Focused Passage

Exodus 40:17-33

The Tabernacle Erected and Filled with the Glory of the LORD

The chapter moves from the LORD’s command to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month, to the placement of the ark, veil, table, lampstand, incense altar, altar of burnt offering, basin, courtyard, and entrance curtain, to the anointing and consecration of the tabernacle and priests, to Moses’ careful obedience, and finally to the cloud covering the tent of meeting and the glory of the LORD filling the tabernacle. The book closes with the cloud guiding Israel through all their travels.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

17 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year.

18 When Moses set up the tabernacle, he laid its bases, positioned its frames, inserted its crossbars, and set up its posts.

19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, just as the LORD had commanded him.

20 Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark.

21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.

22 Moses placed the table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil.

23 He arranged the bread on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

24 He also placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle

25 and set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

26 Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil,

27 and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded him.

28 Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

29 He placed the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him.

30 He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing;

31 and from it Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet.

32 They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

33 And Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and he hung the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Original words

So וַיְהִ֞י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the tabernacle הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ H4908 Article | Noun - masculine singular was set up הוּקַ֖ם H6965 Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular on the first בְּאֶחָ֣ד H259 Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular day לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ H2320 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular of the first הָרִאשׁ֛וֹן H7223 Article | Adjective - masculine singular month בַּחֹ֧דֶשׁ H2320 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular of the second הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית H8145 Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular year בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה H8141 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 18

Original words

When Moses מֹשֶׁ֜ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker set up וַיָּ֨קֶם H6965 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the tabernacle הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ן H4908 Article | Noun - masculine singular he laid וַיִּתֵּן֙ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker its bases אֲדָנָ֔יו H134 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular positioned וַיָּ֙שֶׂם֙ H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker its frames קְרָשָׁ֔יו H7175 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular inserted וַיִּתֵּ֖ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker its crossbars בְּרִיחָ֑יו H1280 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular and set up וַיָּ֖קֶם H6965 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker its posts עַמּוּדָֽיו׃ H5982 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Then he spread וַיִּפְרֹ֤שׂ H6566 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the tent הָאֹ֙הֶל֙ H168 Article | Noun - masculine singular over עַל־ H5921 Preposition the tabernacle הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן H4908 Article | Noun - masculine singular and put וַיָּ֜שֶׂם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the covering מִכְסֵ֥ה H4372 Noun - masculine singular construct over the tent הָאֹ֛הֶל H168 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . עָלָ֖יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular . . . מִלְמָ֑עְלָה H4605 Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular [him] מֹשֶֽׁה׃ס H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

Moses took וַיִּקַּ֞ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the Testimony הָעֵדֻת֙ H5715 Article | Noun - feminine singular and placed וַיִּתֵּ֤ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker it in אֶל־ H413 Preposition the ark הָ֣אָרֹ֔ן H727 Article | Noun - common singular attaching וַיָּ֥שֶׂם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the poles הַבַּדִּ֖ים H905 Article | Noun - masculine plural to עַל־ H5921 Preposition the ark הָאָרֹ֑ן H727 Article | Noun - common singular and he set וַיִּתֵּ֧ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the mercy seat הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular atop עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ H4605 Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Adverb | third person feminine singular the ark הָאָרֹ֖ן H727 Article | Noun - common singular
Verse 21

Original words

Then he brought וַיָּבֵ֣א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the ark הָאָרֹן֮ H727 Article | Noun - common singular into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the tabernacle הַמִּשְׁכָּן֒ H4908 Article | Noun - masculine singular put up וַיָּ֗שֶׂם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֵ֚ת H853 Direct object marker the veil פָּרֹ֣כֶת H6532 Noun - feminine singular construct for the screen הַמָּסָ֔ךְ H4539 Article | Noun - masculine singular and shielded וַיָּ֕סֶךְ H5526 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular off עַ֖ל H5921 Preposition the ark אֲר֣וֹן H727 Noun - common singular construct of the Testimony הָעֵד֑וּת H5715 Article | Noun - feminine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular him מֹשֶֽׁה׃ס H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 22

Original words

Moses placed וַיִּתֵּ֤ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the table הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ H7979 Article | Noun - masculine singular in the Tent בְּאֹ֣הֶל H168 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֔ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular on עַ֛ל H5921 Preposition the north צָפֹ֑נָה H6828 Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular side יֶ֥רֶךְ H3409 Noun - feminine singular construct of the tabernacle הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן H4908 Article | Noun - masculine singular outside מִח֖וּץ H2351 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular the veil לַפָּרֹֽכֶת׃ H6532 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 23

Original words

He arranged וַיַּעֲרֹ֥ךְ H6186 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the bread לֶ֖חֶם H3899 Noun - masculine singular on it עָלָ֛יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular . . . עֵ֥רֶךְ H6187 Noun - masculine singular construct before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular him מֹשֶֽׁה׃ס H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

He also placed וַיָּ֤שֶׂם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the lampstand הַמְּנֹרָה֙ H4501 Article | Noun - feminine singular in the Tent בְּאֹ֣הֶל H168 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֔ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular opposite נֹ֖כַח H5227 Preposition the table הַשֻּׁלְחָ֑ן H7979 Article | Noun - masculine singular on עַ֛ל H5921 Preposition the south נֶֽגְבָּה׃ H5045 Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular side יֶ֥רֶךְ H3409 Noun - feminine singular construct of the tabernacle הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן H4908 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 25

Original words

and set up וַיַּ֥עַל H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the lamps הַנֵּרֹ֖ת H5216 Article | Noun - masculine plural before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular him מֹשֶֽׁה׃ס H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 26

Original words

Moses placed וַיָּ֛שֶׂם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the gold הַזָּהָ֖ב H2091 Article | Noun - masculine singular altar מִזְבַּ֥ח H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct in the Tent בְּאֹ֣הֶל H168 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֑ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular in front לִפְנֵ֖י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct of the veil הַפָּרֹֽכֶת׃ H6532 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 27

Original words

and he burned וַיַּקְטֵ֥ר H6999 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular fragrant סַמִּ֑ים H5561 Noun - masculine plural incense קְטֹ֣רֶת H7004 Noun - feminine singular construct on it עָלָ֖יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular him מֹשֶֽׁה׃פ H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 28

Original words

Then he put up וַיָּ֛שֶׂם H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the curtain מָסַ֥ךְ H4539 Noun - masculine singular construct at the entrance הַפֶּ֖תַח H6607 Article | Noun - masculine singular to the tabernacle לַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ H4908 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 29

Original words

- וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker He placed שָׂ֕ם H7760 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the altar מִזְבַּ֣ח H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct of burnt offering הָעֹלָ֔ה H5930 Article | Noun - feminine singular near the entrance פֶּ֖תַח H6607 Noun - masculine singular construct to the tabernacle מִשְׁכַּ֣ן H4908 Noun - masculine singular construct the Tent אֹֽהֶל־ H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֑ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular and offered וַיַּ֣עַל H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular on it עָלָ֗יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular the burnt offering הָעֹלָה֙ H5930 Article | Noun - feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the grain offering הַמִּנְחָ֔ה H4503 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular him מֹשֶֽׁה׃ס H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

He placed וַיָּ֙שֶׂם֙ H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the basin הַכִּיֹּ֔ר H3595 Article | Noun - masculine singular between בֵּֽין־ H996 Preposition the Tent אֹ֥הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֖ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular . . . וּבֵ֣ין H996 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular and put וַיִּתֵּ֥ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular water מַ֖יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural in it שָׁ֛מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular for washing לְרָחְצָֽה׃ H7364 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

and from it מִמֶּ֔נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular Moses מֹשֶׁ֖ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular Aaron וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן H175 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular and his sons וּבָנָ֑יו H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker washed וְרָחֲצ֣וּ H7364 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural their hands יְדֵיהֶ֖ם H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and feet רַגְלֵיהֶֽם׃ H7272 Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 32

Original words

They washed יִרְחָ֑צוּ H7364 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural whenever they entered בְּבֹאָ֞ם H935 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Tent אֹ֣הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֗ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular or approached וּבְקָרְבָתָ֛ם H7126 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker had commanded צִוָּ֥ה H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Moses מֹשֶֽׁה׃ס H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 33

Original words

And Moses set up וַיָּ֣קֶם H6965 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the courtyard הֶחָצֵ֗ר H2691 Article | Noun - common singular around סָבִיב֙ H5439 Adverb the tabernacle לַמִּשְׁכָּ֣ן H4908 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular and the altar וְלַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ H4196 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular and he hung וַיִּתֵּ֕ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the curtain מָסַ֖ךְ H4539 Noun - masculine singular construct for the entrance שַׁ֣עַר H8179 Noun - masculine singular construct to the courtyard הֶחָצֵ֑ר H2691 Article | Noun - common singular So Moses מֹשֶׁ֖ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker finished וַיְכַ֥ל H3615 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the work הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃פ H4399 Article | Noun - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.