Exodus 40:21 · Bible study
Exodus 40:21 Commentary: The Veil and God's Holy Presence
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Moses screens the ark with the veil, obeying God's command. The veil teaches about God's holiness and the need for a mediator to approach His presence.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Moses obeys God’s command to place the ark in the tabernacle and screen it with the veil, establishing the holy of holies.
- Key words: ark (aron, H0727), tabernacle (mishkan, H4908), veil (parokhet, H6532), screen (masakh, H4539), testimony ('edut, H5715).
- Main debate: No major interpretive dispute. A minor point: whether ‘the testimony’ includes only the decalogue or also other revelations (Keil & Delitzsch argue for the decalogue alone against Knobel).
- Theological theme: God’s holy presence requires separation, and mediated access is essential for worship.
- Best use: Teaching about the holiness of God, the seriousness of worship, and the gospel fulfillment in Christ as the way into God’s presence.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.
WEB World English Bible 2000
He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the covenant, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
KJV King James Version 1769
And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the Lord commanded Moses.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and bringeth in the ark unto the tabernacle, and placeth the vail of the covering, and covereth over the ark of the testimony, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and hung up the veil of separation, and covered the ark of the testimony; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Setting there in order the loaves of proposition, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y metió el arca en el tabernáculo, y puso el velo de la tienda, y cubrió el arca del testimonio; como Jehová había mandado á Moisés.
E meteu a arca no tabernáculo, e pôs o véu da tenda, e cobriu a arca do testemunho; como o SENHOR havia mandado a Moisés.
Il apporta l’arche dans le tabernacle; il mit le voile de séparation, et il en couvrit l’arche du témoignage, comme l’ Éternel l’ avait ordonné à Moïse.
und brachte die Lade in die Wohnung und hing den Vorhang vor die Lade des Zeugnisses, wie ihm der HERR geboten hatte,
En hij bracht de ark in den tabernakel, en hij hing den voorhang van het deksel op, en bedekte de ark der getuigenis, gelijk als de HEERE aan Mozes geboden had.
portò l’arca nel tabernacolo, sospese il velo di separazione e coprì con esso l’arca della testimonianza, come l’Eterno aveva ordinato a Mosè.
I wniósł skrzynię do przybytku, i zawiesił oponę zakrycia, i zasłonił skrzynię świadectwa, jako był Pan rozkazał Mojżeszowi.
и внес ковчег в скинию, и повесил завесу, и закрыл ковчег откровения, как повелел Господь Моисею.
把 櫃 抬 進 帳幕，掛上 遮掩 櫃的幔子，把 法 櫃 遮掩了，是照 耶和華 所吩咐 他的。
And he took the ark into the House, hanging up the veil before it as the Lord had given him orders.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 40:21
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse reports Moses' exact obedience to God's instructions for setting the tabernacle in order. Cambridge Bible notes that Moses arranged the sacred vessels according to the commands given in chapters 25, 31 and 40:1, 8. Gill's Exposition emphasizes that the veil divided the holy place from the most holy, keeping the ark out of sight of anyone, even the priests. Keil & Delitzsch add that the veil was hung on the hooks of the pillars, covering the ark from persons entering the holy place. Matthew Henry's Commentary stresses that Moses did everything 'as the Lord commanded him', the phrase that frames the entire passage. The consensus is clear: the veil functions to separate, protect, and conceal the ark of the covenant, which held the testimony (the two stone tablets). This separation was not arbitrary but designed by God to teach Israel about His unapproachable holiness and the need for mediated worship.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Moses obeyed God’s command to screen the ark with the veil, establishing the pattern of worship for Israel and marking the boundary of God’s holy presence.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'the testimony' | All commentators agree it refers to the divine law given at Sinai, specifically the two stone tablets. | Keil & Delitzsch argue it is only the Decalogue, while some earlier interpreters (e.g., Knobel, as cited by Keil) suggest it includes other revelations about the sanctuary. The consensus favors the Decalogue. |
| Purpose of the veil | The veil separates the holy place from the most holy, concealing the ark and marking God's inaccessible holiness. | Some emphasize the veil as a barrier protecting human beings from holy glory (Gill), while others focus on its role in creating a sacred space for God's dwelling (Keil & Delitzsch). Both views are complementary. |
| Veil as type of Christ | Christian readers see the tabernacle veil as foreshadowing Christ, based on Hebrews 10:19-20 which calls his flesh 'the veil'. | Protestant traditions often read the veil as a direct type of Christ's body, while Catholic and Orthodox traditions may emphasize the veil's role in the liturgy as a symbol of the unseen God. Both point to Christ as the mediator. |
| Obedience as a theme | Moses performed every action 'as Yahweh commanded', a refrain repeated throughout Exodus 40. | No debate: the text uniformly presents Moses as perfectly obedient. The emphasis is on faithfulness to God's pattern. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Exodus 40:21 appears near the climax of the book: the erection and dedication of the tabernacle. The date is precise, 'the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month' (Exod 40:17), marking exactly one year after the Exodus from Egypt. Israel has received the law at Sinai, built the golden calf, renewed the covenant, and now constructs the mobile sanctuary as God's dwelling in their midst.
The tabernacle (Hebrew mishkan, 'dwelling place') consisted of a tent structure with wooden boards, linen curtains, and layers of goat hair and animal skins. Inside, a heavy woven curtain called the veil (parokhet, H6532) hung on four acacia-wood pillars overlaid with gold, separating the holy place from the most holy place (Exod 26:31, 33). Behind this veil sat the ark of the covenant, a gold-covered chest containing the 'testimony' ('edut, H5715), the two tablets of the Decalogue (Keil & Delitzsch). The ark was covered by the mercy seat, where God promised to meet with Moses (Exod 25:22).
The verb used for 'screened' or 'covered' (vayyasekh, H5526) is the same root used in Exodus 40:3 and echoes the idea of a shelter or protection. The veil was not merely a curtain; it was a theological boundary. Only the high priest could enter beyond it, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, with blood. In this verse, Moses himself acts as both prophet and priest, personally placing the ark and hanging the veil, establishing the pattern of worship that Israel would follow for centuries. This moment inaugurates the tabernacle as the place where God would dwell among His people, yet remain hidden in His holiness.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 40:21. The Hebrew text is stable across the Masoretic tradition, and the verse appears without variation in the principal manuscripts and ancient versions (LXX, Vulgate, Syriac). The primary verbs and nouns (ark, veil, screen, testimony) are consistent.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, Exodus 40:21 is read as the moment when the Shekinah presence descended to dwell in the tabernacle. The veil became a central symbol of the holy of holies, accessible only to the high priest on Yom Kippur. Targumic paraphrases emphasize the glory that rested upon the ark.
Christian interpreters from the early church onward saw the veil as a type of Christ’s flesh. Hebrews 10:19, 20 explicitly makes this connection. Origen and others treated the tabernacle as a shadow of heavenly realities. During the Reformation, the verse was used to underscore the distance between a holy God and sinful humanity, and the unique role of Christ as the one who opens the way. Matthew Henry and similar commentators stress Moses' obedience as an example for believers to follow God’s instructions carefully in worship.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Obedience completes the pattern. Moses does exactly what God commanded (Exod 40:3). Every detail matters, the order of the furniture, the fabric of the veil, the placement of the ark. Obedience is not about moral duty alone; it is the response that makes God’s presence possible in a holy space.
- The veil conceals and reveals. The veil hides the ark from view, yet by hiding it, it makes God’s presence known as holy and set apart. God is near but not casual. The veil teaches that access to God is not automatic; it comes through His appointed way.
- Separation points to reconciliation. Hebrews 10:19, 20 identifies the veil with Christ’s flesh, a barrier that, when torn at the cross, becomes the way into God’s presence. Exodus 40:21 sets up a problem that the gospel solves.
Five-point outline
- The ark is brought into the tabernacle (the most holy place).
- The veil is set up on its hooks, creating the screen.
- The ark is covered by the veil, concealed from human sight.
- The entire action is performed as God commanded, no innovation, no shortcuts.
- The pattern establishes a worship system that will structure Israel’s life until Christ.
Illustration hooks
- The locked office door: A manager closes her office door before a sensitive meeting. Not everyone is invited in. The veil is a holy ‘do not disturb’ sign that protects and signals importance.
- The stage curtain: In a theater, the curtain hides the set before the show. When it lifts, you see what was prepared. For Israel, the veil never lifts, until Christ tears it.
- The private garden fence: A family plants a garden with a fence to keep deer out. The fence is not a rejection, it protects the fruit. The veil protects God’s holiness and provides a space for His people to meet Him safely through sacrifice.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why can’t we just approach God directly? What makes Him so unapproachable?
- Does God still dwell behind a veil today? How do we experience His presence?
- If the veil was so important then, what changed because of Jesus?
Leading a Discussion
This verse records a turning point: the tabernacle is operational, God’s presence has a dwelling, and a clear boundary is set. The veil marks the difference between ordinary holiness and God’s own holiness. As you discuss, consider how the Old Testament system sets up expectations that the New Testament fulfills.
Discussion questions
- What specific actions does Moses perform in this verse? List them.
- Why do you think God commanded the ark to be screened by a veil? What does the veil accomplish?
- Read Exodus 26:33. How does that earlier instruction match what Moses does here?
- The word ‘testimony’ (Exod 40:20) refers to the stone tablets of the law. Why is the law placed inside the ark, behind the veil?
- In what ways does the veil make God seem near but also distant? How would an Israelite have felt about this arrangement?
- Read Hebrews 10:19, 20. How does the New Testament reinterpret the veil? What changed at the cross?
- If the veil taught Israel that God is holy and we need a mediator, how does that shape your prayer life and worship today?
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 26:33 | You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you. |
| Exodus 35:12 | the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen; |
| Exodus 40:3 | You shall put the ark of the covenant in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. |
| Hebrews 10:19 | Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, |
| Hebrews 10:20 | by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, |
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
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What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
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 note highlights how every detail of setting up the Tabernacle was done in exact, literal obedience to God's command. Nothing was left to human preference or creativity; Moses and the people followed each instruction precisely as the Lord had given it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that the veil served not just as a partition but as a deliberate covering that kept the ark of the testimony completely hidden from sight, even from the priests ministering in the holy place. This separation was carried out exactly as God had commanded Moses.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch insists that "the testimony" here means the Decalogue written on the two stone tablets, not a broader body of revelation about the sanctuary. They note that hanging the curtain concealed the ark from anyone entering the holy place.
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.