Exodus 40 · Verse 36

Exodus 40:36

And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
Exodus 40:36, King James Version

Exodus 40:36 in other translations

BSBWhenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey.
WEBWhen the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;
ASVAnd when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys:
YLTAnd in the going up of the cloud from off the tabernacle the sons of Israel journey in all their journeys;
DARBYAnd when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel journeyed in all their journeys.
BBEAnd whenever the cloud was taken up from the House, the children of Israel went forward on their journey:
WebsterAnd when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

What does Exodus 40:36 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
36. when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle--In journeying through the sandy, trackless deserts of the East, the use of torches, exhibiting a cloud of smoke by day and of fire by night, has been resorted to from time immemorial. The armies of Darius and Alexander were conducted on their marches in this manner [Faber]. The Arab caravans in the present day observe the same custom; and materials for these torches are stored up among other necessary preparations for a journey. Live fuel, hoisted in chafing dishes at the end of long poles, and being seen at a great distance, serves, by the smoke in the daytime and the light at night, as a better signal for march than the sound of a trumpet, which is not heard at the extremities of a large camp [Laborde]. This usage, and the miracle related by Moses, mutually illustrate each other. The usage leads us to think that the miracle was necessary, and worthy of God to perform; and, on the other hand, the miracle of the cloudy pillar, affording double benefit of shade by day and light at night, implies not only that the usage was not unknown to the Hebrews, but supplied all the wants which they felt in common with other travellers through those dreary regions [Faber, Hess, Grandpierre]. But its peculiar appearance, unvarying character, and regular movements, distinguished it from all the common atmospheric phenomena. It was an invaluable boon to the Israelites, and being recognized by all classes among that people as the symbol of the Divine Presence, it guided their journeys and regulated their encampments (compare Psa 29:1-11; 105:1-45).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 36 When the cloud was taken up - The subject of these three last verses has been very largely explained in the notes on Exo 13:21, to which, as well as to the general remarks on that chapter, the reader is requested immediately to refer. See Clarke's note on Exo 13:21.

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…

Read the full comment on Exodus 40:34-38 →

Exodus 40:36 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.

וּבְהֵעָל֤וֹתu.ve.he.'a.Lotand when was taken upH5927
הֶֽעָנָן֙he.'a.Nanthe cloudH6051
מֵעַ֣לme.'Alfrom overH5921
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ןha.mish.Kanthe tabernacleH4908
יִסְע֖וּyis.'Uthey set outH5265
בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
בְּכֹ֖לbe.Kholin allH3605
מַסְעֵיהֶֽם\׃mas.'ei.Hemjourneyings theirH4550

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

Cross references for Exodus 40:36

  • Nehemiah 9:19

    Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

  • Numbers 9:17

    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.

  • Numbers 10:11-13

    And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of 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.

  • Numbers 19:17-22

    And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even. But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean. …

  • Psalms 78:14

    In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.

  • Numbers 10:33-36

    And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:1

    Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

  • Psalms 105:39

    He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:19-20

    To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
13:21,22; Nu 10:11-13,33-36; 19:17-22; Ne 9:19; Ps 78:14; 105:39
1Co 10:1; 2Co 5:19,20
went onward. Heb. journeyed.

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Exodus 40:36

    And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

  • Exodus 40:37

    But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

Read all of Exodus 40

Exodus 40:36 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y cuando la nube se alzaba del tabernáculo, los hijos de Israel se movían en todas sus jornadas:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et quand la nuée se levait de dessus le tabernacle, les fils d’Israël partaient, dans toutes leurs traites;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wenn die Wolke sich von der Wohnung erhob, so brachen die Kinder Israel auf, auf allen ihren Zügen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nubes quippe Domini incubabat per diem tabernaculo, et ignis in nocte, videntibus cunctis populis Israël per cunctas mansiones suas.