Exodus 40:20 (KJV)

What does Exodus 40:20 mean?

Exodus 40:20 describes how Moses placed the tablets of the testimony—the stone tablets with the commandments—inside the ark, attached the carrying poles to the ark, and set the mercy seat (the cover) on top of the ark. This verse records the careful assembly of the most sacred object in the tabernacle, following God’s instructions.

In this scene, Moses is setting up the tabernacle as God commanded, with special attention to the ark, which symbolized God’s presence among the Israelites. The “testimony” refers to the covenant tablets, the “ark” is the sacred chest, the “staves” are the poles for carrying it, and the “mercy seat” is the gold cover placed above. This verse highlights the reverence and precision with which Israel’s most holy objects were handled.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 40:20

• “Testimony” (עֵדֻת, ʿedut): This word refers to the tablets containing the commandments, seen as God’s witness or covenant with Israel. Calling them the “testimony” emphasizes their role as a sign of the relationship between God and the people.
• “Ark” (אָרוֹן, aron): This is the chest designed to hold the testimony. Its repeated mention in the verse underscores its central importance in Israel’s worship.
• “Mercy seat” (כַּפֹּרֶת, kapporet): This is the gold cover placed above the ark. The word carries the idea of a place of atonement or covering, which later becomes significant in Israel’s rituals for seeking forgiveness.

Why Exodus 40:20 matters

• Exodus 40:20 clarifies that the tablets were placed inside the ark, not just near it, showing the ark’s role as the container of God’s covenant with Israel.
• The verse shows Moses’ careful obedience to God’s instructions, highlighting the importance of following divine directions exactly in matters of worship.
• By mentioning the mercy seat being set “above upon the ark,” the verse connects the physical arrangement to later practices where the mercy seat is seen as the place of God’s presence and forgiveness.