Exodus 40 29

Exodus 40:29 kjv

And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:29 nkjv

And he put the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:29 niv

He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the LORD commanded him.

Exodus 40:29 esv

And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Exodus 40:29 nlt

and he placed the altar of burnt offering near the Tabernacle entrance. On it he offered a burnt offering and a grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Exodus 40 verses

Exodus 40 29 Meaning

This verse describes Moses' final act of setting up the external altar for sacrifices at the Tabernacle's entrance, demonstrating perfect obedience to God's commands. It inaugurates the Tabernacle's sacrificial system with the burnt offering and the meal offering, thus establishing the essential practice of worship and atonement for the Israelites. It signifies the operational readiness of the divinely ordained dwelling place for God's presence among His people.

Exodus 40 29 Context

Exodus chapter 40 marks the culmination of the instructions regarding the Tabernacle, given by God to Moses earlier in the book (Ex 25-31), and the meticulous execution of those instructions by the Israelites, specifically skilled craftsmen like Bezalel and Oholiab, under Moses' oversight (Ex 35-39). The entire chapter describes the setting up and anointing of each piece of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, with a consistent refrain "as the LORD commanded Moses," appearing ten times. Verse 29 is part of this final stage, where the sacrificial system, integral to Israel's worship and covenant relationship with God, is physically put into operation. This immediate context underscores Moses' absolute adherence to divine design and the precision required in the Lord's worship, laying the foundation for the Levitical sacrificial system detailed in the subsequent book of Leviticus.

Historically, this event signifies the divine establishment of the formal means of approach to a holy God by a sinful people. It sets Israel apart from pagan nations whose worship practices often involved human ingenuity or self-interest rather than divine revelation. The very act of putting the altar in place and performing the first offerings marks a crucial step in the institutionalization of Israel's unique religious identity centered around the covenant and God's dwelling presence.

Exodus 40 29 Word analysis

• And he put (וַיָּשֶׂם, vayyāśem): This verb signifies deliberate placement and establishment. It highlights Moses' direct action and active obedience, moving from the passive instruction phase to active implementation. The sequence of actions in Exo 40 demonstrates Moses' meticulous fulfillment of all commands.
• the altar of burnt offering (אֶת־מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה, ʾeṯ-mizbaḥ hāʿōlâ):
  • mizbaḥ (מִזְבַּח): "Altar," from a root meaning "to slaughter." This identifies its primary function – a place of sacrifice for animal offerings.
  • hāʿōlâ (הָעֹלָה): "The burnt offering" or "that which goes up." The burnt offering (olah) was entirely consumed by fire, ascending to God as a "soothing aroma." It symbolized total dedication, propitiation, and atonement for general sins or a whole nation. Its prominent location indicated its central role in mediating between a holy God and sinful humanity.
• by the door (פֶּתַח, petaḥ): "Opening" or "entrance." Placing the altar directly at the entry of the Tabernacle's outer court emphasizes accessibility and the necessity of dealing with sin and atonement before approaching God's holy presence further inside the Tent of Meeting. This arrangement visually taught that redemption and purification were prerequisites for communion.
• of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting (לְמִשְׁכַּן אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ləmiškan ʾōhel môʿēd):
  • miškan (מִשְׁכַּן): "Dwelling place" or "tabernacle." Refers to the structure itself as God's abode.
  • ʾōhel môʿēd (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד): "Tent of meeting." Highlights its function as the designated place where God would meet and communicate with His people, particularly through Moses. The combination emphasizes its dual nature: God's dwelling and the locus of His interaction with humanity.
• and offered upon it (וַיַּעַל עָלָיו, wayyaʿal ʿālāyw): "And he caused to go up upon it." This verb directly relates to the nature of the burnt offering, emphasizing the upward movement of the smoke and the offering ascending to God. It indicates Moses initiating the sacrificial system.
• the burnt offering (אֶת־הָעֹלָה, ʾeṯ-hāʿōlâ): As previously, the olah was a voluntary sacrifice signifying complete surrender and atonement. Its total consumption underscored the full giving of the worshiper and the totality of divine acceptance (or propitiation).
• and the meal offering (וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָה, wəʾeṯ-hamminḥâ):
  • minḥâ (מִנְחָה): "Gift," "tribute," or "meal offering." This was a bloodless offering, typically of grain, flour, oil, and frankincense. It expressed thanksgiving, dedication of the firstfruits of one's labor, and commitment to God's sustenance. It was often offered in conjunction with other sacrifices, highlighting dedication following atonement.
• as the LORD commanded Moses (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה, kaʾăšer ṣiwwâ YHVH ʾeṯ-mōšeh):
  • kaʾăšer ṣiwwâ (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה): "According to what he commanded." This phrase emphasizes the divine authority and specific instruction behind every action taken. It underlines Moses' perfect and complete obedience, a hallmark of faithful leadership throughout Exodus 40.
  • YHVH (יְהוָה): The tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name. This indicates that the commands came directly from the relational, covenant-making God of Israel.
  • Mōšeh (מֹשֶׁה): "Moses." The divinely appointed leader and mediator who meticulously carried out God's precise blueprint for worship.

Exodus 40 29 Bonus section

The act of Moses setting up the altar and offering the initial sacrifices served not only as a functional setup but also as an educational moment for Israel, visually demonstrating the ordered and purposeful nature of their worship system. Unlike surrounding pagan cults that often improvised rituals based on fleeting human desire or superstition, Israel's worship was grounded in the meticulous revelation of God, reflecting His character and specific covenant demands. The Tabernacle, with the altar at its forefront, symbolized the orderly path to fellowship with a holy God: first, atonement for sin (altar), then communion (tent of meeting), culminating in the presence of God (Holy of Holies). The burnt offering’s complete ascent, alongside the meal offering’s representation of daily sustenance, foreshadowed not only Christ’s full and complete offering of Himself, but also the believer’s calling to present their entire lives as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1), dedicated to God in response to His ultimate redemptive work.

Exodus 40 29 Commentary

Exodus 40:29 concludes the initial physical setup of the Tabernacle, demonstrating Moses' perfect obedience to the precise divine instructions for Israel's central place of worship. The strategic placement of the altar of burnt offering "by the door" signified its indispensable role: access to God's presence was contingent upon the process of atonement and dedication through sacrifice. The "burnt offering" (olah) symbolized full surrender, atonement, and purification, signifying humanity's need for propitiation. Its complete consumption pointed to the total commitment and divine acceptance. The accompanying "meal offering" (minchah) then served as an expression of thanksgiving, dedication of one's labor, and communion with God, implying a life devoted to Him subsequent to atonement. The repeated phrase, "as the LORD commanded Moses," emphasizes that every detail of worship was of divine origin, not human invention, thus ensuring its efficacy and God's acceptance. This adherence to divine mandate ensured the sacredness and covenant integrity of Israel's interaction with the Holy God, establishing patterns of ritual worship that prefigured the perfect and ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who, by offering Himself once for all, fulfilled all these shadowy rituals, becoming the door, the sacrifice, and the priest.