Exodus 33 7

Exodus 33:7 kjv

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Exodus 33:7 nkjv

Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.

Exodus 33:7 niv

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.

Exodus 33:7 esv

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.

Exodus 33:7 nlt

It was Moses' practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.

Exodus 33 verses

Exodus 33 7 Meaning

Exodus 33:7 describes a unique, temporary arrangement where Moses habitually set up a special tent away from the Israelite camp. This tent, which he called the "tent of meeting," served as a designated place for anyone seeking the LORD to go and encounter God's presence. It was established following the golden calf incident, underscoring a period of strained relationship between God and His people due to their sin, necessitating separation for divine encounter.

Exodus 33 7 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the profound crisis of the golden calf incident in Exodus 32. In that chapter, Israel's idolatry provoked God's wrath, leading Him to declare He would not go up in their midst, lest He consume them (Exo 33:3). Moses interceded earnestly, pleading for God's presence (Exo 33:12-16). In response to this grave spiritual rupture, the arrangement in verse 7 reflects a provisional solution to maintain communion with God while emphasizing the need for holiness and distance due to the recent defilement within the camp. This "tent of meeting" is distinct from the later, more elaborate Tabernacle (mishkan) whose construction is detailed in Exodus 25-31 and whose setup is recounted in Exodus 40. This specific tent in Exo 33:7 serves as a practical, temporary means for the Lord to meet with Moses and for the people to seek God before the formal dwelling place was erected and fully functional, highlighting God's faithfulness despite Israel's failure.

Exodus 33 7 Word analysis

• Now Moses used to take: The Hebrew imperfect tense (יִקַּח, yikqach) implies a habitual or repeated action. It was Moses' custom or practice to do this, indicating an established pattern for divine encounter.
• the tent (אֹהֶל, 'ohel): This is a general term for a tent, distinguishing it from the specific, divinely designed Mishkan or Tabernacle (מִשְׁכָּן, mishkan), which would be the permanent dwelling place of God's presence. This 'ohel was likely Moses' own tent or a simpler, provisional structure, acting as a temporary "tent of meeting" until the Tabernacle was built.
• and pitch it outside the camp: Hebrew (וְנָטָהּ מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה, ve`natah mikhutz lammakhaneh). The phrase "outside the camp" is crucial. It signifies separation. Due to the golden calf sin, the camp was ritually defiled, and God's holy presence could not dwell directly within it without consuming the people (Exo 33:3, 5). This physical distance visually represented the spiritual distance between a holy God and a sinful people. It also prefigures later laws requiring expulsion of unclean things "outside the camp" (e.g., Lev 13:46; Num 5:2).
• far off from the camp: Hebrew (הַרְחֵק מִן־הַמַּחֲנֶה, harcheq min-hammakhaneh). This reiterates and emphasizes the previous phrase. The explicit mention of being "far off" accentuates the necessary distance and the profound chasm created by sin between God's holiness and humanity's impurity, even amidst a covenant people.
• and he called it the tent of meeting: Hebrew (וְקָרָא לוֹ אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ve'qara lo 'ohel mo'ed). The term "tent of meeting" (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, 'ohel mo'ed) signifies a divinely appointed or designated place and time (מוֹעֵד, mo'ed means appointed time, place, or gathering) where God would meet with Moses and commune with Israel. It implies an accessible point of divine-human interface. This name would later be used for the more elaborate Tabernacle, indicating that its primary function was divine encounter.
• And everyone who sought the LORD: Hebrew (וְהָיָה כָּל־מְבַקֵּשׁ יְהוָה, ve'hayah kol-mevaqesh Adonai). This highlights personal initiative and the spiritual posture required. Seeking the LORD (בקש יהוה, baqash Yahweh) means to earnestly search for His presence, guidance, and favor, demonstrating a sincere desire for relationship. This was not a passive expectation but an active pursuit.
• would go out to the tent of meeting: This action underscores the deliberate effort required to approach God in this new, temporary arrangement. It wasn't about God being inherently within their immediate camp due to His nature (though His cloud remained on the Tent, Exo 33:9), but rather the people had to make a pilgrimage, leaving the defiled camp, to draw near. This symbolizes a turning from sin and a seeking of righteousness.

Exodus 33 7 Bonus section

The immediate significance of this "tent of meeting" is often overlooked compared to the more detailed Tabernacle instructions. It serves as a vital bridge between the pre-Sinai encounters and the structured Tabernacle worship. Its placement "outside the camp" reinforces several critical theological truths:

• Divine Holiness: God's holiness is absolute and cannot tolerate sin in His immediate presence without judgment. The physical distance protected the Israelites from immediate consumption (Exo 33:3, 5).
• A Call to Purity: It served as a constant visual reminder that purity was required for divine encounter. The path to God began by departing from the defiled communal space.
• Moses as Intercessor and Model: Moses' consistent practice of taking the tent and going out not only established the custom but also modeled faithful leadership and the path of reconciliation with God. His individual dedication facilitated broader access for the people.
• Anticipation of Atonement: While provisional, this tent highlighted the deep need for a comprehensive system of atonement and cleansing that the Tabernacle rituals would later provide. It demonstrated God's graciousness in still making Himself available.
• Early Example of the "Gate" to God: This tent acted as the people's gateway to God before the formal Tabernacle's entrance and Veil were in place, underscoring the necessity of a divinely appointed means of access.

Exodus 33 7 Commentary

Exodus 33:7 provides a stark image of the immediate aftermath of Israel's grave sin with the golden calf. The location of this temporary "tent of meeting" outside the camp fundamentally conveys God's holy character and His necessary separation from human sin. This physical distance was a vivid object lesson that defilement breaks communion and demands atonement or, at minimum, a separation for interaction to occur. The tent being a place of "meeting" (mo'ed) highlights God's continued desire to commune with His people, even in their fallen state. However, access was now predicated on a deliberate act: individuals had to go out from the polluted common ground and actively seek the LORD. This initiated individual responsibility and underscores that drawing near to a holy God requires intentional effort and, implicitly, a recognition of one's own need for cleansing. This setup prefigures the rigorous purity laws associated with the Tabernacle and foreshadows the ultimate means of access through Christ, who as our Tent and Meeting Place (Heb 10:19-22) allows us to draw near by coming outside the camp with Him (Heb 13:12-14), signifying a separation from the defiled worldly system.