Bible Strands
Exodus 30:6
Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh addresses Moses during the detailed instructions for constructing the Tabernacle sanctuary.
The words — נָתַתָּ֤ה (na.ta.Tah) translates literally as "you will put," and לִ/פְנֵ֣י (li/f.Nei) means "before," establishing the precise spatial command for the altar's placement relative to the inner sanctuary.
The thread — The verse anchors the altar's location to the veil and ark described in Exodus 26:31 and Exodus 25:21, while linking the subsequent ritual use in Exodus 30:7 to this fixed position.
Why it lands — The text commands exact positioning of the altar within the holy space, requiring strict adherence to the specified boundaries before any ritual action can occur.
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 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.
Cross-references
- Exodus 25:21 Set the mercy seat atop the ark and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.
- Exodus 26:31 Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
- Exodus 29:42 For the generations to come, this burnt offering shall be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you.
- Exodus 30:36 Grind some of it into fine powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.
- Exodus 40:3 Put the ark of the Testimony in it and screen off the ark with the veil.
- Exodus 40:5 Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony, and hang the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
- Exodus 40:26 Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil,
- Leviticus 16:13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die.
- Numbers 17:4 Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.
- 1 Chronicles 28:11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storehouses, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat.