God’s Word Translation
Numbers 4:11
11“They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place.
Numbers 4:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:
- New International Version (NIV)“Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And over the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue and cover it with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles.
Context of Numbers 4:11
9“They will take a violet cloth and cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, tongs, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. 10Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them. “They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. 12“They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place, put them in a violet cloth, cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them. 13“After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar.
Read all of Numbers 4Numbers 4:11 word by word
וְעַ֣ל׀ מִזְבַּ֣ח הַזָּהָ֗ב יִפְרְשׂוּ֙ בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵ֔לֶת וְכִסּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ וְשָׂמ֖וּ אֶת־בַּדָּֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And upon the goldenזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
- altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
- they shall spreadפָּרַשׂpâraώ · to spreadH6566
- a clothבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- of blueתְּכֵ֫לֶתtekêleth · blueH8504
- and coverכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
- it with a coveringמִכְסֶהmikseh · coveringH4372
- of badgers’תַּ֫חַשׁtachash · leatherH8476
- skinsעוֹר‛ôr · skinH5785
- and shall putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- to the stavesבַּדbad · alone: poleH905
Cross-references for Numbers 4:11
- Exodus 30:1⌞The Lord continued,⌟ “Build an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense.
- Exodus 37:25He made an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense. It was 18 inches square and 36 inches high. The horns and altar were made out of one piece ⌞of wood⌟.
- Exodus 39:38the gold altar, the anointing oil, the sweet-smelling incense, the screen for the entrance to the tent,
- Exodus 40:5Put the gold altar for incense in front of the ark. Put up the screen at the entrance to the tent.
Commentaries on Numbers 4:11
- 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 4:11
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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