Exodus 40 20

Exodus 40:20 kjv

And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

Exodus 40:20 nkjv

He took the Testimony and put it into the ark, inserted the poles through the rings of the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark.

Exodus 40:20 niv

He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it.

Exodus 40:20 esv

He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark.

Exodus 40:20 nlt

He took the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. Then he attached the carrying poles to the Ark, and he set the Ark's cover ? the place of atonement ? on top of it.

Exodus 40 verses

Exodus 40 20 Meaning

Exodus 40:20 describes a crucial moment in the construction and consecration of the Tabernacle: Moses placing the tablets of the Testimony (the Ten Commandments) inside the Ark of the Covenant, inserting the carrying poles, and setting the mercy seat on top of the Ark. This action meticulously fulfills God's explicit commands, preparing the Ark—the holiest furnishing—to receive the divine presence and to serve as the heart of Israel's wilderness sanctuary, symbolizing God's covenant and His provision for atonement among His people.

Exodus 40 20 Context

Exodus 40 concludes the book by meticulously detailing the precise and obedient erection and furnishing of the Tabernacle, climaxing in God's glory filling the sanctuary. Verses 1-33 describe Moses assembling the tent, positioning all the furniture in the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place, exactly "as the LORD commanded Moses." Verse 20 focuses on the final assembly of the Ark of the Covenant, placing its divinely prescribed contents within it, before it is later moved into the Most Holy Place (v. 21). This act underscores the central importance of the Ark as the dwelling place for God's covenant and mercy among His people. The immediate historical context is Israel's wilderness journey after receiving the Law at Sinai, where the Tabernacle would serve as the focal point of their worship and God's mobile presence until they reached the promised land. Culturally, the precise divine blueprint for the Ark and Tabernacle contrasts sharply with the idolatrous and arbitrary nature of pagan temples and deities of surrounding nations, establishing Yahweh as the sole and sovereign God.

Exodus 40 20 Word analysis

• And he took: (וַיִּקַּח, vayyiqqach). This highlights Moses' active role in fulfilling God's instructions. It implies a deliberate, obedient action by the mediator between God and Israel, signifying his faithfulness in execution of the divine will.
• and put: (וַיִּתֵּן, vayyittēn). Emphasizes the physical placement. This is not merely preparing but positioning, bringing into being the functionality of the Ark.
• the testimony: (הָעֵדֻת, hā‘ēdūt). Refers to the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments by the finger of God (Ex 31:18). It signifies God's witness, the unchangeable basis of His covenant with Israel. It speaks to God's holiness, His moral standards, and the basis for judging humanity. Placing it inside the Ark emphasizes that God's covenantal demands are central to His dwelling place and relationship with His people.
• into the ark: (אֶל-הָאָרוֹן, ʾel-hāʾārōn). Refers to the Ark of the Covenant, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, God's mobile throne and symbol of His presence. It served as the container for His covenant witness and was the focal point of Israelite worship, pointing to the unapproachable holiness of God without a mediator and atonement.
• and inserted the poles: (וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת-הַבַּדִּים, vayyāśem et-habbaddîm). These were two acacia wood poles, permanently affixed through rings on the Ark's sides (Ex 25:15). Their presence ensured the Ark was always ready for transport, signifying God's dynamic and portable presence, journeying with His pilgrim people, unlike static idols of pagan religions.
• through the rings on the sides of the ark: (עַל-הַטַּבָּעֹת עַל צַדֵּי הָאָרוֹן, ʿal-haṭṭabbā‘ōt ʿal ṣaddē hāʾārōn). This phrase specifies the method of pole insertion, emphasizing meticulous adherence to the divine architectural blueprint.
• and put the mercy seat: (וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת-הַכַּפֹּרֶת, vayyāśem et-hakkappōret). The "mercy seat" or "atonement cover" was the solid gold lid of the Ark, with two cherubim fashioned upon it. It was here, above the Law, that God's presence would manifest (Ex 25:22) and where the blood of atonement would be sprinkled annually on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16). The name kapporet derives from kapar, "to atone" or "to cover."
• above on the ark: (עַל-הָאָרוֹן מִלְמָעְלָה, ʿal-hāʾārōn milma‘lāh). This precise placement of the mercy seat directly over the testimony is profoundly symbolic. It signifies that God's mercy and grace (represented by the mercy seat and the blood sprinkled there) sovereignly cover and mediate His holy law (the testimony) that otherwise would condemn sinners.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "put the testimony into the ark": This sequence establishes the fundamental content of the Ark—God's revealed covenant Law. It highlights the divine order where God's commands are the foundation of His presence and relationship with His people. The Law inside also signifies its preciousness and inviolability.
• "inserted the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark": This describes the Ark's unique feature enabling its portability. It points to God's desire to dwell with His people not just in a fixed place, but actively accompanying them on their journey through the wilderness, providing guidance and protection.
• "put the mercy seat above on the ark": This climactic action is crucial. The placement of the mercy seat above the testimony signifies God's gracious provision of atonement for a people living under the condemnation of the Law. It establishes the mechanism by which God, though holy and just, can interact mercifully with a sinful people, anticipating the ultimate covering for sin through Christ.

Exodus 40 20 Bonus section

The Tabernacle, and especially the Ark of the Covenant with its mercy seat, serves as a powerful foreshadowing of Christ. The New Testament book of Hebrews especially draws parallels: just as the mercy seat was the place where atonement was made through the high priest’s sprinkling of blood, Christ Himself is presented as our ultimate propitiation (hilasterion in Greek, the same term used in the Septuagint for "mercy seat," Rom 3:25). Through His sacrificial blood, He perfectly covers the demands of God’s holy Law, granting believers access to the true "throne of grace" (Heb 4:16) in the heavenly sanctuary. The portable nature of the Ark also highlights God's dynamic and personal relationship, walking with His people through their journey of faith. Moreover, the hidden nature of the Ark in the Most Holy Place, accessible only once a year by the High Priest, contrasts with the direct access believers now have to God through Christ. The Tabernacle, set up precisely by human obedience according to divine instruction, also stands as a prototype for God's eventual dwelling within believers themselves as His temple through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).

Exodus 40 20 Commentary

Exodus 40:20 records Moses’ final meticulous act regarding the Ark of the Covenant, prior to its installation in the Tabernacle's Most Holy Place. This verse encapsulates core theological truths: the Law as the foundation of God's covenant with Israel ("the testimony"), the necessity of His presence with His people (represented by the portable Ark), and critically, His gracious provision for atonement (the mercy seat). Moses' strict adherence to every detail "as the LORD commanded" highlights divine sovereignty in worship and the crucial role of human obedience in facilitating God's dwelling among humanity. The very design of the Ark, with the condemning Law inside and the atoning mercy seat covering it, visually represented God's justice being satisfied by His mercy, a powerful prefigurement of Christ's redemptive work.