And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
Parallel translations
- WEB He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
- BSB He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.
- NKJV And he put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
- NASB He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry it.
- NLT He inserted the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.
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
The poles were inserted into the rings on the ark's sides so it could be carried. The ark was kept ready for the journey.
Overview
The poles remained in place, signifying that God's dwelling was mobile, accompanying His people wherever they went. This care in handling the ark guarded its sanctity. The construction matches Exodus 25:14-15.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Num 4:15And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
- Num 1:50But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
- 2 Sam 6:3–7And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
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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 37:5 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
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