Numbers 4:6
in Numbers 4They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and shall put thereon a covering of sealskin, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
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.
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This verse in Numbers 4
Commentary
8 notes on this verseWhy did God command that some of the sacred vessels should be covered with blue veils and others with purple veils?Only the veils of the more precious vessels were blue. The color suggests the sky. For this reason God commanded the objects behind the veil …
This site's exposition
Whenever the camp sets out
on Numbers 4:5-8
The veil that screened the ark becomes its innermost wrapping, and the ark alone takes three coverings. Albert Barnes reads “insert its poles” as setting them in order, since Exodus 25:15 says the ark's poles must not be removed.
This site's exposition
a covering of fine leather
The leather kept the weather off, as John Wesley notes. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown hold this covering was made for the ark alone, apart from the outer skins of the tent. The blue cloth went outermost, and Matthew Henry reports those who took it as an emblem of the sky.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins,....
Those that are faithful to God should endeavour likewise to appear beautiful before men, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. [3.] For concealment. It signified the darkness of that dispensation. That which is now brought to light by the gospel, and revealed to babes, was then hidden from the wise and prudent.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
wholly of blue - Compare Exo 25:4 note. The third and external covering of the ark only was to be of this color. The table of showbread had Num 4:8 an outer wrapping of scarlet; the altar Num 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 Exo 25:14-15), but would need adjustment.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
(See on Ex 25:15, compared with 1Ki 8:8). The Hebrew word rendered "put in," signifies also "dispose," and probably refers here to their insertion through the openings in the coverings made for receiving them, to preserve them from the touch of the carriers as well as from the influence of the weather.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
But when the cloud removed from the tabernacle, the sanctuary might be entered by the common priests, as to them was reserved the exclusive privilege of packing the sacred utensils; and it was not till the holy things were thus ready for carriage, that the Kohathites were allowed to approach.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְנָתְנ֣וּ | venatenu | and they will put | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| עָלָ֗יו | ʾalav | over it | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כְּסוּי֙ | kesui | a covering of | H3681 → | |
| ע֣וֹר | or | skin of | H5785 → | 99 times |
| תַּ֔חַשׁ | tachash | dolphin | H8476 → | 14 times |
| וּפָרְשׂ֧וּ | ufaresu | and they will spread out | H6566 → | 67 times |
| בֶֽגֶד־ | veged- | a covering of | H899 → | 217 times |
| כְּלִ֛יל | kelil | an entirety of | H3632 → | |
| תְּכֵ֖לֶת | tekhelet | violet stuff | H8504 → | 49 times |
| מִלְמָ֑עְלָה | milmaelah | from to above <towards> | H4605 → | 140 times |
| וְשָׂמ֖וּ | vesamu | and they will put in | H7760 → | 584 times |
| בַּדָּֽיו׃ | badav | poles its | H905 → | 200 times |
וְנָתְנ֣וּand they will put
venatenuH5414 →2011 times
עָלָ֗יוover it
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
כְּסוּי֙a covering of
kesuiH3681 →
ע֣וֹרskin of
orH5785 →99 times
תַּ֔חַשׁdolphin
tachashH8476 →14 times
וּפָרְשׂ֧וּand they will spread out
ufaresuH6566 →67 times
בֶֽגֶד־a covering of
veged-H899 →217 times
כְּלִ֛ילan entirety of
kelilH3632 →
תְּכֵ֖לֶתviolet stuff
tekheletH8504 →49 times
מִלְמָ֑עְלָהfrom to above <towards>
milmaelahH4605 →140 times
וְשָׂמ֖וּand they will put in
vesamuH7760 →584 times
בַּדָּֽיו׃poles its
badavH905 →200 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Exodus 39:1From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, as well as the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
it leads to
- Exodus 31:10
as well as the woven garments, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Exodus 35:19
and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”
- Exodus 35:23
Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or articles of fine leather, brought them.
- Hebrews 9:12
He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
- Hebrews 9:25
Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.
- Exodus 31:10
Through
Exodus 35:19and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”
it leads to
- Numbers 4:5–15
Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.
- Exodus 39:1–31
From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, as well as the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
- Exodus 39:41
and the woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.
- Numbers 4:5–15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Numbers
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, QUESTIONS ON NUMBERS 6.