Exodus 39:35 Meaning and Explanation
“The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The ark of the covenant, its carrying poles, and the lid were presented.
The Context of Exodus 39:35
The most sacred furnishings are listed first.
What Does Exodus 39:35 Mean?
The ark was the holiest object in the tabernacle, the repository for the two stone tablets containing God's covenant words. The staves (carrying poles) allowed it to be transported without being touched; the mercy seat (also called the throne of grace) was the lid where God's presence was said to dwell, especially over the cherubim on either end.
This ark, more than any other object, represented the physical anchor of Israel's covenant with God. By listing it first among the furnishings brought to Moses, the text signals its supreme importance. Everything else in the tabernacle existed to support and protect this central symbol of God's promise and law.
Exodus 39:35 in the Original Language
ark of the testimony (אֲרוֹן הָעֵדוּת) — a chest containing the tablets of the covenant; mercy seat (כַּפֹּרֶת) — the throne of grace, literally 'place of covering or atonement'
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 39:35
What does Exodus 39:35 mean?
The ark of the covenant, its carrying poles, and the lid were presented.
What is the context of Exodus 39:35?
The most sacred furnishings are listed first.