But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted.
Parallel translations
- WEB but if the cloud wasn’t taken up, then they didn’t travel until the day that it was taken up.
- KJV But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
- BSB If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up.
- NKJV But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.
- NASB but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up.
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
If the cloud did not lift, Israel stayed put. They moved only at God's direction.
Overview
Just as the lifting cloud signaled departure, the cloud remaining meant Israel was to wait. Their obedience required patience to remain until God moved, not advancing on their own initiative. This teaches dependence on God's timing, trusting His guidance both to go and to stay as His presence directs.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Num 9:19–22When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept Yahweh’s command, and didn’t travel.
- Ps 31:15My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
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 40:37 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.