The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,

EXODUS 35:12KJV
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Exodus 35:12 (KJV)

What does Exodus 35:12 mean?

Exodus 35:12 names objects that skilled workers were to make for the place where Israel would worship. The verse brings together the sacred chest, its carrying poles, its special cover, and the curtain that would screen it from view.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to make the tent and its furnishings. The “ark” was a chest, not a boat. The “staves” were poles used to carry the chest, while the “vail” was a hanging curtain.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 35:12

  • “seat” — כַּפֹּרֶת (kappōret): The word refers to the cover placed on the ark. Despite the English word “seat,” the object was a cover rather than a chair for someone to sit on.
  • “vail” — פָּרֹכֶת (parokhet): The word means a curtain. Here it refers to the curtain that screened the ark within the tent.

Why Exodus 35:12 matters

  • The ark and its cover were distinct objects. The phrase “with the mercy seat” names the cover alongside the chest; Exodus 25:21 describes placing the cover on top of it.
  • The curtain marked a separation inside the tent. Exodus 26:33–34 places the ark behind the curtain, in the innermost part of the tent.
  • The poles show that the ark was made to be carried. Exodus 25:14 describes poles passed through rings on the sides of the chest for that purpose.

Where else these words appear

“seat” Hebrew H3727 · used in 22 verses

  • Exodus 25:17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
  • Exodus 30:6 And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
  • Exodus 40:20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

“vail” Hebrew H6532 · used in 23 verses

  • Exodus 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
  • Exodus 39:34 And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,
  • Leviticus 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

“covering” Hebrew H4539 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 26:36 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
  • Exodus 39:38 And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,
  • Numbers 3:26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

“staves” Hebrew H905 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
  • Exodus 37:5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
  • Numbers 11:14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.