God’s Word Translation
Numbers 4:16
16“Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents.”
Numbers 4:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
- New International Version (NIV)“Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)"And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing oil, with the oversight of the whole tabernacle and all that is in it, of the sanctuary and its vessels."
- New King James Version (NKJV)“The appointed duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the daily grain offering, the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”
Context of Numbers 4:16
14Next, they will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls—all the altar’s accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather over all this. Then they will put the poles in place. 15“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting. “Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents.” 17The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 18“Don’t let the Kohathite families from Levi’s tribe be destroyed.
Read all of Numbers 4Numbers 4:16 word by word
וּפְקֻדַּ֞ת אֶלְעָזָ֣ר׀ בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֗ן שֶׁ֤מֶן הַמָּאוֹר֙ וּקְטֹ֣רֶת הַסַּמִּ֔ים וּמִנְחַ֥ת הַתָּמִ֖יד וְשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֑ה פְּקֻדַּ֗ת כָּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ בְּקֹ֖דֶשׁ וּבְכֵלָֽיו׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And to the officeפְּקֻדָּהpeqûddâh · punishmentH6486
- of Eleazarאֶלְעָזָר'el‛âzâr · EleazarH499
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- the priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- the oilשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
- for the lightמָאוֹרmâ'ôr mâ'ôr me'ôrâh me'ôrâh · lightH3974
- and the sweetסַםsam · spiceH5561
- incenseקְטֹ֫רֶתqeţôreth · incenseH7004
- and the dailyתָּמִידtâmîyd · continuallyH8548
- meat offeringמִנְחָהminchâh · offeringH4503
- and the anointingמִשְׁחָהmishchâh moshchâh · anointingH4888
- of all the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
- in the sanctuaryקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
- and in the vesselsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
Cross-references for Numbers 4:16
- Numbers 3:32The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron. It was Eleazar’s duty to supervise those who were in charge of the holy place.
- Exodus 25:6olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense,
- Exodus 27:20“For the lighting, you must command the Israelites to bring you pure, virgin olive oil so that the lamps won’t go out.
- Leviticus 24:2“Command the Israelites to bring you pure, virgin olive oil for the lamp stand so that the lamps won’t go out.
- Exodus 30:34The Lord said to Moses, “Take one part fragrant spices (two kinds of gum resin and aromatic mollusk shells), and mix them with one part pure frankincense.
- Exodus 29:39Offer one in the morning and the other at dusk.
- Exodus 30:23“Take the finest spices: 12½ pounds of powdered myrrh; half as much, that is, 6¼ pounds of fragrant cinnamon; 6¼ pounds of fragrant cane;
- Luke 4:18“The Spirit of the Lord is with me. He has anointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to announce forgiveness to the prisoners of sin and the restoring of sight to the blind, to forgive those who have been shattered by sin,
- Acts 20:28Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1People should think of us as servants of Christ and managers who are entrusted with God’s mysteries.
- 1 Timothy 2:5There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and humans—a human, Christ Jesus.
- Hebrews 3:1Brothers and sisters, you are holy partners in a heavenly calling. So look carefully at Jesus, the apostle and chief priest about whom we make our declaration of faith.
- 1 Peter 2:25You were like lost sheep. Now you have come back to the shepherd and bishop of your lives.
- 1 Peter 5:1I appeal to your spiritual leaders. I make this appeal as a spiritual leader who also witnessed Christ’s sufferings and will share in the glory that will be revealed.
Commentaries on Numbers 4:16
- 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. 1616. to the office of Eleazar ... pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, &c.--He was charged with the special duty of superintending the squadron who were employed in the carrying of the sacred furniture; besides, to his personal care were committed the materials requisite for the daily service, and which it was necessary he should have easily at his command (Ex 29:38).Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 4:16
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
Commentaries