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.

EXODUS 40:21KJV
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Exodus 40:21 (KJV)

What does Exodus 40:21 mean?

Exodus 40:21 describes how Moses brought the ark of the testimony into the tabernacle, set up the veil to separate it, and covered the ark, following the specific instructions given by the LORD. This verse highlights the careful obedience to God’s commands in setting up the most sacred part of the tabernacle.

In this scene, Moses is carrying out the final steps of assembling the tabernacle after Israel’s time at Mount Sinai. The ark (a sacred chest) is placed inside the tent structure, and the veil is set up as a barrier, marking off the most holy place. The verse emphasizes Moses’ faithfulness in doing exactly as the LORD (the personal name for God, יְהוָה / YHWH) had commanded him, showing the importance of following God’s instructions in detail.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 40:21

  • "Ark" (אָרוֹן / aron, H727) refers to the sacred chest that held the testimony (the tablets of the covenant). Its placement in the tabernacle marks the most holy spot in Israel’s worship.
  • "Tabernacle" (מִשְׁכָּן / mishkan, H4908) means “dwelling place.” This word points to the tent as the place where God’s presence would dwell among the people.
  • "Vail" (פָּרֹכֶת / paroket, H6532) is the special curtain that separated the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies) from the rest of the tabernacle. This veil was a physical and symbolic barrier, showing the separation between God’s holiness and the people.
  • "Covered" (סָכַךְ / sakak, H5526) means to shield or protect. Covering the ark with the veil emphasizes the sacredness and inaccessibility of God’s presence.

Why Exodus 40:21 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the ark was not just placed anywhere but was set apart behind a veil, showing the seriousness of approaching God’s presence.
  • The careful mention that Moses did everything “as the LORD commanded” underlines the importance of obedience and attention to God’s instructions in worship.
  • Exodus 40:21 connects to the larger story of Exodus by showing the completion of the tabernacle, which is a turning point where God’s presence would now dwell among the people in a visible, structured way.

Where else these words appear

“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 38:27 And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.
  • 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.

“covered” Hebrew H5526 · used in 23 verses

  • Exodus 25:20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
  • 1 Chronicles 28:18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
  • Psalms 140:7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

“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 39:34 And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,
  • 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.

“testimony” Hebrew H5715 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
  • 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:
  • 1 Chronicles 29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.