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

4This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things: 5And 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: 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. 7And 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: 8And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.

Numbers 4:6 word by word

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

• 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 4:7And 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:
• Exodus 35:19The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.
• Exodus 39:1And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Yhwh commanded Moses.
• Exodus 25:13And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
• 1 Kings 8:7For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof 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