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Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:34 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and Yahweh’s glory filled the tabernacle.
  • KJV Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
  • BSB Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
  • NASB Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
  • NLT Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The cloud covered the tent and Yahweh's glory filled the tabernacle. God visibly took up residence among His redeemed people.

Overview

Once the tabernacle was finished, the cloud of God's presence descended and His glory filled the structure, confirming His acceptance of the work. This was the climactic purpose of the exodus: God dwelling in the midst of His people. It anticipates the glory of God revealed in Christ, who tabernacled among us, and ultimately God's eternal dwelling with His people.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Rev 15:8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.
  • Num 9:15–23On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony: and at evening it was over the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning.
  • 2 Chr 7:2The priests could not enter into Yahweh’s house, because Yahweh’s glory filled Yahweh’s house.
  • Exod 29:43There I will meet with the children of Israel; and the place shall be sanctified by my glory.
  • Rev 21:23–24The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
  • Exod 14:19–20The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them.
  • Exod 14:24In the morning watch, Yahweh looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army.
  • Exod 33:9When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and spoke with Moses.
  • Lev 16:2and Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother, not to come at all times into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.
  • Exod 13:21–22Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:
  • Hag 2:7and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies.
  • Ezek 43:4–7Yahweh’s glory came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.
  • Hag 2:9‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Yahweh of Armies; ‘and in this place will I give peace,’ says Yahweh of Armies.”
  • Rev 21:3I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
  • 1 Kgs 8:10–11It came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled Yahweh’s house,
  • 2 Chr 5:13when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh, saying, “For he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever!” then the house was filled with a cloud, even Yahweh’s house,
  • Isa 4:5–6Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.
  • Isa 6:4The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
  • Ps 18:10–12He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
  • Exod 25:21–22You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I will give you.
  • Exod 25:8Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Exodus videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Exodus 40:34YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ExodusMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.

How Exodus 40:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.