Exodus 40:3
And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
Original Language Analysis
וְשַׂמְתָּ֣
And thou shalt put
H7760
וְשַׂמְתָּ֣
And thou shalt put
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
1 of 10
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
שָׁ֔ם
therein
H8033
שָׁ֔ם
therein
Strong's:
H8033
Word #:
2 of 10
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
אֵ֖ת
H853
אֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְסַכֹּתָ֥
and cover
H5526
וְסַכֹּתָ֥
and cover
Strong's:
H5526
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, to entwine as a screen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protect
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 10
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Exodus 35:12The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,Numbers 4:5And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:Revelation 11:19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.Exodus 25:22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.Leviticus 16:14And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
Historical Context
The ark, containing the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and manna pot (Hebrews 9:4), represented God's throne on earth. Its placement behind the veil in the Most Holy Place emphasized that sinful humans cannot casually approach the holy God—only through prescribed mediation.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the ark's centrality (mentioned first) teach about God's law standing at the covenant's heart?
- How does Christ's torn veil-body providing permanent access contrast with the old covenant's yearly entry?
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Analysis & Commentary
Moses must place the ark of testimony (אֲרוֹן הָעֵדוּת, aron ha'edut) and 'cover the ark with the vail' (וְסַכֹּתָ עַל־הָאָרֹן, vesakota al-ha'aron). The ark's primacy—mentioned first despite being placed last/deepest—teaches that God's law (testimony inside) stands central to covenant. The veil 'covering' (סָכַךְ, sakhakh, to screen/protect) the ark separates God's holy presence from sinful people, teaching that sin blocks access. Only the high priest, once yearly with atoning blood, could pass the veil (Leviticus 16). Christ's torn veil-body (Hebrews 10:19-20) opens permanent access.