Exodus 29:46 kjv
And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.
Exodus 29:46 nkjv
And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
Exodus 29:46 niv
They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
Exodus 29:46 esv
And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
Exodus 29:46 nlt
and they will know that I am the LORD their God. I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the LORD their God.
Exodus 29 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 3:14 | God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”... “Thus you shall say to the people... 'I AM has sent me to you.'" | Revelation of divine name (YHWH). |
| Ex 6:7 | "I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God..." | Direct echo, covenant purpose. |
| Ex 20:2 | "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." | Basis of the Law (Decalogue introduction). |
| Ex 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | Command for the Tabernacle's purpose. |
| Ex 40:34-35 | Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. | Fulfillment of God's dwelling among them. |
| Lev 26:11-12 | "I will set my dwelling place among you, and my soul will not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God..." | Covenant promises, dwelling and relationship. |
| Deut 6:12 | "Then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt..." | Warning against forgetting the deliverer. |
| Deut 29:13 | "that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers." | Covenant confirmation. |
| 1 Sam 2:12 | Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD. | Contrast: lacking true knowledge of God. |
| Psa 81:10 | "I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." | Reiterating redemption as basis for worship. |
| Jer 9:24 | "But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD..." | Importance of knowing God relationally. |
| Jer 24:7 | "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD." | Future spiritual transformation. |
| Jer 31:34 | "No longer will they teach each other... 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest..." | New Covenant: universal knowledge of God. |
| Ezek 37:27-28 | "My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD..." | New Covenant temple and divine presence. |
| Hos 6:3 | "Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD..." | Pursuit of knowing God. |
| Zech 2:10-11 | "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst..." | Prophetic promise of God's coming dwelling. |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory..." | Jesus as the ultimate dwelling (tabernacling) of God. |
| John 17:3 | "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." | NT definition of eternal life through knowing. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? | Believers as God's present dwelling place. |
| Eph 2:22 | In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. | The Church as a spiritual dwelling. |
| Col 1:13 | He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. | Spiritual exodus/deliverance in NT. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them..." | Final dwelling of God with humanity in new creation. |
Exodus 29 verses
Exodus 29 46 Meaning
Exodus 29:46 succinctly expresses the ultimate purpose behind God's instructions for the Tabernacle and the consecration of the priesthood. It states that through His deliverance of Israel from Egypt and His subsequent dwelling among them in the sanctuary, the people of Israel will come to intimately "know" Him as the Lord, their covenant God. This knowledge is not merely intellectual, but an experiential and relational acknowledgment of His sovereign identity, faithfulness, and abiding presence among His redeemed people.
Exodus 29 46 Context
Exodus chapter 29 details the elaborate and sacred ceremonies for consecrating Aaron and his sons as priests and sanctifying the Tabernacle. This process includes washing, robing, anointing, and specific sin, burnt, and ordination offerings. The chapter outlines the specific animals, their preparation, and the rituals to be performed over a seven-day period. This entire process is presented as foundational for maintaining the holy distinction necessary for God's presence among His people. Verse 46 concludes this section, shifting from the specific rituals to their overarching theological purpose. Historically, these events occur at Mount Sinai, where Israel, recently delivered from Egyptian bondage, receives the divine Law and the blueprints for their worship system. This moment establishes the institutional framework through which God will maintain His covenant relationship with the nation of Israel as they journey towards the Promised Land.
Exodus 29 46 Word analysis
- And (וְ): A conjunction, linking the ultimate divine purpose with the preceding detailed instructions for the Tabernacle and priestly consecration.
- they (הֵ֕מָּה, hemma): Refers collectively to "the sons of Israel" or "the children of Israel," signifying the entire covenant people, not just the priests. This emphasizes that the Tabernacle's purpose extends to all the redeemed.
- shall know (יָדְע֖וּ, yade’u): From the Hebrew root yada'. This is a rich biblical term for knowing. It signifies an experiential, intimate, and personal knowledge, far beyond mere intellectual recognition. It implies a deep relationship, often leading to acknowledgment, obedience, and alignment with the one known.
- that (כִּ֠י, ki): Introduces the content of what Israel is meant to know and affirm.
- I am (אֲנִ֖י, ani): An emphatic first-person singular pronoun. This underscores the personal, self-existent identity of God, validating His statements with divine authority.
- the LORD (יְהוָ֣ה, YHWH or Yahweh): God's sacred, covenantal proper name, revealed specifically to Israel. It signifies His unchanging nature, faithfulness, and eternal self-existence (Ex 3:14). It distinguishes Him absolutely from all other so-called gods.
- their God (אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם, Elohechem): The common title for God (Elohim) combined with the possessive suffix "their." This highlights the exclusive, chosen, and intimate covenant relationship established between YHWH and the nation of Israel. He belongs to them, and they to Him.
- who brought them forth (אֲשֶׁ֧ר הוֹצֵֽאתִי, asher hotze’ti): This clause grounds God's identity and claim upon Israel in His powerful historical act of deliverance. The Exodus from Egypt is repeatedly presented as the foundational event establishing Israel's covenant relationship with YHWH and providing proof of His power and unique identity.
- out of the land of Egypt (מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם, me'eretz Mitzrayim): Pinpoints the specific historical location and situation from which Israel was miraculously rescued. This event serves as an undeniable testament to God's sovereignty over earthly powers.
- that I may dwell among them (לְשָׁכְנִ֣י בְתוֹכָ֔ם, le shakni betokham): A purpose clause using the root shakhan (to dwell, reside). This reveals God's profound desire for intimate communion with His people. The Tabernacle (Mishkan, also from shakhan) is the tangible embodiment of this desire for localized presence. It anticipates Immanuel, God with us.
- I am the LORD their God (אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם, ani YHWH Elohehem): A potent restatement, forming an inclusio that encapsulates and reaffirms the divine identity and covenant bond introduced at the beginning of the verse. It serves as a definitive, unalterable declaration of God's unchanging nature and commitment to Israel.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And they shall know that I am the LORD their God": This initial phrase encapsulates the central aim of all God's redemptive work and specific instructions: a personal, experiential recognition of His sovereign and unique identity by His people. This knowing forms the core of the covenant relationship.
- "who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt": This identifies God not just by name, but by His defining historical act of salvation. It provides the empirical evidence for His power and faithfulness, serving as the basis for Israel's worship and obedience. This powerful rescue contrasts with the powerlessness of Egyptian deities.
- "that I may dwell among them": This phrase expresses the immediate purpose of the Tabernacle and the ultimate aspiration of the divine-human relationship. God desires not mere remote governance, but intimate presence with His redeemed people. This dwelling transforms Israel from a rescued people into a covenant community where God uniquely resides.
- "I am the LORD their God": This repetition forms a conclusive, emphatic declaration. It reaffirms the immutable truth of His covenant identity, sealing the promise and the purpose of His dwelling with Israel. It emphasizes the absolute certainty of His word and His unswerving commitment.
Exodus 29 46 Bonus section
The covenant formula, "I am the LORD their God," serves as a recurring theological anchor throughout the Pentateuch and beyond, reminding Israel of the exclusive, personal nature of their relationship with the Most High. The concept of God "dwelling" (shakhan) forms the linguistic basis for the term Tabernacle (Mishkan), signifying that the entire portable sanctuary was conceived primarily as God's residence among His people. The divine intent for this close proximity and "knowing" reveals that rituals were always meant to facilitate a deeper, lived experience of God's character and presence, moving beyond mere outward observance. This verse highlights a theological journey: God's action (bringing them forth from Egypt) leads to His presence (dwelling among them), which in turn leads to recognition and relationship (they shall know Him). This journey reflects God's consistent salvific pattern throughout redemptive history.
Exodus 29 46 Commentary
Exodus 29:46 profoundly articulates the heart of God's interaction with Israel: His desire to be truly known by His people. The elaborate rituals of the Tabernacle and the precise ordination of the priesthood are not ends in themselves, but divine means to a relational end. God wants His people to experientially recognize His identity as YHWH, their unique covenant God. This knowing is firmly rooted in the historical reality of the Exodus—His powerful act of bringing them out of slavery. This foundational redemption underscores His power, sovereignty, and faithfulness.
The purpose of this great deliverance was not merely freedom, but the establishment of an intimate fellowship: "that I may dwell among them." The Tabernacle, consecrated through these rituals, would serve as the physical representation of God's abiding presence, enabling holy communion between the divine and humanity. This was a radical concept, standing in stark contrast to the distant, often capricious deities of surrounding nations. The repetition "I am the LORD their God" serves as an unbreakable seal on this divine declaration, affirming His unchanging character and unwavering commitment to His covenant. The verse encapsulates the progression from redemption to presence to ultimate knowledge of God, foreshadowing the ultimate dwelling of God in Christ and among His people through the Spirit.