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Deuteronomy 31:15

in Deuteronomy 31

Then the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And Jehovah appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud: and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent.

KJV

And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

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This verse in Deuteronomy 31

Commentary

2 notes on this verse

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

This is the only time in all this book that we read of the glory of God appearing, whereas we often read of it in the three foregoing books, which perhaps signifies that in the latter days, under the evangelical law, such visible appearances as these of the divine glory are not to be expected, but we must take heed to the more sure word of prophecy.

This site's exposition

Behold, thy days approach that thou must die

on Deuteronomy 31:14-15

Joshua was designated at Numbers 27:18-23 with the laying on of hands, and here God calls him into the tabernacle to take the charge in person. Matthew Henry observes that this is the only appearance of the glory of God recorded in Deuteronomy, where the three books before it report such appearances often. The pillar of cloud that led the march out of Egypt at Exodus 13:21 now stands still at the door while the succession is settled.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

THAT I MAY GIVE HIM [Joshua] A CHARGE. “This means that I may exhort him.” This is Rashi’s language. But there is no need for this, because G-d’s statement [to Joshua] for thou shalt bring [ the children of Israel into the Land ] 16 Further, Verse.
Ramban: Spain, 1194–1270 · Ramban on Deuteronomy 31:14:1, via Sefaria, Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

11 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיֵּרָ֧אand he appeared

    vaiyera'H7200 →1300 times

  • יְהוָ֛הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • בָּאֹ֖הֶלat the tent

    baohelH168 →345 times

  • בְּעַמּ֣וּדin a pillar of

    beamudH5982 →

  • עָנָ֑ןcloud

    ʾananH6051 →87 times

  • וַיַּעֲמֹ֛דand it stood

    vaiyaamodH5975 →521 times

  • עַמּ֥וּד[the] pillar of

    ʾamudH5982 →

  • הֶעָנָ֖ן<the> cloud

    heananH6051 →87 times

  • עַל־over

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • פֶּ֥תַח[the] entrance of

    petachH6607 →

  • הָאֹֽהֶל׃ סthe tent

    haohelH168 →345 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

3 in all, six open

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    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.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 78:14

      He led them with a cloud by day and with a light of fire all night.

    • 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…

    • 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.

    • Isaiah 4:5–6

      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…

    • Psalms 105:39

      He spread a cloud as a covering and a fire to light up the night.

  • Through

    Psalms 99:7

    He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them.

    it leads to

    • 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.

    • Numbers 12:5

      and the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the Tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them had stepped forward,

    • Deuteronomy 4:5

      See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land that you are about to enter and possess.

Where this verse is studied

About Deuteronomy

Moses Comes Down from Mount Sinai, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Moses Comes Down from Mount Sinai, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Deuteronomy: the study guide →Read Deuteronomy 31 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Deuteronomy 31 →