Exodus 40 21

Exodus 40:21

ESV: And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

KJV: And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.

NIV: Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the LORD commanded him.

NKJV: And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the Testimony, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

NLT: Then he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the Tabernacle and hung the inner curtain to shield it from view, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Meaning

Exodus 40:21 describes a pivotal moment in the Tabernacle's erection: Moses placed the sacred Ark of the Testimony within the Tabernacle, then set up the separating veil, which covered and hid the Ark, precisely as the LORD had instructed him. This verse highlights the precise fulfillment of divine commands concerning the holiest object in Israel's worship and the structure designed to house God's presence.

Cross References

Context

Exodus chapter 40 marks the culmination of the entire book of Exodus. Following God's detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle (chapters 25-31) and the sin of the golden calf (chapter 32), chapters 35-39 describe the meticulous construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings by skilled artisans, precisely "as the LORD commanded Moses." Chapter 40 describes Moses personally assembling the completed Tabernacle components on the first day of the first month of the second year after the Exodus. This verse, Exodus 40:21, is part of a sequence (verses 18-33) detailing the precise placement of each sacred object and component inside the Tabernacle. Historically and culturally, the Tabernacle's design reflects a portable sanctuary where Yahweh would dwell among His nomadic people, contrasting with surrounding pagan practices that often had multiple idols and gods confined to stationary temples, reflecting limited divine power. The precise obedience to God's detailed plan underscores the holiness and singular authority of the God of Israel.

Word analysis

• And he brought (וַיָּבֵא֙ vayyave): The Hebrew verb emphasizes deliberate, decisive action by Moses, implying direct handling and placement. This act signifies the ultimate purpose of the Tabernacle: to house the divine presence.
• the ark (הָאָרֹ֖ון ha'aron): Refers to the Ark of the Covenant, Israel's most sacred object. Aron denotes a chest or coffer. Its significance is immense: it served as the throne for God's presence, housed the tablets of the Ten Commandments (the "testimony"), and symbolized God's covenant relationship with Israel.
• into the tabernacle (אֶל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן el-hamishkan): Mishkan means "dwelling place" or "sanctuary." It signifies the sacred tent where God would meet with His people. The act of bringing the Ark into the Tabernacle fulfilled its primary purpose, making it God's earthly dwelling place among Israel.
• and set up (וַיָּפֶרֶשׂ֙ vayyafres): This verb means "spread out" or "put up." It describes the physical action of hanging the heavy, embroidered curtain. This was not a casual act but a precise, divinely ordained step.
• the veil (אֵ֣ת פָּרֹ֔כֶת et parochet): Parochet specifically denotes the thick, ornately embroidered curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies. This veil's purpose was critical: to restrict access to the Ark, ensuring only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year (on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement), thereby preserving the holiness of God and emphasizing the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity.
• of the covering (הַמָּסָ֔ךְ hammasakh): This Hebrew term clarifies the function of the parochet. While masakh can refer to a screen or curtain generally (e.g., at the Tabernacle entrance), here in conjunction with parochet, it specifically denotes the interior curtain that acts as a covering or screen for the holiest compartment, hence the "veil of the covering."
• and covered (וַיְכַס֙ vayekas): Means "he covered." This verb reinforces the purpose of the veil—to obscure and protect the Ark from public view and accidental defilement. The Ark, being the dwelling place of the Most High, could not be looked upon by unauthorized persons without severe consequences.
• the ark of the testimony (עַל־אֲרֹ֣ון הָעֵדֻ֑ת al-aron ha'edut): Another name for the Ark, highlighting its contents: the two stone tablets of the covenant, which served as God's edut (testimony or witness) to His covenant with Israel. The tablets contained the Ten Commandments, which testified to God's holiness and His expectations of His people.
• as the LORD had commanded Moses (כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ ka'asher tzivah YHVH et Moshe): This phrase, appearing frequently throughout Exodus in relation to the Tabernacle, is highly significant. It emphasizes the divine origin of the entire Tabernacle design and setup, the direct obedience of Moses, and the resulting legitimacy and sacredness of the completed structure. It confirms that everything was done according to God's perfect plan, not human devising.

Commentary

Exodus 40:21 marks the final and most crucial step in the furnishing of the Tabernacle: the placement of the Ark of the Covenant, God's dwelling throne, and its concealment behind the veil. This verse, situated amidst a detailed account of the Tabernacle's erection, underscores divine order, meticulous obedience, and the establishment of sacred space for God's presence among His people. Moses' faithful execution of every command validates the entire project as truly God's habitation. The Ark’s position in the innermost sanctuary, shrouded by the veil, dramatically portrays God's utter holiness and inaccessibility to sinful humanity, reinforcing His transcendence. Yet, it also speaks to His immanence—His willingness to dwell amidst Israel. The repeated phrase, "as the LORD had commanded Moses," permeates Exodus 40, reinforcing divine authority and human faithfulness, setting the standard for all worship and service. Typologically, this veiled access foreshadows Christ, whose atoning sacrifice would tear the ultimate veil, His flesh, providing a new and living way to enter God's presence (Heb 10:19-20).

Bonus section

The completed Tabernacle, with the Ark veiled within, serves as a microcosm of God's redemptive plan. The very structure speaks of separation due to sin (the veil) and the provision for atonement (the sacrificial system, performed outside the veil, but symbolically presenting blood to God behind it). The Ark of the Testimony, holding the covenant law, highlights humanity's failure to keep God's commands, while the Mercy Seat upon it, where the High Priest sprinkled blood, signified God's willingness to forgive and meet with His people based on propitiation. The finality and meticulousness described in Exodus 40 (especially with verse 21) affirm the perfection and sacredness of this divinely ordained system, establishing the foundation for all subsequent worship and illustrating God's desire for intimate, yet holy, communion with His chosen people.

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