The Meaning of Exodus 40:35 Explained

Exodus 40:35

KJV: And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

YLT: and Moses hath not been able to go in unto the tent of meeting, for the cloud hath tabernacled on it, and the honour of Jehovah hath filled the tabernacle.

Darby: And Moses could not enter into the tent of meeting, for the cloud abode on it, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.

ASV: And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  was not able  to enter  into the tent  of the congregation,  because the cloud  abode  thereon, and the glory  of the LORD  filled  the tabernacle. 

What does Exodus 40:35 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 40:17-38 - The Tabernacle Set Up And Dedicated
At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice all was finished. Moses had placed the table on the right and the candlestick on the left of the holy place; had set the incense-altar near the veil; had washed in the laver, and had anointed it and all its vessels. The Ark had been hidden behind the veil, and Aaron invested in his robes. Then the congregation, deeply moved, retired to their tents and night settled on the mountains. Moses also retired from the scene, full of thankfulness. See Psalms 90:16-17.
They had hardly left the structure when the cloud that had guided their march settled down upon it, and the glory of the Lord-"the Shechinah"-shone within the Tabernacle itself. Moses immediately hastened back, and found the Presence of God so manifestly in possession that he dared not enter. Behold! the tabernacle of God was with men. So in after years the Divine Word dwelled in the mortal body of Jesus. See John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Revelation 21:3. This is the worthy close of this great book of the Exodus.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comment [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 40

1  The tabernacle is commanded to be reared, anointed, and consecrated
13  Aaron and his sons to be sanctified
16  Moses performs all things accordingly
34  A cloud covers the tabernacle

What do the individual words in Exodus 40:35 mean?

And not was able Moses to enter into the tabernacle of meeting because rested above it the cloud and the glory of Yahweh filled - the tabernacle
וְלֹא־ יָכֹ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֗ה לָבוֹא֙ אֶל־ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד כִּֽי־ שָׁכַ֥ן עָלָ֖יו הֶעָנָ֑ן וּכְב֣וֹד יְהוָ֔ה מָלֵ֖א אֶת־ הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן

וְלֹא־  And  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָכֹ֣ל  was  able 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
מֹשֶׁ֗ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
לָבוֹא֙  to  enter 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֹ֣הֶל  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
מוֹעֵ֔ד  of  meeting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
שָׁכַ֥ן  rested 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
עָלָ֖יו  above  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
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.
הֶעָנָ֑ן  the  cloud 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
וּכְב֣וֹד  and  the  glory 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מָלֵ֖א  filled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.