Exodus 40 · Verse 34

Exodus 40:34

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:34, King James Version

Exodus 40:34 in other translations

BSBThen the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
WEBThen the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle.
ASVThen the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.
YLTAnd the cloud covereth the tent of meeting, and the honour of Jehovah hath filled the tabernacle;
DARBYAnd the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.
BBEThen the cloud came down covering the Tent of meeting, and the House was full of the glory of the Lord;
WebsterThen a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

What does Exodus 40:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
34. a cloud--literally, "The cloud," the mystic cloud which was the well-known symbol of the Divine Presence. After remaining at a great distance from them on the summit of the mount, it appeared to be in motion; and if many among them had a secret misgiving about the issue, how the fainting heart would revive, the interest of the moment intensely increase, and the tide of joy swell in every bosom, when that symbolic cloud was seen slowly and majestically descending towards the plain below and covering the tabernacle. The entire and universal concealment of the tabernacle within the folds of an impervious cloud was not without a deep and instructive meaning; it was a protection to the sacred edifice from the burning heats of the Arabian climate; it was a token of the Divine Presence; and it was also an emblem of the Mosaic dispensation, which, though it was a revelation from heaven, yet left many things hid in obscurity; for it was a dark cloud compared with the bright cloud, which betokened the clearer and fuller discoveries of the divine character and glory in the gospel (Mt 17:5). the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle--that is, light and fire, a created splendor, which was the peculiar symbol of God (1Jo 1:5). Whether this light was inherent in the cloud or not, it emanated from it on this occasion, and making its entry, not with the speed of a lightning flash as if it were merely an electric spark, but in majestic splendor, it passed through the outer porch into the interior of the most holy place (1Ki 8:10; Joh 1:14). Its miraculous character is shown by the fact, that, though "it filled the tabernacle," not a curtain or any article of furniture was so much as singed.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 Then a cloud covered the tent - Thus God gave his approbation of the work; and as this was visible, so it was a sign to all the people that Jehovah was among them. And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle - How this was manifested we cannot tell; it was probably by some light or brightness which was insufferable to the sight, for Moses himself could not enter in because of the cloud and the glory, Exo 40:35. Precisely the same happened when Solomon had dedicated his temple; for it is said that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord; 1Kgs 8:10, 1Kgs 8:11. Previously to this the cloud of the Divine glory had rested upon that tent or tabernacle which Moses had pitched without the camp, after the transgression in the matter of the molten calf; but now the cloud removed from that tabernacle and rested upon this one, which was made by the command and under the direction of God himself. And there is reason to believe that this tabernacle was pitched in the center of the camp, all the twelve tribes pitching their different tents in a certain order around it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 40:34-38
The cloud covered the tabernacle even in the clearest day; it was not a cloud which the sun scatters. This cloud was a token of God's presence to be seen day and night, by all Israel, that they might never again question, Is the Lord among us, or is he not? It guided the camp of Israel through the wilderness. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they rested; when it removed, they followed it. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In light and fire the Shechinah made itself visible: God is Light; our God is a consuming Fire. Yet so dazzling was the light, and so dreadful the fire, that Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, till the splendour was abated. But what Moses could not do, our Lord Jesus has done, whom God caused to draw near; and who has invited us to come boldly, even to the mercy-seat. Being taught by the Holy Spirit to follow the example of Christ, as well as to depend upon him, to attend his ordinances, and obey his precepts, we shall be kept from losing our way, and be led in the midst of the paths of judgment, till we come to heaven, the habitation of his holiness. BLESSED BE GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST!

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Exodus 40:34 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְכַ֥סvay.Khasand it coveredH3680
הֶעָנָ֖ןhe.'a.Nanthe cloudH6051
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֹ֣הֶל'O.hel[the] tent ofH168
מוֹעֵ֑דmo.'EdmeetingH4150
וּכְב֣וֹדu.khe.Vodand [the] glory ofH3519
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
מָלֵ֖אma.Le'it filledH4390
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן\׃ha.mish.Kanthe tabernacleH4908

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 40:34

  • Revelation 15:8

    And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

  • Numbers 9:15-23

    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. So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. …

  • 2 Chronicles 7:2

    And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.

  • Revelation 21:23-24

    And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

  • Exodus 29:43

    And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.

  • Exodus 14:19-20

    And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

  • Exodus 14:24

    And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

  • Exodus 33:9

    And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.

  • Exodus 13:21-22

    And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

  • Leviticus 16:2

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

  • Revelation 21:3

    And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

  • Haggai 2:7

    And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a cloud.
13:21,22; 14:19,20,24; 25:8,21,22; 29:43; 33:9; Le 16:2
Nu 9:15-23; 1Ki 8:10,11; 2Ch 5:13; 7:2; Ps 18:10-12; Isa 4:5,6
Isa 6:4; Eze 43:4-7; Hag 2:7,9; Re 15:8; 21:3,23,24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 40:33

    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.

  • Exodus 40:34

    Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

  • Exodus 40:35

    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.

Read all of Exodus 40

Exodus 40:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces una nube cubrió el tabernáculo del testimonio, y la gloria de Jehová hinchió el tabernáculo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et la nuée couvrit la tente d’assignation, et la gloire de l’ Éternel remplit le tabernacle;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Wolke bedeckte das Zelt der Zusammenkunft, und die Herrlichkeit Jehovas erfüllte die Wohnung.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Siquando nubes tabernaculum deserebat, proficiscebantur filii Israël per turmas suas: