Exodus 33:7

Authorized King James Version

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And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Original Language Analysis

וּמֹשֶׁה֩ And Moses H4872
וּמֹשֶׁה֩ And Moses
Strong's: H4872
Word #: 1 of 26
mosheh, the israelite lawgiver
יִקַּ֨ח took H3947
יִקַּ֨ח took
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 2 of 26
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 3 of 26
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֹ֣הֶל it the Tabernacle H168
אֹ֣הֶל it the Tabernacle
Strong's: H168
Word #: 4 of 26
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
וְנָֽטָה and pitched H5186
וְנָֽטָה and pitched
Strong's: H5186
Word #: 5 of 26
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
ל֣וֹ׀ H0
ל֣וֹ׀
Strong's: H0
Word #: 6 of 26
מִח֥וּץ it without H2351
מִח֥וּץ it without
Strong's: H2351
Word #: 7 of 26
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors
לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ from the camp H4264
לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ from the camp
Strong's: H4264
Word #: 8 of 26
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
הַרְחֵק֙ afar off H7368
הַרְחֵק֙ afar off
Strong's: H7368
Word #: 9 of 26
to widen (in any direction), i.e., (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 10 of 26
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ from the camp H4264
לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ from the camp
Strong's: H4264
Word #: 11 of 26
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
וְקָ֥רָא and called H7121
וְקָ֥רָא and called
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 12 of 26
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
ל֖וֹ H0
ל֖וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 13 of 26
אֹ֣הֶל it the Tabernacle H168
אֹ֣הֶל it the Tabernacle
Strong's: H168
Word #: 14 of 26
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
מוֹעֵ֔ד of the congregation H4150
מוֹעֵ֔ד of the congregation
Strong's: H4150
Word #: 15 of 26
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
וְהָיָה֙ H1961
וְהָיָה֙
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 16 of 26
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 17 of 26
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ And it came to pass that every one which sought H1245
מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ And it came to pass that every one which sought
Strong's: H1245
Word #: 18 of 26
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
יְהוָ֔ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֔ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 19 of 26
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יֵצֵא֙ went out H3318
יֵצֵא֙ went out
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 20 of 26
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 21 of 26
near, with or among; often in general, to
אֹ֣הֶל it the Tabernacle H168
אֹ֣הֶל it the Tabernacle
Strong's: H168
Word #: 22 of 26
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
מוֹעֵ֔ד of the congregation H4150
מוֹעֵ֔ד of the congregation
Strong's: H4150
Word #: 23 of 26
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 24 of 26
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מִח֥וּץ it without H2351
מִח֥וּץ it without
Strong's: H2351
Word #: 25 of 26
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors
לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ from the camp H4264
לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ from the camp
Strong's: H4264
Word #: 26 of 26
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e

Analysis & Commentary

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off—This is the 'tent of meeting' (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ohel mo'ed), distinct from the later tabernacle (mishkan) not yet constructed. Moses establishes it outside the camp, symbolizing God's separation from sinful Israel. The distance emphasizes estrangement. Yet God still meets with those who seek Him—anyone could go out to the tent, showing that access remains through mediation. This temporary arrangement prefigures Christ outside the camp (Hebrews 13:11-13).

Historical Context

This tent of meeting preceded the elaborate tabernacle constructed in chapters 35-40. It served as a temporary meeting place during the crisis period after the golden calf incident and before reconciliation was fully established.

Questions for Reflection

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