Exodus 40:17 · Bible study
Exodus 40:17 Commentary: Tabernacle Erected on New Year's Day
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Learn the meaning of Exodus 40:17.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Marks the completion and erection of the Tabernacle exactly as God commanded on the first day of the first month of the second year.
- Key words: 'Was raised up' (huqam), a passive verb with divine overtones; 'first' (ri'shon) and 'second' (sheni) anchor the chronology.
- Main debate: No significant interpretive debate; commentators agree on the historical and theological meaning.
- Theological theme: God's faithfulness and the importance of precise obedience in establishing the place of divine presence.
- Best use: Teaching about God's detailed guidance, the value of faithful completion, and the inauguration of worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year.
WEB World English Bible 2000
In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was raised up.
KJV King James Version 1769
And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And it cometh to pass, in the first month, in the second year, in the first of the month, the tabernacle hath been raised up;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first of the month, that the tabernacle was set up.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And spread the roof over the tabernacle, putting over it a cover, as the Lord had commanded.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y así en el día primero del primer mes, en el segundo año, el tabernáculo fué erigido.
E assim no dia primeiro do primeiro mês, no segundo ano, o tabernáculo foi erigido.
Le premier jour du premier mois de la seconde année, le tabernacle fut dressé.
Also ward die Wohnung aufgerichtet im zweiten Jahr, am ersten Tage des ersten Monats.
En het geschiedde in de eerste maand, in het tweede jaar, op den eersten der maand, dat de tabernakel opgericht werd.
E il primo giorno del primo mese del secondo anno, il tabernacolo fu eretto.
Stało się tedy miesiąca pierwszego, roku wtórego, pierwszego dnia miesiąca, że wystawiony jest przybytek.
В первый месяц второго года [по исшествии их из Египта], в первый день месяца поставлена скиния.
第二 年 正 月 初 一日，帳幕 就立起來。
So on the first day of the first month in the second year the House was put up.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 40:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The commentators agree that this verse records the exact fulfillment of God's command given in Exodus 40:1, 2. The timing, the first day of the first month of the second year, is precise and intentional. Calvin notes that Moses 'obeyed God in such a manner as not to vary in the most trifling point from the form prescribed to him.' Barnes calculates that the construction occupied 'something less than half a year,' placing the completion about a year after the Exodus (Exodus 12:2; 13:4). Keil & Delitzsch observe that 'not quite nine months had elapsed between the arrival of the Israelites at Sinai' and this date, with the actual building taking 'not quite half a year.' Gill calls the New Year's Day erection 'beginning the year well.' The unanimous emphasis is on Moses' obedient faithfulness and God's provision of His dwelling place among His people.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse records the exact date on which the tabernacle was erected in obedience to God's command, marking the beginning of God's dwelling among Israel.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Chronological calculation | All commentators place the setting up of the tabernacle approximately one year after the Exodus, near the spring equinox. | The exact number of months for construction varies slightly: Barnes says 'something less than half a year,' Keil & Delitzsch say 'not quite half a year.' Both agree it was a short time given the scope. |
| Location of the tabernacle | The tabernacle was erected in the wilderness of Sinai, at the foot of Mount Sinai, within the Israelite camp. | Gill discusses a traditional site called Araone near Mount Sinai but notes uncertainty. Others do not specify a precise spot, leaving it undetermined. |
| Role of Moses | Moses followed God's instructions exactly in setting up the tabernacle (Exodus 40:16, 18-19). | No debate: all sources affirm his obedience. |
| Theological significance of the date | The New Year's Day date underscores a fresh start and God's purposeful timing. | Some traditions (e.g., Jewish) emphasize the connection to the religious calendar; Christian commentators often see it as a type of Christ's incarnation or the church's foundation. These are complementary, not contradictory. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The first month of the Hebrew calendar, Nisan (Abib), began in the spring near the vernal equinox. God had established this month as the start of the religious year at the Exodus (Exodus 12:2). Raising the tabernacle on the first day of Nisan therefore marked a new beginning, a year after Israel's liberation from Egypt. The people had arrived at Mount Sinai in the third month after the Exodus (Exodus 19:1), and Moses spent two periods of forty days on the mountain receiving instructions for the tabernacle. The work of constructing the tabernacle and its furnishings thus spanned roughly six months, a remarkably short time given the complexity and the desert conditions. Edersheim notes that 'the whole work was completed within an almost incredibly short period.' The location where the tabernacle was erected is not named in Exodus, but Gill suggests it was likely in the center of the camp (Numbers 2:2). This date also anchors later events: the dedication offerings in Numbers 7:1 and the celebration of the second Passover in Numbers 9:1. By setting up the tabernacle on New Year's Day, God established a pattern of renewal and divine presence at the start of the year.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the Greek versions (Septuagint) and early translations reproduce the same chronological information. The major point of variation in Exodus 40 concerns the longer passage (vv. 17, 33) rather than this single verse, and those variants are minor (e.g., ordering of items). For this verse itself, the text is well preserved.
Reception History
Exodus 40:17 has been read in Jewish tradition as marking the establishment of the Mishkan (tabernacle) on New Year's Day, linking the beginning of the civil year with the beginning of God's dwelling among His people. Early Christian interpreters, such as those in the typological tradition, saw this date as foreshadowing the incarnation, God taking up residence in human flesh at a specific moment in history. The precision of the date also made it a key verse for biblical chronographers. In Protestant commentary, the verse is often cited to illustrate the principle of exact obedience, with Calvin and Matthew Henry stressing that Moses did everything 'as the Lord commanded.' The verse continues to be used in sermons on new beginnings and the importance of completing the work God gives.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God's promise kept exactly on time. The date is not accidental. God commanded the tabernacle to be erected on this specific day, and Moses did it (Exodus 40:2). The precision shows God's sovereignty over history.
- Obedience brings the work to completion. Moses followed every detail. Calvin emphasizes that he did not vary in the slightest point. When we obey God's instructions fully, His dwelling place is established among us.
- The presence of God dwells with His people. The tabernacle was the place where God met Israel. Its completion was not just a construction milestone; it was the inauguration of God's dwelling in the camp.
Five-point outline
- Timing reveals divine order. The first day of the first month signifies a fresh start.
- Moses as a model of faithful service. He did as the Lord commanded (Exodus 40:16).
- The communal effort of building. Many skilled workers contributed; the tabernacle was a community project.
- The anointing and consecration follow. After erection came the sanctifying of the tabernacle and priests (Exodus 40:9, 15).
- The glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle. The cloud covers it after Moses finishes (Exodus 40:34), showing God accepted the work.
Illustration hooks
- A family moving into a new home on the first day of the year, the sense of a new beginning and the care taken to prepare every room.
- A craftsman completing a piece of furniture exactly to the buyer's specifications, the satisfaction of getting every measurement right.
- A church building project finishing on schedule, the relief and joy when shared effort meets the deadline.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the exact date of the tabernacle matter? Doesn't just the fact that it was built matter?
- How can we apply the principle of meticulous obedience to God's instructions today? Does God still give such specific guidance?
- What does it mean for God to 'dwell' with His people now, since we no longer have a tabernacle?
Leading a Discussion
This verse appears at first glance to be a simple date stamp. But the precise timing, the first day of the first month of the second year, is loaded with significance. It marks the completion of the tabernacle and the beginning of God's dwelling in the midst of Israel. As you discuss this passage, consider how God's attention to detail reflects His care for His people.
Discussion questions
- What does the date 'the first day of the first month of the second year' tell us about the timeline of the Exodus and the wilderness journey?
- Why do you think God gave such a specific date for the tabernacle's erection? What does that say about His character?
- How does Moses' obedience in this passage challenge your understanding of following God's commands?
- In what ways does the tabernacle's completion demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises?
- How does the New Year's Day setting connect to themes of new beginnings in your own faith walk?
- What does it mean for a church today to be built 'according to God's pattern'? Are there principles from this passage we can apply?
- The tabernacle was designed for God's presence. Where do you experience God's presence in your life now?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 40:1 | Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, |
| Exodus 40:2 | “On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. |
| Numbers 7:1 | On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it with all its furniture, and the altar with all its vessels, and had anointed and sanctified them; |
| Numbers 9:1 | Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes computes the timing from the biblical data, concluding that the tabernacle's construction and furnishing took roughly half a year. He notes that the first day of Nisan came one year minus fourteen days after the Israelites left Egypt, with several months consumed by travel, Moses' stays on Sinai, and other events before the work began.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Moses obeyed God so precisely that he varied nothing, not even a trifling detail, from the prescribed pattern. He sees this as a rebuke to every human tendency to mix inventions with God's commands, a warning against arrogance in worship.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that Moses carried out the tabernacle setup exactly as instructed, even noting a subtle Hebrew difference between “set up” in one verse and “hang up” in another. This attention to precise wording shows how the biblical writer emphasizes strict obedience to God’s detailed commands.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw attention to the precise date the Tabernacle was completed: the first day of the first month in the second year. This exact timing underscores the orderly fulfillment of God’s command, marking a new beginning for Israel’s worship.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes the tabernacle was set up on New Year's Day in the spring, just over a year after leaving Egypt. He emphasizes the remarkable speed of construction, about five and a half months, often during winter. He also dismisses a claim that it stood on a nearby hill, arguing it was more likely raised in the middle of the camp.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that God Himself consecrated the tabernacle with His glory before any priest could perform a dedication rite. This divine priority, he argues, marks the Levitical system as a temporary, educational institution pointing beyond itself. The cloud veiling the sanctuary shows God’s presence is a mystery perceived only by faith.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes Moses’s exact, step-by-step obedience to every detail God commanded about the tabernacle. The repeated phrase “as the Lord commanded Moses” shows that faithful service requires precise attention to divine instructions, not creative interpretation or selective compliance.