Exodus 40:2 kjv
On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
Exodus 40:2 nkjv
"On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
Exodus 40:2 niv
"Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month.
Exodus 40:2 esv
"On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
Exodus 40:2 nlt
"Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year.
Exodus 40 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 12:2 | "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months..." | Establishes "first month" for religious calendar. |
| Exod 25:8 | "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." | Purpose of Tabernacle: God's desire to dwell. |
| Exod 40:17 | "In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was reared up." | Fulfillment of this very command. |
| Exod 40:34 | "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." | Divine consecration and presence upon erection. |
| Lev 1:1 | "And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation..." | Tabernacle established as the place of divine revelation. |
| Num 9:1 | "The Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year..." | Reinforces the historical timeline of the event. |
| 1 Ki 6:1 | "In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel... he began to build the house of the Lord." | Later, Solomon's Temple, a permanent dwelling for God. |
| Ps 78:60 | "So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;" | God's temporary dwelling among His people. |
| Zech 2:10 | "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee..." | Prophecy of God dwelling among His people. |
| Ezek 37:26-27 | "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace... My tabernacle also shall be with them..." | Prophetic promise of renewed divine dwelling. |
| Hag 2:7 | "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory..." | Foreshadowing a greater glory filling a later house of God. |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." (Greek: eskēnōsen - tabernacled) | Jesus as the ultimate dwelling of God among humanity. |
| Eph 2:21-22 | "...being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | New Testament church as God's spiritual dwelling. |
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Individual believers as temples of the Holy Spirit. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | "For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them...'" | Believers collectively as God's temple. |
| Heb 8:1-2 | "...a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man." | Christ as High Priest in the true, heavenly Tabernacle. |
| Heb 9:11 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest... he entered through the greater and more perfect tent..." | Christ's ministry in the greater, heavenly sanctuary. |
| Heb 10:19-20 | "...confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way... through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)..." | Christ provides new access to God's presence. |
| Rev 7:15 | "Therefore they are before the throne of God... he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence." | God's eternal presence among His redeemed people. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them..." | Ultimate fulfillment: God dwells eternally with man. |
| Isa 4:5-6 | "Then the Lord will create... over all the glory there will be a canopy." | Prophecy of God's presence and protective covering. |
Exodus 40 verses
Exodus 40 2 Meaning
The verse is a direct command from God to Moses regarding the precise date for erecting the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among His people, often called the tent of meeting. This monumental event, scheduled for the first day of the first month, signifies the inauguration of Israel's central worship facility and the formal establishment of God's tangible presence with them following the Exodus and covenant at Sinai.
Exodus 40 2 Context
Exodus 40 concludes the book of Exodus, bringing to a close the divine instructions and their meticulous execution concerning the Tabernacle. The chapters leading up to this (Exod 25-31 and 35-39) are dedicated to the detailed blueprints and then the actual construction of this portable sanctuary. Verse 2 specifically initiates the final act of setting up the completed structure. Historically, this event occurs exactly one year after the Israelite Exodus from Egypt, emphasizing a significant milestone in their journey and relationship with God. The immediate context of Exodus 40 is Moses receiving explicit step-by-step instructions from God for the erection of the Tabernacle and the arrangement of its furnishings, culminating in the Shekinah glory of God filling it, signifying His presence.
Exodus 40 2 Word analysis
- On the first day (בְּיוֹם הַחֹדֶשׁ - b'yom hachodesh): The Hebrew word yom means "day." The specific inclusion of "first" and "month" highlights a significant calendrical marker. This isn't just any day; it's the inaugural day of a new year in the sacred calendar (Nisan/Abib), marked in Exod 12:2, signifying a fresh beginning for God's covenant people.
- of the first month (הָרִאשׁוֹן - harishon): Harishon means "the first one." This specific month, later known as Nisan or Abib, is highly significant in the Israelite calendar as it is the month of Passover, commemorating the nation's spiritual birth. Setting up the Tabernacle on this precise day connects the redeemed community directly to God's new dwelling among them, marking a new stage after redemption.
- you shall set up (תָּקִים - takim): From the root קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise," "to stand," "to establish." This word emphasizes not just construction but the act of making it stand erect, signifying its establishment and functional readiness. It is a divine command to Moses, implying deliberate action and responsibility in fulfilling God's architectural blueprint.
- the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּן - hamishkan): Mishkan means "dwelling place" or "residence." This refers to the core structure, the mobile sanctuary where God chose to "dwell" or "tabernacle" among His people (Exod 25:8). Its very name points to God's immanent presence and His desire to be close to His redeemed people.
- the tent of meeting (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - ohel mo'ed): Ohel means "tent," and mo'ed means "appointed time," "meeting," or "assembly." This phrase designates the Tabernacle as the specific, divinely appointed place where God would meet and communicate with His people, particularly with Moses (Lev 1:1, Num 7:89). It emphasizes communication, communion, and regulated access.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "On the first day of the first month": This precise date signifies a divine timetable and purpose. It aligns with the Israelite religious calendar's New Year, mirroring new creation, new beginnings, and marking exactly one year after the Passover and the Exodus. This chronological link emphasizes God's faithfulness and the progression of His covenant plan for His people.
- "you shall set up": This imperative directly addresses Moses, emphasizing his divinely appointed leadership role and responsibility in orchestrating the final assembly. It implies the culmination of all the previous meticulous instructions (Exod 25-31) and the skilled work performed by Bezalel and Oholiab (Exod 35-39). It is the act of putting everything in its designated place according to God's specific commands.
- "the tabernacle, the tent of meeting": These two appellations highlight distinct but complementary aspects of God's dwelling. "Tabernacle" (mishkan) emphasizes His physical dwelling among them, making His presence palpable and establishing a localized sanctuary within their midst. "Tent of Meeting" (ohel mo'ed) underscores its functional purpose as the locus for divine-human encounter, revelation, and communion, where God specifically meets with His people to impart His will and accept worship. Both terms together encompass God's resident presence and His active engagement with His covenant community.
Exodus 40 2 Bonus section
- The meticulous detailing and completion of the Tabernacle and its setup on a precise date reinforce the biblical theme of God as a God of order and specific design. His will is exact and requires precise obedience from His servants, as demonstrated by Moses throughout these chapters.
- The structure and contents of the Tabernacle itself, whose setup is initiated by this verse, often foreshadowed aspects of Christ's person and redemptive work. For instance, the bronze altar pointed to sacrifice, the laver to cleansing, the table of showbread to Christ as the bread of life, the menorah as the light of the world, and the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's throne, foreshadowed His rightful reign. The setup in Exodus 40 initiated the "shadows" which would later be fulfilled in Christ, the ultimate reality (Col 2:16-17; Heb 8:5, 10:1).
- The fact that God's glory immediately fills the Tabernacle upon its erection (Exod 40:34-35) validates Moses' obedience and God's acceptance of their work. This immediate act of divine indwelling established the Tabernacle's purpose and authority before any formal worship rite or sacrifice was performed. This dramatic culmination solidifies the truth that God desired to be among His people.
Exodus 40 2 Commentary
Exodus 40:2 marks a pivotal moment, not merely an architectural setup. It signifies the successful completion of the instructions given at Sinai, thereby fulfilling God's expressed desire to dwell among His people. The chosen date, "the first day of the first month," underscores this as a foundational, new beginning, aligning with the "new year" in the sacred calendar—a parallel to creation or a fresh start for the redeemed community. The very act of "setting up" this divine "tabernacle," or "tent of meeting," formalized God's covenantal presence within Israel's encampment. It was the physical representation of God's covenant faithfulness and His willingness to enter human space to meet with His chosen people, paving the way for further revelation and the rituals of atonement. It set the stage for all subsequent worship and interaction with the Almighty throughout their wilderness journey. This detailed process highlights the importance of obedience to God's precise instructions for divine worship and communion.