Exodus 38:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ This is the sum of the tabernacle, [even] of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, [for] the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Complete Jewish Bible:

These are the accounts of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, recorded, as Moshe ordered, by the L'vi'im under the direction of Itamar the son of Aharon, the cohen.

Berean Standard Bible:

This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

American Standard Version:

This is the sum of the things for the tabernacle, even the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

This{H428} is the sum{H6485} of the tabernacle{H4908}, even of the tabernacle{H4908} of testimony{H5715}, as it was counted{H6485}, according to the commandment{H6310} of Moses{H4872}, for the service{H5656} of the Levites{H3881}, by the hand{H3027} of Ithamar{H385}, son{H1121} to Aaron{H175} the priest{H3548}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Acts 7:44

  • Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

Numbers 1:50

  • But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that [belong] to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

2 Chronicles 24:6

  • And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, [according to the commandment] of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?

Numbers 9:15

  • ¶ 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.

Numbers 1:53

  • But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

Numbers 10:11

  • ¶ And it came to pass on the twentieth [day] of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.

Numbers 17:7

  • And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Exodus 38:21

**Exodus 38:21 Summary:**

This verse serves as a summary statement for the detailed inventory and construction account of the Tabernacle, the portable dwelling place for God among the Israelites. The Tabernacle of Testimony refers to the inner sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, housing the tablets of the Law (Testimony). The verse emphasizes that the accounting of the Tabernacle's components was done precisely according to the instructions Moses received from God.

**Themes:**

1. **Divine Command and Human Obedience:** The construction of the Tabernacle strictly followed God's instructions, highlighting the importance of obedience to divine commandments.
2. **Priestly Role:** The verse mentions Ithamar, a son of Aaron and therefore part of the priestly line, who was involved in the administrative oversight of the Tabernacle's construction, indicating the involvement of the priesthood in the management of religious duties and affairs.
3. **Levitical Service:** The Levites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, were set apart for the service of the Tabernacle, showing their dedication to religious service and the care of sacred spaces.

**Historical Context:**

Exodus 38:21 is set during the period following the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, as they journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. The Tabernacle was central to Israel's worship and represented God's presence with His people. The detailed accounting reflects the ancient practice of meticulous record-keeping for significant religious and civil projects, ensuring that all materials were used as sanctified by God and that there was no embezzlement or misuse. This was particularly important given the precious materials—gold, silver, and fine fabrics—that were donated by the people and used in the construction. The verse also reflects the organization of Israelite society, with specific roles and responsibilities assigned to different groups, particularly the Levites and the priests, in the religious life of the community.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H428
    There are 146 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֵלֶּה
    Transliteration: ʼêl-leh
    Pronunciation: ale'-leh
    Description: prolonged from אֵל; these or those; an-(the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m).
  2. Strong's Number: H6485
    There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּקַד
    Transliteration: pâqad
    Pronunciation: paw-kad'
    Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
  3. Strong's Number: H4908
    There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִשְׁכָּן
    Transliteration: mishkân
    Pronunciation: mish-kawn'
    Description: from שָׁכַן; a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave; also the Temple); specifically, the Tabernacle (properly, its wooden walls); dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.
  4. Strong's Number: H5715
    There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵדוּת
    Transliteration: ʻêdûwth
    Pronunciation: ay-dooth'
    Description: feminine of עֵד; testimony; testimony, witness.
  5. Strong's Number: H6310
    There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פֶּה
    Transliteration: peh
    Pronunciation: peh
    Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word.
  6. Strong's Number: H4872
    There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
    Transliteration: Môsheh
    Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
    Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
  7. Strong's Number: H5656
    There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֲבֹדָה
    Transliteration: ʻăbôdâh
    Pronunciation: ab-o-daw'
    Description: or עֲבוֹדָה; from עָבַד; work of any kind; act, bondage, [phrase] bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, [idiom] wrought.
  8. Strong's Number: H3881
    There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לֵוִיִּי
    Transliteration: Lêvîyîy
    Pronunciation: lay-vee-ee'
    Description: or לֵוִי; patronymically from לֵוִי; a Levite or descendant of Levi; Leviite.
  9. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
  10. Strong's Number: H385
    There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִיתָמָר
    Transliteration: ʼÎythâmâr
    Pronunciation: eeth-aw-mawr'
    Description: from אִי and תָּמָר; coast of the palm-tree; Ithamar, a son of Aaron; Ithamar.
  11. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  12. Strong's Number: H175
    There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
    Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
    Pronunciation: a-har-one'
    Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.
  13. Strong's Number: H3548
    There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כֹּהֵן
    Transliteration: kôhên
    Pronunciation: ko-hane'
    Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.