Exodus 40 34

Exodus 40:34 kjv

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34 nkjv

Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34 niv

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34 esv

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34 nlt

Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.

Exodus 40 verses

Exodus 40 34 Meaning

Exodus 40:34 signifies the culmination of God's instructions for the Tabernacle's construction and Moses's obedient completion of all God commanded. It details the visible manifestation of God's divine presence and glory descending upon and completely filling the Tabernacle immediately after its erection. This moment confirmed God's acceptance of the dwelling place, establishing His intention to dwell among His people, making the Tabernacle the focal point of their worship and relationship with Him in the wilderness.

Exodus 40 34 Context

Exodus 40:34 marks the climactic moment at the very end of the Book of Exodus. The preceding chapters meticulously detail the construction of the Tabernacle and all its furnishings according to the precise divine blueprint revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. Verses 1-33 of chapter 40 recount Moses setting up the Tabernacle piece by piece, an act of perfect obedience to God's commands. This verse immediately follows Moses's complete execution of God's instructions, culminating months of diligent labor by the skilled craftsmen, signifying that the dwelling place for God had been fully prepared and consecrated. Historically, this event signifies God's tangible presence with the Israelites during their wilderness journey, providing divine guidance, protection, and a center for atonement and worship, solidifying their covenant relationship.

Exodus 40 34 Word analysis

• Then (וַיְכַסֶּה - way·yekas·seh): This conjunction and verb highlight the immediate consequence and divine response to Moses's completed work. It emphasizes cause and effect—Moses finished the construction, and then God's presence responded.
• the cloud (הֶעָנָן - he·'ā·nān): (anan) A visible manifestation of God's veiled presence, frequently appearing in Exodus (Ex 13, 16, 19, 24). It serves as a visible symbol of God's presence and guidance, often obscuring His unapproachable glory. Its covering indicates an active, tangible, and complete divine embrace of the Tabernacle. This differentiates Israel's God from local, immobile deities.
• covered (כִּסָּה - kisah): (kasah) Meaning "to cover," "to conceal." Here it denotes the act of the cloud enveloping the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's protective and enveloping presence. It signifies the sanctity and setting apart of the structure by God Himself.
• the tabernacle of meeting (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - 'ohel mo'ed): (ohel mo'ed) "Tent of meeting" or "appointed tent." This term emphasizes its function as the place where God would meet with His people (specifically Moses, as their representative). It is not merely a tent but a designated place for divine encounter, reflecting the covenant relationship. This specific naming indicates God's desire for ongoing relationship.
• and the glory (וּכְבוֹד - ū·kĕ·ḇō·wḏ): (kevod) Meaning "heavy," "weighty," "honor," "splendor," "radiance," "majesty." This term refers to the manifest presence of God, the tangible expression of His nature and power. It is God Himself in visible, often luminous form, revealing His majesty. This "glory" signifies God's holy, awesome, and real presence among His people. It is not an emanation but the very being of God made manifest.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful nature. Its inclusion emphasizes that it is the one true God of Israel who is dwelling among them, distinguishing Him from any false deities.
• filled (מָלָא - mala): (mala) "To be full," "to fill." This verb emphasizes the completeness and pervasive nature of God's presence. It indicates total occupation, leaving no part empty. This signifies God's complete inhabitation and divine endorsement of the entire structure.
• the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּן - ham·miš·kān): (mishkan) Literally "dwelling place" or "abode." This word emphasizes the purpose of the structure – a place for God to reside among His people, confirming the fulfillment of His promise in Ex 25:8.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting: This phrase depicts the external, visible sign of God's presence. The cloud functions as both a symbol of His presence and a means of veiling His intense glory, allowing finite man to draw near without being consumed. The act of "covering" shows God's immediate claim and consecration of the Tabernacle upon its completion, affirming it as His designated sanctuary for interaction.
• and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle: This phrase reveals the internal, immersive nature of God's presence. While the cloud externally covered, the glory internally filled. This indicates God's complete and intimate indwelling, demonstrating His acceptance of the completed dwelling. The distinction between "tabernacle of meeting" (place of encounter) and "tabernacle" (dwelling place) underscores that God not only meets there but truly dwells within it, marking it as a truly holy space. This filling symbolizes the full measure of divine favor and presence.

Exodus 40 34 Bonus section

• The meticulous completion of the Tabernacle (Moses's full obedience as seen throughout Ex 39-40, "as the LORD commanded Moses") highlights that God's presence is often contingent upon human faithfulness to His revealed will. The 'filling' was God's immediate stamp of approval.
• The cloud served as a protective buffer; human beings cannot directly gaze upon God's raw glory and live (Ex 33:20). Its presence both signifies and veils, allowing access without destruction.
• This divine act implicitly asserts God's transcendence and sovereignty. He is not a localized idol crafted by human hands, but a living God who chooses to descend and indwell a structure made according to His specific instructions, establishing a pattern of holy space.
• The absence of further instructions for "lighting" or "furnishing" the Most Holy Place in this verse is notable; God Himself, in His glory, becomes the light and fills the entire space, emphasizing His self-sufficiency and the Tabernacle's divine purpose.
• This verse represents the physical, Old Testament anticipation of Emmanuel—"God with us"—a theme profoundly realized in the person of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 40 34 Commentary

Exodus 40:34 stands as the dramatic climax of the Tabernacle's construction, validating months of labor and strict obedience to divine blueprints. The descent of the cloud, synonymous with God's veiled presence, upon the 'tent of meeting' demonstrated God's immediate claim over the newly erected structure. Simultaneously, the pervasive 'filling' by the LORD's glory signified a complete divine indwelling, testifying to God's acceptance and satisfaction with Moses's work. This moment solidified the Tabernacle as God's chosen dwelling place among His people in the wilderness, assuring Israel of His tangible, guiding, and worship-worthy presence. It served as a divine inauguration of worship, confirming the Tabernacle's function as the focal point for communion, atonement, and revelation. The scene prefigures both Solomon's Temple dedication, where God's glory similarly filled the sanctuary (1 Kgs 8:10-11), and ultimately, the New Testament understanding of God dwelling among and within His people through Christ (Jn 1:14) and the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:21-22). It underscores that human effort and obedience are met with divine condescension and glorious presence.