Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 31:15
Then the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD appears at the Tent of Meeting immediately after Moses and Joshua present themselves there for Joshua’s commissioning. This occurs at the precise moment Moses is informed of his impending death and Joshua is about to assume leadership.
The words — וַיֵּרָא (va-ye-ra) means “and he appeared,” denoting the visible manifestation of Yahweh. עַמּוּד עָנָן ('am-mud 'a-nan) translates literally to “pillar of cloud,” identifying the specific medium of that presence.
The thread — This cloud manifestation recurs at the Tent of Meeting in Exodus 33:9, covers the tabernacle day and night in Exodus 40:38, and functions as the medium through which God delivered decrees in Psalms 99:7.
Why it lands — The text records a divine presence marking a leadership transition without offering commentary or application. It requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s visible guidance accompanies institutional change and covenant succession.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.
Cross-references
- Exodus 33:9 As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
- Exodus 40:38 For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.
- Psalms 99:7 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them.