God’s Word Translation
Numbers 9:15
15On the day the tent of the words of God’s promise was set up, the ⌞column of⌟ smoke covered it. From evening until morning, the smoke over the tent glowed like fire.
Numbers 9:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
- New International Version (NIV)On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.
- English Standard Version (ESV)On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire.
Context of Numbers 9:15
13But if you are clean and not on a trip and yet don’t bother to celebrate the Passover, you must be excluded from the people. You didn’t bring your offering to the Lord at the right time. You must suffer the consequences for your sin. 14“Foreigners living with you may want to celebrate the Lord’s Passover. They must follow these same rules and regulations. The same rules will apply to foreigners and native-born Israelites.” On the day the tent of the words of God’s promise was set up, the ⌞column of⌟ smoke covered it. From evening until morning, the smoke over the tent glowed like fire. 16The smoke always glowed this way. At night the smoke covering the tent glowed like fire. 17Whenever the smoke moved from the tent, the Israelites would break camp, and wherever it stopped, the Israelites would set up camp.
Read all of Numbers 9Numbers 9:15 word by word
וּבְיוֹם֙ הָקִ֣ים אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן כִּסָּ֤ה הֶֽעָנָן֙ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן לְאֹ֖הֶל הָעֵדֻ֑ת וּבָעֶ֜רֶב יִהְיֶ֧ה עַֽל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵ֖שׁ עַד־בֹּֽקֶר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And on the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- that the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
- was reared upקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
- the cloudעָנָן‛ânân · cloudH6051
- coveredכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
- the tentאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
- of the testimonyעֵדוּת‛êdûth · testimonyH5715
- and at evenעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
- as it were the appearanceמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
- of fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- until the morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
Cross-references for Numbers 9:15
- Exodus 40:2“Set up the tent (the tent of meeting) on the first day of the first month of the year.
- Numbers 14:14What if the Egyptians tell the people who live in this land? Lord, they have already heard that you are with these people, that they have seen you with their own eyes, that your column of smoke stays over them, and that you go ahead of them in a column of smoke by day and in a column of fire by night.
- Exodus 14:19The Messenger of God, who had been in front of the Israelites, moved behind them. So the column of smoke moved from in front of the Israelites and stood behind them
- Exodus 33:9As soon as Moses went into the tent, the column of smoke would come down and stay at the entrance to the tent while the Lord spoke with Moses.
- Exodus 40:34Then the ⌞column of⌟ smoke covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent.
- Nehemiah 9:12You led them during the day by a column of smoke and during the night by a column of fire to give them light to see the way they should go.
- Psalms 78:14He guided them by a cloud during the day and by a fiery light throughout the night.
- Psalms 105:39He spread out a cloud as a protective covering and a fire to light up the night.
- Isaiah 4:5The Lord will create a cloud of smoke during the day and a glowing flame of fire during the night over the whole area of Mount Zion and over the assembly. His glory will cover everything.
- Ezekiel 10:3The angels were standing on the south side of the temple as the person went. A cloud filled the inner courtyard.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that all our ancestors ⌞who left Egypt⌟ were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea.
- Exodus 13:21By day the Lord went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night he went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night.
- Exodus 40:38So the Lord’s column stayed over the tent during the day, and there was fire in the smoke at night. In this way all the Israelites could see the column throughout their travels.
Commentaries on Numbers 9:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15The cloud covered the tabernacle - See the whole account of this supernatural cloud largely explained, Exodus 23:21; and Exodus 40:34-38. Calmet observes that the 15th verse, beginning a new subject, should begin a new chapter, as it has no connection with what goes before; and he thinks this chapter, begun with the 15th verse, should end with the 28th verse of the following. ( Exodus 10:28;)Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15The cloud - The phenomenon first appeared at the Exodus itself, Exodus 13:21-22. The cloud did not cover the whole structure, but the “tent of the testimony,” i. e. the enclosure which contained the “ark of the testimony” Exodus 25:16, Exodus 25:22, and the holy place. The phenomenon is now again described in connection with the journeyings which are to be narrated in the sequel of the book.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 This cloud was appointed to be the visible sign and symbol of God's presence with Israel. Thus we are taught to see God always near us, both night and day. As long as the cloud rested on the tabernacle, so long they continued in the same place. There is no time lost, while we are waiting God's time. When the cloud was taken up, they removed, however comfortably they were encamped. We are kept at uncertainty concerning the time of our putting…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-23This passage is similar to Exodus 40:17, 34–38. It gives more details about how God used the pillar of cloud and fire to lead his people (see also Exodus 13:21–22). The Lord was faithful and clearly guided his people in the wilderness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2315. the cloud covered the tabernacle--The inspired historian here enters on an entirely new subject, which might properly have formed a separate chapter, beginning at this verse and ending at Nu 10:29 [Calmet]. The cloud was a visible token of God's special presence and guardian care of the Israelites (Ex 14:20; Psa 105:39). It was easily distinguishable from all other clouds by its peculiar form and its fixed position; for from the day of the completion…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 9:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 9
- 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
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