Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it.
Parallel translations
- WEB When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;
- KJV And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
- BSB Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey.
- NKJV Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.
- NASB Throughout their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out;
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
When the cloud lifted from the tabernacle, Israel set out on their journey. God's presence directed their travels.
Overview
The cloud of God's presence served as Israel's guide; its lifting was the signal to break camp and move forward. This showed that the nation's journey was governed not by their own planning but by God's leading. It illustrates the life of faith, in which God's people are called to follow His guidance and presence step by step.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Neh 9:19yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.
- Num 9:17Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped.
- Num 10:11–13In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony.
- 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:
- Num 19:17–22“For the unclean, they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sin offering; and running water shall be poured into a vessel.
- Ps 78:14In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.
- Ps 105:39He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.
- Num 10:33–36They set forward from the Mount of Yahweh three days’ journey. The ark of Yahweh’s covenant went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
- 1 Cor 10:1Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
- 2 Cor 5:19–20namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 40:36 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.