Numbers 4:6

Numbers 4:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
• New International Version (NIV)Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin and spread on top of that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they shall put on it a covering of badger skins, and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue; and they shall insert its poles.

Context of Numbers 4:6

4“The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects. 5Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the testimony with it. They are to place over this a covering made of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles. 7“They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it. 8They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of fine leather, and insert the poles in the table.

Numbers 4:6 word by word

וְנָתְנ֣וּ עָלָ֗יו כְּסוּי֙ ע֣וֹר תַּ֔חַשׁ וּפָרְשׂ֧וּ בֶֽגֶד־כְּלִ֛יל תְּכֵ֖לֶת מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְשָׂמ֖וּ בַּדָּֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And shall putנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• thereon the coveringכָּסוּיkâsûy · coveringH3681
• of badgers’תַּ֫חַשׁtachash · leatherH8476
• skinsעוֹר‛ôr · skinH5785
• and shall spreadפָּרַשׂpâraώ · to spreadH6566
• overמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605
• a clothבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
• whollyכָּלִילkâlîyl · entireH3632
• of blueתְּכֵ֫לֶתtekêleth · blueH8504
• and shall putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• in the stavesבַּדbad · alone: poleH905

Cross-references for Numbers 4:6

• Numbers 4:7“They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it.
• Exodus 35:19and the specially woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary — the holy garments for the priest Aaron and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”
• Exodus 39:1They made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, and the holy garments for Aaron from the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
• Exodus 25:13Make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
• 1 Kings 8:7For the cherubim were spreading their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim covered the ark and its poles from above.

Commentaries on Numbers 4:6

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6wholly of blue - Compare Exodus 25:4 note. The third and external covering of the ark only was to be of this color. The table of showbread had Numbers 4:8 an outer wrapping of scarlet; the altar Numbers 4:13 one of purple. Put in the staves - Probably, “put the staves in order.” These were never taken out of the golden rings by which the ark was to be borne (see Exodus 25:14-15), but would need adjustment.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-20Verses 4-20 The Kohathites were to carry the holy things of the tabernacle. All the holy things were to be covered; not only for security and respect, but to keep them from being seen. This not only marked the reverence due to holy things, but the mystery of the things signified by those types, and the darkness of the dispensation. But now, through Christ, the case is altered, and we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-20The duties of the Kohathites come first because they handled the most holy objects (see 3:27–32). This might be because Aaron and the priests came from this clan (1 Chronicles 6:2–3). Their tasks included carrying, setting up, and folding up these holy and very important coverings and furnishings. The items entrusted to Kohath's descendants were very valuable. These included: the ark of the Testimony, the table of the Bread of the Presence, the lampstand…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-154-15. This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath, &c.--They are mentioned first, from their close connection with Aaron; and the special department of duty assigned to them during the journeyings of Israel accorded with the charge they had received of the precious contents of the tabernacle. But these were to be previously covered by the common priests, who, as well as the high priest, were admitted on such necessary occasions into the holy place…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 4:6

• Altar
• Ark
• Badger
• Colors
• Levites
• Priest
• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

• Appoint
• Ark
• Badger
• Blue
• David
• Kohathites
• Ministry
• Proportion
• Sinai
• Agrapha

Commentaries on Numbers 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings