Exodus 40:20

Exodus 40:20 in other versions

• King James Version (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:
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of Exodus 40:20

18Moses set up the tabernacle: He laid its bases, positioned its supports, inserted its crossbars, and set up its pillars. 19Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses took the testimony and placed it in the ark, and attached the poles to the ark. He set the mercy seat on top of the ark. 21He brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the curtain for the screen, and screened off the ark of the testimony, just as the Lord had commanded him. 22Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain.

Exodus 40:20 word by word

וַיִּקַּ֞ח וַיִּתֵּ֤ן אֶת־הָעֵדֻת֙ אֶל־הָ֣אָרֹ֔ן וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הַבַּדִּ֖ים עַל־הָאָרֹ֑ן וַיִּתֵּ֧ן אֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת עַל־הָאָרֹ֖ן מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• and putנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• the testimonyעֵדוּת‛êdûth · testimonyH5715
• into the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
• and setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• the stavesבַּדbad · alone: poleH905
• the mercy seatכַּפֹּרֶתkappôreth · mercy seatH3727
• aboveמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605

Cross-references for Exodus 40:20

• Exodus 16:34As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron placed it before the testimony to be preserved.
• Exodus 25:16Put the tablets of the testimony that I will give you into the ark.
• Exodus 31:18When he finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God.
• Psalms 40:8I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me.”
• Matthew 3:15Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
• Exodus 40:3Put the ark of the testimony there and screen off the ark with the curtain.
• Exodus 37:6He made a mercy seat of pure gold, forty-five inches long and twenty-seven inches wide.
• Romans 3:25God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
• Romans 10:4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes,
• Hebrews 4:16Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
• Hebrews 10:19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus —
• 1 John 2:2He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

Commentaries on Exodus 40:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20And put the testimony into the ark - That is, the two tables on which the ten commandments had been written. See Exodus 25:16. The ark, the golden table with the shew-bread, the golden candlestick, and the golden altar of incense, were all in the tabernacle, within the veil or curtains, which served as a door, Exodus 40:22, Exodus 40:24, Exodus 40:26. And the altar of burnt-offering was by the door, Exodus 40:29. And the brazen laver, between the tent of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20The testimony - i. e. the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments engraved on them Exodus 25:16; Exodus 31:18. Nothing else is said to have been put into the ark. These were found there by themselves in the time of Solomon 1 Kings 8:9; 2 Chronicles 5:10. The pot of manna was “laid up before the testimony” Exodus 16:34; Aaron‘s rod was also placed “before the testimony” Numbers 17:10; and the book of the law was put at “the side of the ark” Deuteronomy…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-33Verses 16-33 When the tabernacle and the furniture of it were prepared, they did not put off rearing it till they came to Canaan; but, in obedience to the will of God, they set it up in the midst of their camp. Those who are unsettled in the world, must not think that this will excuse want of religion; as if it were enough to begin to serve God when they begin to be settled in the world. No; a tabernacle for God is very needful, even in a wilderness…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-33The report on setting up the Tent of Meeting starts with the Lord's commands (40:1–15). It continues with how Moses obeyed those commands (40:16–33). The repeated statement that "Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded" (40:16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32) strongly contrasts with Aaron’s self-serving statement in 32:22–24. God wants to share his presence with us, but his holiness requires us to give up our own efforts to secure his presence and…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-382. On the first day of the first month--From a careful consideration of the incidents recorded to have happened after the exodus (Ex 12:2; 13:4; 19:1; 20:18; 34:28, &c.), it has been computed that the work of the tabernacle was commenced within six months after that emigration; and consequently, that other six months had been occupied in building it. So long a period spent in preparing the materials of a movable pavilion, it would be difficult to…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 40:20

• Ark
• Decalogue
• Law
• Mercy-Seat
• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

• Tabernacle
• Ark of the Covenant
• Atonement, Day of
• Canon of the Old Testament
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Leviticus
• Papyrus
• Prayer
• Ten Commandments, the

Commentaries on Exodus 40

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings