Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God instructs Moses to arrange the tabernacle furnishings during the final consecration phase. This directive follows the placement of the table and lampstand and precedes the positioning of the bronze altar.
The words — The Hebrew verb נָתַתָּה (natatta) means "you will place," commanding the precise positioning of the gold altar of incense. The phrase לִפְנֵי (lifnei) literally denotes "before" or "in front of" the ark of the testimony.
The thread — The spatial requirement of approaching the ark establishes a pattern of mediated access referenced in Hebrews 9:24 and Hebrews 10:19. John 14:6 connects this positional necessity to the exclusive path through Christ.
Why it lands — The text demands exact obedience to divine spatial orders for worship, prohibiting human alteration of sacred boundaries. Readers must acknowledge that approaching God requires adherence to specified arrangements rather than personal preference.
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 set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
- John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.
- 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
- Exodus 26:36 For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.
- Exodus 30:1 “You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.
- Exodus 35:25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen.
- Exodus 37:25 He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece.
- Exodus 40:26 Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil,