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And make two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it.
Exodus 30:4 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and they shall be for places for poles with which to bear it.
  • KJV And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.
  • NKJV Two gold rings you shall make for it, under the molding on both its sides. You shall place them on its two sides, and they will be holders for the poles with which to bear it.
  • NASB You shall also make two gold rings for it under its molding; you shall make them on its two sides—on opposite sides—and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it.
  • NLT Make two gold rings, and attach them on opposite sides of the altar below the gold molding to hold the carrying poles.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Gold rings were made to hold poles for carrying the altar. Even in holy things, God provided for Israel's pilgrim journey.

Overview

The rings and poles allowed the incense altar to travel with Israel through the wilderness. This portability shows that God's presence accompanied His people on the move toward the promised land. It pictures a God who journeys with His pilgrim people, a truth fulfilled in Christ who is with us always (Matthew 28:20).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • Exod 25:27The rings are to be close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table.
  • Exod 25:14Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, in order to carry it.
  • Exod 27:4Construct for it a grate of bronze mesh, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the mesh.
  • Exod 27:7The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried.
  • Exod 26:29Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.
  • Exod 25:12Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Exodus videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Exodus 30:4YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ExodusMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.

How Exodus 30:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.