The Meaning of Numbers 9:15 Explained

Numbers 9:15

KJV: And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.

YLT: And in the day of the raising up of the tabernacle hath the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the tent of the testimony; and in the evening there is on the tabernacle as an appearance of fire till morning;

Darby: And on the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle of the tent of testimony; and at even it was upon the tabernacle as the appearance of fire, until the morning.

ASV: And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the tent of the testimony: and at even it was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And on the day  that the tabernacle  was reared up  the cloud  covered  the tabernacle,  [namely], the tent  of the testimony:  and at even  there was upon the tabernacle  as it were the appearance  of fire,  until the morning. 

What does Numbers 9:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 9:15-23 - The Cloud Upon The Tabernacle
We cannot decide on the shape of this cloud; whether it was a great cumulus, or spread out over the camp like an umbrella, so as to shelter the people from the sun glare. As the night fell, the shekinah-fire, that burned at its heart, became apparent. But whether it sheltered by day or illumined by night, it was always the symbol of the divine presence. All this prefigured the guidance and shelter that are afforded to His people by our Lord. Compare John 8:12.
Friends may urge you to change your sphere. The scarcity of your resources and the pressure of your foes may appear to force a move. A nameless fear may suggest that you will never hold your ground. But so long as the cloud doesn't move, you must tarry where you are. Where the cloud broods, the manna falls. "My soul, wait thou only upon God!" Never go in front of God, nor lag behind, nor hesitate to strike your tent, if He leads on. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 9

1  The Passover is again commanded
6  A second Passover for the unclean or absent
15  The cloud directs the removals and encampments of the Israelites

What do the individual words in Numbers 9:15 mean?

And on the day was raised up that the tabernacle covered the cloud - the Tent of the Testimony and from evening it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning
וּבְיוֹם֙ הָקִ֣ים אֶת־ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן כִּסָּ֤ה הֶֽעָנָן֙ אֶת־ לְאֹ֖הֶל הָעֵדֻ֑ת וּבָעֶ֜רֶב יִהְיֶ֧ה עַֽל־ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן כְּמַרְאֵה־ אֵ֖שׁ עַד־ בֹּֽקֶר

וּבְיוֹם֙  And  on  the  day 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הָקִ֣ים  was  raised  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
אֶת־  that 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
כִּסָּ֤ה  covered 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּסָה  
Sense: to cover, conceal, hide.
הֶֽעָנָן֙  the  cloud 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
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.
לְאֹ֖הֶל  the  Tent 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
הָעֵדֻ֑ת  of  the  Testimony 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדוּת  
Sense: testimony.
וּבָעֶ֜רֶב  and  from  evening 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶרֶב  
Sense: evening, night, sunset.
יִהְיֶ֧ה  it  was 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עַֽל־  above 
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.
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
כְּמַרְאֵה־  like  the  appearance 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַרְאֶה  
Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
אֵ֖שׁ  of  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
בֹּֽקֶר  morning 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.