Exodus 40:36
◄  Exodus 40:36  ►
New International Version (©2011)
In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;

New Living Translation (©2007)
Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out;

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Whenever the cloud was lifted up from the tent, the Israelis would set out on their journey,

NET Bible (©2006)
But when the cloud was lifted up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on all their journeys;

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
In all their travels, whenever the [column of] smoke moved from the tent, the Israelites would break camp.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

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

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
If at any time the cloud removed from the tabernacle, the children of Israel went forward by their troops:

Darby Bible Translation
And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel journeyed in all their journeys.

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

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

World English Bible
When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;

Young's Literal Translation
And in the going up of the cloud from off the tabernacle the sons of Israel journey in all their journeys;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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!

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 36-38. - And when - i.e. "whensoever." The last three verses describe the manner in which the cloud henceforth served the Israelites as guide - not only directing their course, but determining when they were to move, and how long they were to rest at each encampment. For a further account of the same, see Numbers 9:15-23.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle,.... By the Lord himself, or it removed by his order, that is, rose up and stood above the tabernacle, and appeared in the form of a pillar, and went before it:

the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys; the motion of the cloud was a direction to set forward and continue their journey as long as it lasted; but when it rested and abode upon the tabernacle, then they stopped and rested also, as is suggested in the following verse Exodus 40:37, see Numbers 9:17 thus the saints are to be followers of God as dear children, and to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes or directs, and walk after the Spirit, the dictates and directions thereof; so the wheels in Ezekiel's vision went and stood, as did the living creatures, and the spirit in them, Ezekiel 1:19.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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 Ps 29:1-11; 105:1-45).

Exodus 40:36 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Glory of the Lord
34Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud stayed thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

Numbers 9:17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.
Numbers 9:22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out.
Numbers 10:12 Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran.
Nehemiah 9:19 "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.