New English Translation
Numbers 4:7
7“On the table of the presence they must spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring, and the Bread of the Presence must be on it continually.
Numbers 4:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
- New International Version (NIV)“Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“On the table of showbread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring; and the showbread shall be on it.
Context of Numbers 4:7
5When it is time for the camp to journey, Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it. 6Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue, and then they must insert its poles. “On the table of the presence they must spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring, and the Bread of the Presence must be on it continually. 8They must spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles. 9“They must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it.
Read all of Numbers 4Numbers 4:7 word by word
וְעַ֣ל׀ שֻׁלְחַ֣ן הַפָּנִ֗ים יִפְרְשׂוּ֮ בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵלֶת֒ וְנָתְנ֣וּ עָ֠לָיו אֶת־הַקְּעָרֹ֤ת וְאֶת־הַכַּפֹּת֙ וְאֶת־הַמְּנַקִּיֹּ֔ת וְאֵ֖ת קְשׂ֣וֹת הַנָּ֑סֶךְ וְלֶ֥חֶם הַתָּמִ֖יד עָלָ֥יו יִהְיֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And upon the tableשֻׁלְחָןshûlchân · tableH7979
- of shewbreadפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- they shall spreadפָּרַשׂpâraώ · to spreadH6566
- a clothבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- of blueתְּכֵ֫לֶתtekêleth · blueH8504
- and putנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
- thereon the dishesקְעָרָהqe‛ârâh · dishH7086
- and the spoonsכַּףkaph · palm: dishH3709
- and the bowlsמְנַקִּיָּהmenaqqîyth · bowlH4518
- and coversקַשְׂוָהqâώâh qaώvâh · jugH7184
- to cover withalנֶ֫סֶךְnesek nêsek · drink offeringH5262
- and the continualתָּמִידtâmîyd · continuallyH8548
- breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
Cross-references for Numbers 4:7
- Exodus 25:23“You are to make a table of acacia wood; its length is to be three feet, its width one foot six inches, and its height two feet three inches.
- Exodus 37:10He made the table of acacia wood; its length was three feet, its width one foot six inches, and its height two feet three inches.
- Leviticus 24:5“You must take choice wheat flour and bake twelve loaves; there must be two tenths of an ephah of flour in each loaf,
Commentaries on Numbers 4:7
- 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 4:7
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
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Commentaries