Exodus 40:38

Exodus 40:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
• New International Version (NIV)So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Context of Exodus 40:38

36The Israelites followed the cloud during all their journeys. Every time that the cloud rose up from the tabernacle, they would continue on their journey. 37But if the cloud remained on the tabernacle, the Israelites did not travel. They stayed where they were until the day when the cloud rose up. So the cloud stayed over the tabernacle during the day, to show that the Lord was with them. During the night, there was fire in the cloud. All the Israelites could see the cloud during all their journeys.

Exodus 40:38 word by word

כִּי֩ עֲנַ֨ן יְהוָ֤ה עַֽל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וְאֵ֕שׁ תִּהְיֶ֥ה לַ֖יְלָה בּ֑וֹ לְעֵינֵ֥י כָל־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכָל־מַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For the cloudעָנָן‛ânân · cloudH6051
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• upon the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
• by dayיוֹמָםyômâm · by dayH3119
• and fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• was on it by nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• in the sightעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: seeingH5869
• of all the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• throughout all their journeysמַסַּעmassa‛ · journeyH4550

Cross-references for Exodus 40:38

• Exodus 13:21As they travelled, the Lord was leading them. During the day, he was there as a pillar of cloud that went in front of them. During the night, he went as a pillar of fire. This gave them light, so they could travel during the day or the night.
• Numbers 9:15On the day that Moses put up the Tent of Meeting, a cloud covered it. In the evening it became something like a fire over the Tent, until morning.
• Psalms 78:14He showed them the way with a cloud in the day and with light from a fire all night.
• Psalms 105:39The Lord made a cloud to cover them and a fire to give them light at night.
• Isaiah 4:5The Lord himself will be above all of Mount Zion, and over all the people who meet together there. There will be cloud and smoke over them during the day. There will be bright flames of fire at night. The Lord's glory will cover over them all.
• Exodus 3:8So now I have come down to save them from the power of the Egyptians. I will bring them out from Egypt to go to another land. That will be a good land and a big land. The land will give them plenty of good food and drink, enough for everyone. These are the nations who live there now: the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.

Commentaries on Exodus 40:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day - This daily and nightly appearance was at once both a merciful providence, and a demonstrative proof of the Divinity of their religion: and these tokens continued with them throughout all their journeys; for, notwithstanding their frequently repeated disobedience and rebellion, God never withdrew these tokens of his presence from them, till they were brought into the promised land. When, therefore…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 34-38Verses 34-38 The cloud covered the tabernacle even in the clearest day; it was not a cloud which the sun scatters. This cloud was a token of God's presence to be seen day and night, by all Israel, that they might never again question, Is the Lord among us, or is he not? It guided the camp of Israel through the wilderness. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they rested; when it removed, they followed it. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38all the house of Israel: This description reminds us of how the book of Exodus began (see 1:1–7). At that time, Jacob’s family had grown into a large group in Egypt. Later, they became slaves there. This was a dramatic change. They were no longer slaves. Now they were free. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would bring blessing to all the nations (Genesis 12:3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle, &c.--While it had hitherto appeared sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, it was now found on the tabernacle only; so that from the moment that sanctuary was erected, and the glory of the Lord had filled the sacred edifice, the Israelites had to look to the place which God had chosen to put His name there, in order that they might enjoy the benefit of a heavenly Guide (Nu 9:15-23). In like manner…Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 40:38

• Cloud
• Fire
• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Shechinah
• Tabernacle
• Atonement, Day of
• Cloud
• Exodus, the Book of
• Genesis
• Leviticus

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