Bible Strands
Numbers 9:15
On the day that the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it and appeared like fire above the tabernacle from evening until morning.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the immediate aftermath of the tabernacle's erection, noting the visible descent of a cloud over the newly established Tent of the Testimony.
The words — The Hebrew כִּסָּה (kissah) literally means "it covered," describing the cloud's action over the sanctuary, while הֶעָנָן (ha-'anan) identifies the cloud itself as the covering medium.
The thread — This cloud-and-fire manifestation parallels the guidance in Exodus 13:21, the glory-filling cloud in Exodus 40:34, and the wilderness pillar in Nehemiah 9:19.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that the sanctuary's function and the community's movement depend entirely on God's visible presence rather than human preparation.
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 on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
Cross-references
- Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night.
- Exodus 40:34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
- Nehemiah 9:19 You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.
- 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.
- Nehemiah 9:12 You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they should travel.
- Psalms 78:14 He led them with a cloud by day and with a light of fire all night.
- Isaiah 4:5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy,
- Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,
- Exodus 14:24 At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion.
- 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.