Exodus Chapter 40
Showing all 38 verses for Exodus Chapter 40.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "
"The LORD spoke to Moses and said:"
God speaks again to Moses, giving clear direction for what comes next. Jesus calls you to trust that He is not silent about the details of your life either - He speaks, guides, and moves you forward one step at a time.
"On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. "
"On the first day of the first month, you are to set up the tabernacle - the tent where people meet with God."
A specific day was set for the tabernacle to be raised - not left vague, but pinned to an exact moment. Jesus calls you to trust His timing in your own life; what feels delayed to you is being set up for the right moment, not a random one.
"And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. "
"Put the ark - the chest holding the terms of the agreement - inside it, and screen it off with the curtain."
The ark of the testimony was to be placed within, then covered with the vail - God's presence near, yet still veiled from casual approach. Jesus calls you to hold both truths together: He draws wonderfully close to you, and yet He remains worthy of your reverence and awe.
"And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. "
"Bring in the table and arrange what belongs on it in order; bring in the lampstand and light its lamps."
The table was set in order and the candlestick lit - provision and light both prepared before anyone even entered. Jesus calls you to trust that He goes ahead of you, arranging what you'll need before you even realise you need it.
"And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. "
"Set the gold incense altar in front of the ark, and put the curtain in place at the entrance to the tabernacle."
The golden altar of incense was placed before the ark, and the door hanging set up - worship positioned right at the entrance, before the ark of the testimony. Jesus calls you to let prayer be the first thing that meets you as you draw near to Him, not an afterthought tacked onto the end.
"And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. "
"Set the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the tabernacle."
The altar of burnt offering was set right at the tabernacle's door - the very first thing anyone would encounter on their way in. Jesus calls you to remember that sacrifice and grace stand at the entrance of every relationship with God; nothing comes before what He has already provided for you.
"And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. "
"Set the basin between the tent and the altar, and put water in it."
The laver, filled with water, stood between the tent and the altar - a place of washing positioned deliberately along the path inward. Jesus calls you to let Him cleanse you as you go, not waiting until you feel already clean enough to approach Him.
"And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. "
"Set up the courtyard around it, and hang the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard."
The court was set up around the whole structure, with its gate hung in place - boundaries established so that the sacred space was clearly marked. Jesus calls you to trust that the boundaries He sets in your life are not restrictions meant to shut you out, but a clear way marked in for you to come near.
"And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. "
"Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it, and consecrate it and all its furnishings - it will then be holy."
The anointing oil was used to hallow the tabernacle and everything in it, setting it apart as holy. Jesus calls you to know that He, too, sets you apart - not because you earned it, but because He has chosen to make you holy through His own anointing.
"And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. "
"Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its equipment, and consecrate the altar - it will become extremely holy."
The altar of burnt offering was anointed and sanctified until it became most holy - a place made entirely set apart for its sacred purpose. Jesus calls you to trust that He can take even the ordinary parts of your life and make them holy when they're surrendered to His purposes.
"And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. "
"Anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it."
The laver and its foot were anointed too, cleansing made holy alongside sacrifice. Jesus calls you to see that the ordinary, practical parts of your faith - the daily washing, the routine habits - carry real sacred weight, not just the dramatic moments.
"And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. "
"Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tabernacle and wash them with water."
Aaron and his sons were brought to the door and washed with water before anything else could happen. Jesus calls you to remember that cleansing always comes first - He wants to wash you clean before He sends you out to serve, not the other way around.
"And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. "
"Put the sacred garments on Aaron, anoint him, and consecrate him, so that he can serve me as priest."
Aaron was clothed with the holy garments, anointed, and set apart to minister to God. Jesus calls you to know that He clothes you too - not in your own worthiness, but in what He provides, before He ever calls you into service.
"And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: "
"Bring his sons forward and dress them in their tunics."
Aaron's sons were brought forward and clothed with coats just as their father was - the next generation prepared and included, not left out of the blessing. Jesus calls you to trust that His care extends beyond you to those who come after - your faithfulness now can prepare the way for others.
"And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. "
"Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they can serve me as priests too - their anointing will establish a priesthood that lasts for all their generations."
Their anointing was to be for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations - a promise stretching far beyond that single day. Jesus calls you to trust that what He begins in you is not temporary or fragile, but part of something that lasts.
"Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. "
"Moses did everything exactly as the LORD had commanded him."
Moses did exactly according to all that the LORD commanded him - simple, complete obedience without deviation. Jesus calls you to find the same peace Moses found in that obedience: not the anxiety of guessing, but the rest of simply doing what you've been shown.
"And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. "
"So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year."
The tabernacle was reared up on a specific, recorded day - a long process of preparation finally reaching its moment. Jesus calls you to trust that the long seasons of preparation in your own life are leading somewhere real, even when the waiting feels endless.
"And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. "
"Moses set up the tabernacle: he put its bases in place, positioned its frames, inserted its crossbars, and set up its posts."
Moses himself reared up the tabernacle, fastening sockets, setting boards, fixing bars and pillars - hands-on involvement in the very structure God had designed. Jesus calls you to bring your own hands to the work He has given you, not standing back but engaging fully in what He's asked of you.
"And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. "
"He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over that, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."
The tent was spread over the tabernacle and its covering placed above, just as the LORD had commanded - protection layered over what was sacred. Jesus calls you to trust that He covers and protects what matters to you, shielding it even when you can't see the covering yourself.
"And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: "
"He took the tablets of the covenant and put them into the ark, fitted the poles onto the ark, and placed the atonement cover on top of it."
The testimony was placed into the ark, the staves set, and the mercy seat placed above it - law and mercy brought together in one place. Jesus calls you to see that this is exactly what He does for you: your failures met not with exposure but with mercy covering over them.
"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. "
"He brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the covering curtain, and screened off the ark of the covenant, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."
The ark was brought in, the vail set up, and the ark covered - God's presence established at the very centre, set apart in holiness. Jesus calls you to trust that at the centre of your own life, too, there is a place set apart for Him, however hidden it might feel to others.
"And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. "
"He placed the table in the tent, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain."
The table was set on the north side, positioned exactly as instructed, nothing left to guesswork. Jesus calls you to trust His careful placement of things in your own life - even the details that seem arbitrary have their purpose.
"And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. "
"He arranged the bread on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."
Bread was set in order upon the table before the LORD, continual provision kept in His presence. Jesus calls you to trust that He keeps you in continual view too - provided for, not forgotten, even in seasons that feel dry.
"And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. "
"He placed the lampstand in the tent, facing the table, on the south side of the tabernacle."
The candlestick was placed opposite the table, on the south side, giving light to the space where bread was kept. Jesus calls you to see how provision and light belong together in your life - He doesn't just meet your needs, He illuminates the way you walk while doing it.
"And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. "
"He lit the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."
Moses lit the lamps before the LORD exactly as commanded - light kindled deliberately, not left to chance. Jesus calls you to let your own light be tended with that same intentionality - faith doesn't sustain itself by accident, it needs deliberate care.
"And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: "
"He placed the gold altar in the tent, in front of the curtain."
The golden altar was set in the tent before the vail, placed as close to God's presence as anything could be without crossing behind it. Jesus calls you to bring your prayers right up to the edge of His presence with confidence - you are welcome that close.
"And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses. "
"He burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."
Sweet incense was burned on the altar exactly as the LORD commanded, a fragrance rising continually in worship. Jesus calls you to let your own prayers rise like that, not as a burden but as something genuinely pleasing offered back to Him.
"And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. "
"He put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle."
The hanging was set up at the tabernacle's door, marking the entrance clearly for anyone approaching. Jesus calls you to be that same kind of clear entryway for others - someone whose life points plainly to where God can be found.
"And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses. "
"He set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."
The altar of burnt offering was placed by the tabernacle's door, and burnt and meat offerings made there as commanded. Jesus calls you to remember that worship starts right at the doorway of your life, not reserved for some later, more polished version of yourself.
"And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. "
"He set the basin between the tent and the altar and put water in it for washing."
The laver was set between the tent and the altar, filled with water for washing - positioned deliberately between worship and entry. Jesus calls you to let cleansing be part of your regular rhythm, not a one-time event but something you return to again and again.
"And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: "
"Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet at it."
Moses, Aaron and his sons washed their hands and feet at the laver - even the most honoured leaders needed the same cleansing as anyone else. Jesus calls you to remember that no one, however far along in faith, is exempt from needing His ongoing grace.
"When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. "
"Whenever they went into the tent, or approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."
They washed whenever they went in or drew near to the altar, exactly as the LORD had commanded - a consistent, repeated practice rather than a one-off ritual. Jesus calls you to build habits of returning to Him regularly, not relying on a single moment of cleansing to carry you indefinitely.
"And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. "
"He set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and put up the curtain at the courtyard gate. So Moses finished the work."
The court was reared up around the tabernacle and altar, the gate hung, and the work finished - a long project brought at last to completion. Jesus calls you to trust that the work He has begun in you, too, will be brought to completion, even when it feels like it's taking forever.
"Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. "
"Then a cloud covered the tent, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."
As soon as the work was finished, a cloud covered the tent and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle - God's presence arriving in full, undeniable weight. Jesus calls you to trust that when you make room for Him in obedience, He does not hold back; He fills what you've prepared for Him.
"And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. "
"Moses could not enter the tent, because the cloud had settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."
Moses himself could not enter because the glory of the LORD so filled the tabernacle - even the one who built it by God's command was overwhelmed by what he had prepared. Jesus calls you to hold real reverence alongside real closeness; God's glory is not something to approach casually, even by those He loves most.
"And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: "
"Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on the next stage of their journey."
When the cloud lifted, the people moved forward - their journeys directed entirely by the visible presence of God among them. Jesus calls you to trust His leading in your own life the same way, moving when He moves and staying when He asks you to wait.
"But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. "
"But if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out - not until the day it lifted."
If the cloud didn't lift, the people simply did not journey - they trusted God's timing over their own impatience to move on. Jesus calls you to accept the seasons of waiting in your own life as part of His guidance, not as delay or failure.
"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. "
"For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, visible to the whole house of Israel throughout all their travels."
The cloud by day and fire by night stayed with them throughout all their journeys, visible to the whole house of Israel. Jesus calls you to trust that His presence, too, stays with you through every stage of your journey - never leaving, whether your days feel bright or dark.