New Living Translation
Exodus 27:21
21The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.
Exodus 27:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.
Context of Exodus 27:21
19“All the articles used in the rituals of the Tabernacle, including all the tent pegs used to support the Tabernacle and the courtyard curtains, must be made of bronze. 20“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.
Read all of Exodus 27Exodus 27:21 word by word
בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵד֩ מִח֨וּץ לַפָּרֹ֜כֶת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָעֵדֻ֗ת יַעֲרֹךְ֩ אֹת֨וֹ אַהֲרֹ֧ן וּבָנָ֛יו מֵעֶ֥רֶב עַד־בֹּ֖קֶר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹ֣רֹתָ֔ם מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- In the tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
- of the congregationמוֹעֵדmô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh · meetingH4150
- withoutחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
- the vailפָּרֹ֫כֶתpôreketh · curtainH6532
- before the testimonyעֵדוּת‛êdûth · testimonyH5715
- Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- and his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- shall orderעָרַךְ‛ârak · to arrangeH6186
- it from eveningעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
- to morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- a statuteחֻקָּהchûqqâh · statuteH2708
- for everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
- unto their generationsדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
- on the behalf of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
Cross-references for Exodus 27:21
- Exodus 29:10“Bring the young bull to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on its head.
- Leviticus 3:8lay your hand on its head, and slaughter it in front of the Tabernacle. Aaron’s sons will then splatter the sheep’s blood against all sides of the altar.
- Numbers 8:9Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
- Exodus 26:31“For the inside of the Tabernacle, make a special curtain of finely woven linen. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim.
- Exodus 40:3Place the Ark of the Covenant inside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place.
- Exodus 16:34Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it in the Ark of the Covenant—in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant.
- Exodus 25:16When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you.
- Exodus 30:8And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the Lord’s presence. This must be done from generation to generation.
- 1 Samuel 3:3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God.
- 2 Chronicles 13:11They present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord every morning and evening. They place the Bread of the Presence on the holy table, and they light the gold lampstand every evening. We are following the instructions of the Lord our God, but you have abandoned him.
- Malachi 2:7“The words of a priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
- Matthew 4:16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
- Luke 12:35“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning,
- John 5:35John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.
- 2 Corinthians 4:6For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
- 2 Peter 1:19Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
Commentaries on Exodus 27:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21The tabernacle of the congregation - The place where all the assembly of the people were to worship, where the God of that assembly was pleased to reside, and to which, as the habitation of their king and protector, they were ever to turn their faces in all their adorations. Before the testimony - That is, the ark where the tables of the covenant were deposited. See Exodus 25:16. Aaron and his sons - These and their descendants being the only legitimate…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The tabernacle of the congregation - More literally, the tent of meeting. This is the first occurrence of this designation of the tabernacle, and the idea connected with it is that of Yahweh meeting with either Moses, or the priests, or (in a few cases) with the people gathered into a congregation at the entrance of the tent. Without the rail, which is before the testimony - i. e. the holy place (see Exodus 25:16).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-21Verses 20-21 The pure oil signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which all believers receive from Christ, the good Olive, and without which our light cannot shine before men. The priests were to light the lamps, and tend them. It is the work of ministers, by preaching and expounding the Scriptures, which are as a lamp, to enlighten the church, God's tabernacle upon earth. Blessed be God, this light is not now confined to the Jewish tabernacle, but…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21the Tent of Meeting: The expression Tent of Meeting sometimes refers to the tabernacle tent. In these cases, Tent of Meeting and tabernacle mean the same thing. In addition, 33:7–11 also mentions a temporary tent called the Tent of Meeting. This tent was set up outside the camp before the tabernacle was built. See study note on 40:2.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. pure oil olive beaten--that is, such as runs from the olives when bruised and without the application of fire. for the light ... Aaron and his sons--were to take charge of lighting it in all time coming.Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 27:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 27
- 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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