." Similarly, the principle of God's desire to "meet and speak" guides our expectation in worship: it's not just about what we give to God, but also about encountering His presence and receiving His Word.