Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it,
Parallel translations
- WEB “They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.
- KJV And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
- NKJV Also they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.
- NASB Then they shall clean away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.
- NLT “They must remove the ashes from the altar for sacrifices and cover the altar with a purple cloth.
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 ashes were removed from the bronze altar and a purple cloth spread over it. The altar of sacrifice was cleansed and reverently prepared for transport.
Overview
This is the great bronze altar of burnt offering where sacrifices for sin were made. Clearing the ashes and covering it preserved its sanctity during the march. As the place where atonement was made, the altar foreshadows the cross of Christ, where the once-for-all sacrifice for sin was offered (Hebrews 10:10-12).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Lev 6:12–13The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it.
- Exod 27:1–8“You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.
- Exod 39:41and 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.
- Num 4:11–12Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.
- Num 4:6–9They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.
- Exod 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 4:13 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.