The Meaning of Exodus 30:6 Explained

Exodus 30:6

KJV: And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

YLT: and thou hast put it before the vail, which is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat which is over the testimony, whither I am met with thee.

Darby: And thou shalt put it in front of the veil which is before the ark of the testimony in front of the mercy-seat which is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

ASV: And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt put  it before  the vail  that [is] by the ark  of the testimony,  before  the mercy seat  that [is] over the testimony,  where I will meet  with thee. 

What does Exodus 30:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 30:1-10 - The Altar Of Incense
It seems late in the story of the Tabernacle that the incense-altar should be only mentioned now; but it is not unsuitable, because intercessory prayer, which it represents, is the crown and climax of the religious life. When our Lord had finished His sacrificial death, He passed into the heavens to make intercession for us. In Revelation 8:3-4, r.v., the veil is lifted, and we are allowed to behold Him, standing by the golden altar in heaven, and adding much incense to the prayers of all saints. What a wealth of prayer is ever passing through those gracious hands and that loving heart! John 17:1-26 is the Golden Altar of Scripture; let us often worship there. But, alas, these earthly altars soon get defiled, even by our prayers, and need the blood that speaketh peace. All our prayer requires the blood of at-one-ment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 30

1  The altar of incense
11  The ransom of souls
17  The bronze basin
22  The holy anointing oil
34  The composition of the incense

What do the individual words in Exodus 30:6 mean?

And you shall put it before the veil that [is] before the ark of the Testimony the mercy seat that [is] over the Testimony where I will meet with you -
וְנָתַתָּ֤ה אֹתוֹ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַפָּרֹ֔כֶת אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ אֲרֹ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֑ת הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־ הָ֣עֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֛ר אִוָּעֵ֥ד לְךָ֖ שָֽׁמָּה

וְנָתַתָּ֤ה  And  you  shall  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִפְנֵ֣י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַפָּרֹ֔כֶת  the  veil 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: פָּרֹכֶת  
Sense: curtain, veil.
אֲשֶׁ֖ר  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עַל־  before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אֲרֹ֣ן  the  ark 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
הָעֵדֻ֑ת  of  the  Testimony 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.
הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת  the  mercy  seat 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: כַּפֹּרֶת  
Sense: mercy-seat, place of atonement.
אֲשֶׁר֙  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָ֣עֵדֻ֔ת  the  Testimony 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.
אֲשֶׁ֛ר  where 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אִוָּעֵ֥ד  I  will  meet 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָעַד  
Sense: to fix, appoint, assemble, meet, set, betroth.
לְךָ֖  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
שָֽׁמָּה    - 
Parse: Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.