Exodus 13:21

Exodus 13:21

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

a. NLT: The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.

b. NIV: By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

c. YLT: And Jehovah is going before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give light to them, to go by day and by night;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

e. Septuagint: And God led them, in the day by a pillar of cloud, to show them the way, and in the night by a pillar of fire.

f. Stone Edition Chumash Torah: HASHEM went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel day and night.

1. “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way…”

a. [And the] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

b. went [Strong: 1980 halak haw-lak' akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread, still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.]

c. before [them] [Strong: 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) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

d. by day [Strong: 3119 yowmam yo-mawm' from 3117; daily:--daily, (by, in the) day(-time).]

e. in a pillar [Strong: 5982 `ammuwd am-mood' or ammud {am-mood'}; from 5975; a column (as standing); also a stand, i.e. platform:--X apiece, pillar.]

f. of a cloud [Strong: 6051 `anan aw-nawn' from 6049; a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud:--cloud(-y).]

g. to lead [them] [Strong: 5148 nachah naw-khaw' a primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists):--bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten.]

h. the way [Strong: 1870 derek deh'-rek from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb:--along, away, because of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side), whither(-soever).]

2. “…and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:”

a. and by night [Strong: 3915 layil lah'-yil or (Isa. 21:11) leyl {lale}; also laylah {lah'- yel-aw}; from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity:--((mid-))night (season).]

b. in a pillar [Strong: 5982 `ammuwd am-mood' or ammud {am-mood'}; from 5975; a column (as standing); also a stand, i.e. platform:--X apiece, pillar.]

c. of fire [Strong: 784 'esh aysh a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):-- burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.]

d. to give them light [Strong: 215 'owr ore a primitive root; to be (causative, make) luminous (literally and metaphorically):--X break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.]

e. to go [Strong: 3212 yalak yaw-lak' a primitive root (Compare 1980); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses):--X again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, + follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, + pursue, cause to run, spread, take away ((-journey)), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, X be weak.]

f. by day [Strong: 3119 yowmam yo-mawm' from 3117; daily:--daily, (by, in the) day(-time).]

g. and night [Strong: 3915 layil lah'-yil or (Isa. 21:11) leyl {lale}; also laylah {lah'- yel-aw}; from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity:--((mid-))night (season).]

1). This particular Divine manifestation of the presence of God was with the Israelites the entire 40 years previous to going into the Promise Land. After entering Canaan it is not seen in this particular manifestation (pillar of fire and pillar of cloud). Though he did manifest Himself to His people. It has been speculated that it ceased when the manna ceased when the crossed the Jordan river immediately before the fall of Jericho (Joshua 5:12).