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Monday, April 13th, 2026
the Second Week after Easter
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Young's Literal Translation

Numbers 9:20

and so when the cloud is a number of days over the tabernacle; by the command of Jehovah they encamp, and by the command of Jehovah they journey.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Cloud;   Fire;   Obedience;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Cloud of Glory;   High Priest, the;   Theocracy, the, or Immediate Government by God;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Cloud;   Miracle;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Cloud, Cloud of the Lord;   Leviticus, Theology of;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cloud;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Tabernacle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Moses;   Numbers, Book of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Journeyings;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Tabernacle;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Plagues of Egypt;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Moses;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the mitzvah of the LORD they remained encamped, and according to the mitzvah of the LORD they journeyed.
King James Version
And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed.
Lexham English Bible
When the cloud remained a number of days on the tabernacle, on the command of Yahweh they encamped; and on the command of Yahweh they set out.
New Century Version
Sometimes the cloud was over it only a few days. At the Lord 's command the people camped, and at his command they moved.
New English Translation
When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a number of days, they remained camped according to the Lord 's commandment, and according to the Lord 's commandment they would journey.
Amplified Bible
Sometimes the cloud remained only a few days over the tabernacle, and in accordance with the command of the LORD they remained camped. Then at His command they set out.
New American Standard Bible
If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle, in accordance with the command of the LORD they remained camped. Then in accordance with the command of the LORD they set out.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So when the cloud abode a few dayes vpon the Tabernacle, they abode in their tents according to the comandement of ye Lord: for they iourneyed at the commandement of the Lorde.
Legacy Standard Bible
If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle, according to the command of Yahweh they remained camped. Then according to the command of Yahweh they set out.
Contemporary English Version
whether it was only one night, a few days, a month, or even a year. As long as the cloud remained over the tent, the Israelites stayed where they were. But when the cloud moved, so did the Israelites.
Complete Jewish Bible
Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle; according to Adonai 's order, they remained in camp; and according to Adonai 's order, they traveled.
Darby Translation
And if it were so that the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle, according to the commandment of Jehovah they encamped, and according to the commandment of Jehovah they journeyed.
Easy-to-Read Version
Sometimes the cloud was over the Holy Tent for only a few days. So the people obeyed the Lord 's command—they followed the cloud when it moved.
English Standard Version
Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out.
George Lamsa Translation
Sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of the LORD they remained in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
Good News Translation
Sometimes the cloud remained over the Tent for only a few days; in any case, they remained in camp or moved, according to the command of the Lord .
Christian Standard Bible®
Sometimes the cloud remained over the tabernacle for only a few days. They would camp at the Lord’s command and set out at the Lord’s command.
Literal Translation
And when the cloud was over the tabernacle many days, by the mouth of Jehovah they encamped, and by the mouth of Jehovah they pulled up stakes .
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan it chaunced that the cloude abode vpo ye Habitacion eny space of dayes, then pitched they acordinge to the worde of the LORDE, & after the worde of the LORDE wente they on their iourney.
American Standard Version
And sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of Jehovah they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Jehovah they journeyed.
Bible in Basic English
Sometimes the cloud was resting on the House for two or three days; then, by the order of the Lord, they kept their tents in that place, and when the Lord gave the order they went on.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when the cloude abode a fewe dayes vpon the tabernacle, they abode in their tentes, accordyng to the commaundement of the Lorde: and they iourneyed also at the commaundement of the Lorde.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
King James Version (1611)
And so it was when the cloude was a few daies vpon the Tabernacle, according to the commandement of the Lord, they abode in their tents, and according to the commandement of the Lord, they iourneyed.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it shall be, whenever the cloud overshadows the tabernacle a number of days, they shall encamp by the word of the Lord, and shall remove by the command of the Lord.
English Revised Version
And sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of the LORD they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
Berean Standard Bible
Sometimes the cloud remained over the tabernacle for only a few days, and they would camp at the LORD's command and set out at the LORD's command.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
in hou many euer daies the cloude was on the tabernacle. At the comaundement of the Lord thei reisiden tentis, and at his comaundement thei diden doun.
Update Bible Version
And sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of Yahweh they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Yahweh they journeyed.
Webster's Bible Translation
And [so] it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
World English Bible
Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of Yahweh they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Yahweh they journeyed.
New King James Version
So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the LORD they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the LORD they would journey.
New Living Translation
Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord 's command they would break camp and move on.
New Life Bible
Sometimes the cloud stayed a few days over the meeting tent. But they obeyed the Lord and stayed in that place. Then they would leave when the Lord told them.
New Revised Standard
Sometimes the cloud would remain a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they would set out.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, so it was, when the cloud would be a few days upon the habitation, at the bidding of Yahweh, they remained encamped, and at the bidding of Yahweh, they set forward.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For as many days soever as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. At the commandment of the Lord they pitched their tents, and at his commandment they took them down.
Revised Standard Version
Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle, according to the command of the LORD they remained camped. Then according to the command of the LORD they set out.

Contextual Overview

15 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; 16 so it is continually; the cloud covereth it, also the appearance of fire by night. 17 And according to the going up of the cloud from off the tent and afterwards do the sons of Israel journey; and in the place where the cloud doth tabernacle, there do the sons of Israel encamp; 18 by the command of Jehovah the sons of Israel journey, and by the command of Jehovah they encamp; all the days that the cloud doth tabernacle over the tabernacle they encamp. 19 And in the cloud prolonging itself over the tabernacle many days, then have the sons of Israel kept the charge of Jehovah, and journey not, 20 and so when the cloud is a number of days over the tabernacle; by the command of Jehovah they encamp, and by the command of Jehovah they journey. 21 And so when the cloud is from evening till morning, when the cloud hath gone up in the morning, then they have journeyed; whether by day or by night, when the cloud hath gone up, then they have journeyed. 22 Whether two days, or a month, or days, in the cloud prolonging itself over the tabernacle, to tabernacle over it, the sons of Israel encamp, and journey not; and in its being lifted up they journey; 23 by the command of Jehovah they encamp, and by the command of Jehovah they journey; the charge of Jehovah they have kept, by the command of Jehovah in the hand of Moses.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Numbers 9:18 - and at the Deuteronomy 7:21 - the Lord

Cross-References

Genesis 3:23
Jehovah God sendeth him forth from the garden of Eden to serve the ground from which he hath been taken;
Genesis 4:2
and she addeth to bear his brother, even Abel. And Abel is feeding a flock, and Cain hath been servant of the ground.
Genesis 5:29
and calleth his name Noah, saying, `This [one] doth comfort us concerning our work, and concerning the labour of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.'
Genesis 9:18
And the sons of Noah who are going out of the ark are Shem, and Ham, and Japheth; and Ham is father of Canaan.
Genesis 9:19
These three [are] sons of Noah, and from these hath all the earth been overspread.
Genesis 9:24
And Noah awaketh from his wine, and knoweth that which his young son hath done to him,
Genesis 9:26
And he saith: `Blessed of Jehovah my God [is] Shem, And Canaan is servant to him.
Deuteronomy 20:6
`And who [is] the man that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not made it common? -- let him go and turn back to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man make it common.
Deuteronomy 28:30
`A woman thou dost betroth, and another man doth lie with her; a house thou dost build, and dost not dwell in it; a vineyard thou dost plant, and dost not make it common;
Proverbs 10:11
A fountain of life [is] the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And [so] it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle,.... Or "days of number", which were so few that they might be easily numbered: the Targum of Jonathan interprets them of the seven days of the week, as if the sense was, when the cloud rested a week on the tabernacle:

according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents; during these few days, be they a week, or more, or less:

and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed; when it removed from the tabernacle.


 
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