Exodus 39:36 — Word Study
WLCאֶת־ הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֵ֖ת לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִֽים׃
BSAthe tableshulchân [with all its equipment, vessels] with allkôl its utensilskᵉlîy [articles, tools] and the Breadlechem of the Presencepânîym [showbread, sacred bread, food before God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ | the table | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| כָּל־ | all | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| כֵּלָ֔יו | articles its | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְאֵ֖ת | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| לֶ֥חֶם | [the] bread of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַפָּנִֽים׃ | the presence | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the table with all its utensils and the Bread of the Presence; |
| KJV | The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread, |
| ASV | the table, all the vessels thereof, and the showbread; |
| YLT | the table, all its vessels, and the bread of the presence; |
| WEB | the table, all its vessels, the show bread, |
| BBE | The table, with all its vessels and the holy bread; |
Where they part company is in the details of the translations, but all agree on the core elements of the verse.
The structure consists of a main clause followed by two noun phrases that elaborate on the table and its significance.
4 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 39:36
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Furnishings of the Tabernaclegenerated
Exodus 39:36 describes the items used in the tabernacle, focusing on the table and its utensils, which were essential for the rituals performed in the presence of God. This verse emphasizes the importance of these items in the worship practices of the Israelites, reflecting their relationship with God and the sacredness of the space they occupied.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 25:30 | And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 7:48 | Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar; the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַשֻּׁלְחָן, ha.shul.Changenerated
The word שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan) means 'table' and is derived from a root meaning to spread out. It refers to a physical table, often used for meals or sacred purposes, symbolizing a place of community and sharing.
In this verse, it highlights the significance of the table in the tabernacle, where offerings and sacred bread were placed, representing God's provision and presence among His people.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb is implied in the context, with the noun phrases following it: אֶת־ הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ (the table), אֶת־ כָּל־ כֵּלָ֔יו (all its utensils), and וְאֵ֖ת לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִֽים (and the Bread of the Presence). The structure emphasizes the table and its associated items, listing them in a straightforward manner.
The Hebrew word order places the focus on the table first, indicating its primary importance in the context of the tabernacle's furnishings.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שֻׁלְחָן as τράπεζαν (table), which aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may reflect a broader understanding of tables in a Greco-Roman context.
This choice shows continuity in the concept of a table as a place of provision and community, relevant to both the Hebrew and Greek audiences.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 39:36 describes the table used in the tabernacle, along with all its utensils and the Bread of the Presence. This table was important for the rituals and offerings made to God, symbolizing His presence and provision for the Israelites.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The Bread of the Presence represents God's provision and is a reminder of His continual presence among His people, as it was placed on the table in the tabernacle.
The table is central to the worship practices in the tabernacle, serving as the place where offerings and sacred bread were presented to God.
This verse connects to earlier instructions in Exodus 25:30, where God commands the making of the table for the Bread of the Presence, emphasizing its importance in worship.
The utensils signify the tools necessary for the rituals performed at the table, highlighting the importance of preparation and reverence in worship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the table represent in my own life as a place of provision and community?
- How can I better understand the significance of God's presence in my daily life?
- In what ways can I prepare my heart for worship, similar to how the utensils were prepared for the table?
- What actions can I take to symbolize sharing and community in my relationships, reflecting the meaning of the table?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 39:36 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat, No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 39 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersTHE OF THE WORK TO MOSES, AND HIS OF IT.(33-43) It is probable that the various parts of the work were presented to Moses for inspection as they were completed; that if they did not satisfy him, they might be altered and amended at once. Moses alone had seen “the pattern in the mount,” and Moses alone could say if the work came up to the required standard. We are not told that anything was rejected; and it is quite possible that all the portions of the work were satisfactorily rendered at their first essay by the several workmen; for the workmen, it must be remembered, besides receiving instructions from Moses, were divinely assisted in the production of their several works (Exo. 36:42).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 39 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges33–40. The things made are all brought to Moses, and (v. 43) approved by him. A complete enumeration is given, substantially in the same order as in Exodus 35:11-19.
Read Cambridge on Exodus 39 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTHE HOLY OF THE PRIESTS, Exodus 39:1-31 See notes on Exodus 28. ALL BROUGHT TO MOSES AND , Exodus 39:32-43.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 39 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
the table with all its utensils and the Bread of the Presence;
the table, all its vessels, the show bread,
the table with all its utensils and the Bread of the Presence;
the table, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence;
Tyndale line
The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread,
the table, all the vessels thereof, and the showbread;
the table, all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread;
The table, and all its vessels, and the show-bread,
The Table, with all the instruments thereof, and the shewebread,
Strictly literal
the table, all its utensils, and the shewbread;
the table, all its vessels, and the bread of the presence;
the table, all its vessels, and the Bread of the Presentation;
The table, and all its vessels, and the showbread;
They brought the table, all its utensils, and the bread of the presence;
From the Latin
The candlestick, the lamps, and the furniture of them with the oil:
Simplified
the table with all its equipment and the Bread of the Presence;
The table, with all its vessels and the holy bread;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text (MT) of Exodus 39:36 reads, "אֶת־ הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֵ֖ת לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִֽים׃" The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the MT word for word, stating, "את השׁלחן ואת כל כליו ואת לחם הפנים." The Septuagint, while not providing a direct translation, matches 6 of the 8 words in a different order, indicating a close relationship but differing in structure. Overall, the MT and the Samaritan Pentateuch are in complete agreement, while the Septuagint shows some variation in word order.
אֶת־ הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֵ֖ת לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִֽים׃
6 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
את השׁלחן ואת כל כליו ואת לחם הפנים
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 39:36
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
The Hebrew word שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan) means 'table' and is derived from the root meaning to spread out. It can refer to various types of tables, including those used for kings, private use, or sacred purposes. The entries consistently emphasize its primary meaning as a table.
שֻׁלְחָן 71 n.m. table
base
H7979 שֻׁלְחָן table
7979 shulchan shool-khawn'
from 7971; a table (as spread out); by implication, a
meal:--table.
see HEBREW for 07971
שֻׁלְחָן (shul.chan) — table.
1) table
1a) table
1a1) of king's table, private use, sacred uses
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
"Table" is derived from the Latin tabula, meaning primarily "a board," but with a great variety of other significances, of which "writing-tablet" is the most important for the Biblical use of "table." So in English "table" meant at first "any surface" and, in particular, "a surface for writing," and further specialization was needed before "table" became the name of the familiar article of furniture ("object with a horizontal surface"), a meaning not possessed by tabula in Latin. After this specialization "table" in the sense of "a surface for writing" was replaced in later English by the diminutive form "tablet." But "surface for writing" was still a common meaning of "table," and in this sense it represents luach (Ex 24:12, etc.), a word of uncertain origin, plax, "something flat" (
See BREAD, and EATING.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
כְּלִי (kliy) refers to an article or utensil, encompassing a wide range of objects such as vessels, tools, and implements used for various purposes, including music and warfare. It is derived from a root meaning 'to prepare' and can denote anything from furniture to weapons. The entries highlight its general use in the Old Testament without significant disagreement among lexicons.
כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel
base
H3627 כְּלִי article, utensil, vessel
3627 kliy kel-ee'
from 3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an
implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):--armour
((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture,
instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that
which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool,
vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.
see HEBREW for 03615
כְּלִי (ke.li) — article/utensil.
1) article, vessel, implement, utensil
1a) article, object (general)
1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel
1b1) implement (of hunting or war)
1b2) implement (of music)
1b3) implement, tool (of labour)
1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen)
1b5) utensils, furniture
1c) vessel, receptacle (general)
1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
לֶ֫חֶם (lechem) means bread or food, encompassing items like grain and provisions for both humans and animals. It is derived from a related root and is used in various contexts, particularly in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its primary association with bread, though they also acknowledge its broader meaning as food.
לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food
base
H3899 לֶ֫חֶם bread, food
3899 lechem lekh'-em
from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or
grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit,
loaf, meat, victuals. See also 1036.
see HEBREW for 03898
see HEBREW for 01036
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food.
: food(eating)
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: bread.
: bread/loaf
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: allowance.
: allowance
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
Art | N-cp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
prez'-ens: In the Old Testament nearly always the rendition of panim, "face" (Ge 3:8; Ex 33:14 f; Ps 95:2; Isa 63:9, etc.); occasionally of `ayin, "eye" (Ge 23:11; De 25:9; Jer 28:1,11, etc.); and in 1Ki 8:22; Pr 14:7, "the presence of" represents the preposition neghedh, "before"; compare also Aramaic qodham, in Da 2:27 the King James Version (the Revised…