Exodus 26:35

KJV

And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

KJV (with Strong's)

And thou shalt set {H7760} the table {H7979} without {H2351} the vail {H6532}, and the candlestick {H4501} over against {H5227} the table {H7979} on the side {H6763} of the tabernacle {H4908} toward the south {H8486}: and thou shalt put {H5414} the table {H7979} on the north {H6828} side {H6763}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"You are to put the table outside the curtain and the menorah opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; put the table on the north side.

Berean Standard Bible

And place the table outside the veil on the north side of the tabernacle, and put the lampstand opposite the table, on the south side.

American Standard Version

And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 26:35 provides precise divine instructions for the arrangement of the Table of Showbread and the Golden Candlestick within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. These meticulous details underscore God's demand for order, holiness, and intentionality in worship, revealing His character as a God of perfect design who desires to dwell among His people while maintaining His absolute sanctity. The specific placement of these sacred furnishings was not arbitrary but profoundly symbolic, pointing to God's provision and illumination for Israel, and ultimately foreshadowing the person and work of Jesus Christ.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within a larger, highly detailed section of Exodus (chapters 25-31) where God provides Moses with comprehensive blueprints for the construction of the Tabernacle, its sacred furnishings, and the priestly garments. Specifically, [Exodus 26](/exodus/26 "Exodus 26 - Tabernacle Construction Details") focuses on the structure of the Tabernacle itself, including the curtains, frames, and the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Verse 35 follows instructions for the veil's placement (vv. 31-34) and precedes the command to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the Most Holy Place (v. 34), establishing the foundational structure before detailing the internal arrangements of the Holy Place. This chamber would house the Table of Showbread, the Golden Candlestick (Menorah), and later, the Altar of Incense (cf. [Exodus 30:6](/exodus/30-6 "Exodus 30:6 - Altar of Incense Placement")). This sequence emphasizes that the Tabernacle's structure was meticulously designed to accommodate these specific items and their associated priestly rituals, ensuring every element contributed to the overall divine purpose.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Tabernacle served as a portable sanctuary, representing God's tangible presence among the Israelites during their wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, temples were often considered the dwelling places of deities, but Israel's Tabernacle was unique in its divine origin and meticulous specifications, demonstrating God's active involvement in every aspect of their worship and national life. The Holy Place, the outer chamber of the Tabernacle, was accessible only to the priests, who performed daily rituals involving the showbread and the menorah. The "vail" (or curtain) mentioned in the verse was a critical barrier, symbolizing the profound separation between a holy God and sinful humanity, and preventing direct access to the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant (God's earthly throne) resided. This arrangement highlighted both God's desire for relationship with His people and His unapproachable holiness, setting the stage for a system of mediation through the priesthood and sacrificial atonement.

* **Key Themes:** The meticulous instructions in [Exodus 26](/exodus/26 "Exodus 26 - Tabernacle Construction Details"), including the specific placement of the furnishings in verse 35, contribute to several key themes throughout the book of Exodus and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **God's Presence and Dwelling Among His People**. The Tabernacle itself is the physical manifestation of God's covenant promise to dwell with Israel (cf. [Exodus 25:8](/exodus/25-8 "Exodus 25:8 - God's Command to Build the Sanctuary")). Related to this is the theme of **Holiness and Separation**, where God's absolute purity necessitates specific protocols and physical barriers, like the veil, to protect sinful humanity from His consuming holiness. The detailed design also underscores **Divine Order and Authority**, emphasizing that worship must be conducted precisely according to God's revealed will, not human invention. Finally, the furnishings themselves, such as the Table of Showbread and the Candlestick, symbolize **God's Provision and Illumination**, pointing to His faithfulness in sustaining and guiding His people throughout their journey, a theme echoed in passages like [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man Lives by Every Word of God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Vail (Hebrew, _pôreketh'_):** From H6532, this term refers to a "separatrix" or "sacred screen," specifically the thick, ornate curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies). More than a mere divider, its function was to symbolize the profound barrier between God's manifest, holy presence and humanity's sinfulness, dictating limited access to His immediate presence and emphasizing His transcendence and absolute holiness.
* **Candlestick (Hebrew, _mᵉnôwrâh'_):** From H4501, this denotes a "chandelier" or "candlestick," referring to the iconic seven-branched lampstand crafted from pure gold. It was the sole source of light within the Holy Place, illuminating the sacred space where the priests ministered. The Menorah symbolized God's light, truth, and spiritual illumination for His people, serving as a constant reminder of His guiding and revealing presence in their midst.
* **Table (Hebrew, _shulchân'_):** From H7979, this word refers to a "table (as spread out)" and by implication, "a meal." In this context, it designates the Table of Showbread, made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It held twelve loaves of unleavened bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing God's constant provision for His people and their perpetual fellowship with Him. Its placement was crucial for the daily priestly service of replacing the bread.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And thou shalt set the table without the vail":** This initial instruction establishes the general location of the Table of Showbread. "Without the vail" specifies that the table was to be placed in the Holy Place, the outer chamber, rather than in the Most Holy Place. This means it was accessible to the priests for their daily duties, such as replacing the showbread, emphasizing its role in the regular worship and sustenance of the covenant community. It highlights the distinction between the sacred and the most sacred spaces.
* **"and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south":** This clause provides the precise placement of the Golden Candlestick (Menorah). It was to be positioned "over against the table," meaning opposite it, creating a visual and functional balance within the Holy Place. The specific direction "toward the south" (or "south side") ensured a deliberate and symmetrical layout, with the Menorah providing light to the entire chamber, including the Table of Showbread, emphasizing its role in illuminating the sacred space and the objects within it.
* **"and thou shalt put the table on the north side":** This final clause reiterates and specifies the exact location of the Table of Showbread. While the first phrase gave its general placement ("without the vail"), this clarifies its precise orientation within the Holy Place, placing it on the "north side." This repetition underscores the divine emphasis on exactitude and order in the Tabernacle's arrangement, ensuring that every element was positioned according to God's perfect design, leaving no room for human error or deviation in the sacred space.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 26:35 is rich in **Precision** and **Detailing**, characteristic of the entire Tabernacle instructions found in Exodus. Every measurement, material, and placement is meticulously specified, reflecting God's absolute sovereignty and His demand for holiness in worship. The repetition of the table's placement ("without the vail" and "on the north side") serves as a form of **Emphasis**, ensuring no ambiguity in the divine command and highlighting the critical importance of exact adherence to God's blueprint for His dwelling place. Furthermore, the entire verse, like the Tabernacle itself, functions as profound **Symbolism**, where physical objects and their precise arrangement convey deep spiritual truths about God's character, His relationship with His people, and the path to His presence. The Menorah symbolizes divine light, the Table of Showbread divine provision, and their ordered placement speaks to the beauty, functionality, and sacredness of God's dwelling.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The precise instructions for the Tabernacle's furnishings in Exodus 26:35 highlight several profound theological truths. Firstly, God is a God of order, not chaos, and His divine will extends to the minutest details of worship and life. This meticulousness underscores His holiness and His expectation that His people approach Him with reverence and according to His prescribed ways. Secondly, the placement of the Table of Showbread and the Menorah in the Holy Place speaks to God's ongoing provision and illumination for His people. The bread symbolized sustained life and fellowship, while the light represented divine truth and guidance. These elements were essential for the priests' daily ministry, underscoring God's desire to sustain and guide His covenant community. The very structure of the Tabernacle, with its distinct chambers and the veil, also powerfully communicated the reality of humanity's separation from a holy God due to sin, while simultaneously pointing to a divinely ordained means of access.

* [Leviticus 24:5-9](/leviticus/24-5-9 "Leviticus 24:5-9 - Instructions for the Showbread")
* [Numbers 8:1-4](/numbers/8-1-4 "Numbers 8:1-4 - Instructions for the Menorah")
* [Hebrews 9:1-5](/hebrews/9-1-5 "Hebrews 9:1-5 - Description of the Tabernacle and its Furnishings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 26:35, with its seemingly mundane details, offers profound insights for our spiritual lives today. It reminds us that God cares about the details of our worship and our lives. While we no longer have a physical Tabernacle, the principle of intentionality and reverence in approaching God remains. Just as the showbread represented God's provision and the menorah His light, we are called to recognize God as the source of all sustenance and truth in our lives. This verse encourages us to consider how we order our spiritual lives, ensuring that our practices and priorities reflect a deep reverence for God's holiness and a reliance on His provision and guidance. It challenges us to seek His light in a dark world and to trust in His faithfulness to sustain us, remembering that every aspect of our lives can be an act of worship when aligned with His divine order and purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's meticulous attention to detail in the Tabernacle's design inform your understanding of His character and His expectations for your life?**
* **In what ways do you recognize God as the "bread" that sustains you and the "light" that guides you in your daily walk?**
* **What "details" in your spiritual discipline or daily routine might God be calling you to approach with greater intentionality and reverence?**

### FAQ
**Why were the instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings so incredibly detailed?**

Answer: The meticulous detail in the Tabernacle instructions, as seen in [Exodus 26](/exodus/26 "Exodus 26 - Tabernacle Construction Details") and surrounding chapters, served several critical purposes. Firstly, it underscored God's absolute holiness and His demand for precision in approaching Him. Every detail was divinely ordained, leaving no room for human improvisation, thereby emphasizing that worship must be according to God's terms, not humanity's. Secondly, the precision ensured uniformity and order, reflecting God's character as a God of perfect design and not chaos. Thirdly, every element and its placement was profoundly symbolic, pointing to deeper spiritual truths about God's nature, His plan of salvation, and the future coming of the Messiah. The specific arrangement of the Table and Candlestick, for instance, visually represented God's provision and illumination, preparing the people's understanding for the ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 26:35, with its precise placement of the Table of Showbread and the Golden Candlestick, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Table of Showbread, symbolizing God's constant provision and fellowship, points directly to Jesus as the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"). He declared, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), providing spiritual sustenance and eternal life that the physical showbread could only foreshadow. Similarly, the Golden Candlestick, the sole source of light in the Holy Place, vividly prefigures Christ as the [Light of the World](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"). Jesus proclaimed, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")), illuminating the path to truth and salvation. Furthermore, the "vail" that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, symbolizing humanity's separation from God due to sin, was dramatically torn from top to bottom at Christ's crucifixion ([Matthew 27:51](/matthew/27-51 "Matthew 27:51 - The Temple Veil Torn")), signifying that through His perfect sacrifice, direct and unhindered access to God's presence is now available to all believers ([Hebrews 10:19-20](/hebrews/10-19-20 "Hebrews 10:19-20 - Access to God through Christ's Blood")). Thus, the meticulous design of the Tabernacle and its furnishings in Exodus 26:35 ultimately serves as a powerful prophetic blueprint, beautifully revealing the person and redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 40:24

And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

Exodus 40:22

And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.

Hebrews 9:2

For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein [was] the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Exodus 25:31

¶ And thou shalt make a candlestick [of] pure gold: [of] beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

Exodus 25:37

And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

Hebrews 9:8

¶ The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Hebrews 9:9

Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;