Bible Strands
Exodus 27:21
In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the Israelites for the generations to come.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God instructs Moses to command the Israelites regarding the daily maintenance of the Tabernacle's lampstand. The directive specifies that Aaron and his sons must perform this duty within the Tent of Meeting.
The words — יַעֲרֹךְ (ya.'a.roKh) = he will arrange [H6186]; הָ/עֵדֻ֗ת (ha./'e.Dut) = the/ testimony [H5715]. The text commands the priests to arrange the lamps before the Testimony.
The thread — This duty recurs in Exodus 30:8 where Aaron burns incense at twilight, and Numbers 18:23 assigns the Levites to bear responsibility for the Tent of Meeting's work. The "permanent statute" formula also appears in Numbers 19:21 regarding purification rites.
Why it lands — The verse establishes a fixed, generational obligation for priestly service at a specific location. It requires readers to recognize that sacred space and continuous worship demand structured, inherited responsibility.
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
In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Cross-references
- Numbers 18:23 The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.
- Numbers 19:21 This is a permanent statute for the people: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening.
- Exodus 30:8 When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.
- Leviticus 3:17 This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”
- Leviticus 16:34 This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement once a year for the Israelites because of all their sins.” And all this was done as the LORD had commanded Moses.
- 1 Samuel 3:3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.
- 2 Chronicles 13:11 Every morning and every evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the rows of showbread on the ceremonially clean table, and every evening they light the lamps of the gold lampstand. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have forsaken Him.
- Exodus 28:43 Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants.
- 1 Samuel 30:25 And so it has been from that day forward. David established this statute and ordinance for Israel to this very day.
- John 5:35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.