God’s Word Translation
Numbers 4:5
5When the camp is supposed to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the ark containing the words of God’s promise. First they will cover the ark with the canopy.
Numbers 4:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
- New International Version (NIV)When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When the camp prepares to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.
Context of Numbers 4:5
3Register all the men between the ages of 30 and 50 who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting. 4“This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things. When the camp is supposed to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the ark containing the words of God’s promise. First they will cover the ark with the canopy. 6Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place. 7“They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in the Lord’s presence will also be on it.
Read all of Numbers 4Numbers 4:5 word by word
וּבָ֨א אַהֲרֹ֤ן וּבָנָיו֙ בִּנְסֹ֣עַ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְהוֹרִ֕דוּ אֵ֖ת פָּרֹ֣כֶת הַמָּסָ֑ךְ וְכִ֨סּוּ־בָ֔הּ אֵ֖ת אֲרֹ֥ן הָעֵדֻֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when the campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
- setteth forwardנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
- Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- shall comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- and his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- and they shall take downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- the coveringמָסָךְmâsâk · coveringH4539
- vailפָּרֹ֫כֶתpôreketh · curtainH6532
- and coverכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
- the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
- of testimonyעֵדוּת‛êdûth · testimonyH5715
Cross-references for Numbers 4:5
- Numbers 2:16“The grand total of all the troops in Reuben’s camp is 151,450. They will be the second group to move out.
- Numbers 10:14With their flag in front, the armies led by Judah’s descendants broke camp first. Nahshon, son of Amminadab, was in command.
- Numbers 4:15“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.
- Numbers 3:27To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath.
- Exodus 26:31“Make a canopy of violet, purple, and bright red yarn. Creatively work an angel design into fine linen yarn.
- Exodus 36:35They made the canopy out of violet, purple, and bright red yarn and fine linen yarn. An angel design was creatively worked into the fabric.
- Exodus 40:3Place the ark containing the words of my promise inside it, and hang the canopy over the ark.
- Isaiah 25:7On this mountain he will remove the veil of grief covering all people and the mask covering all nations.
- Matthew 27:51Suddenly, the curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split open.
- Hebrews 9:3Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the most holy place.
- Hebrews 10:20Jesus has opened a new and living way for us to go through the curtain. (The curtain is his own body.)
- Exodus 25:10“Make an ark of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
- Exodus 37:1Bezalel made the ark out of acacia wood 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.
- 2 Samuel 6:2He and all the people with him left Baalah in Judah to bring God’s ark ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. (The ark is called by the name of the Lord of Armies, who is enthroned over the angels.)
Commentaries on Numbers 4:5
- 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 4:5
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