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.
Parallel translations
- WEB and shall put a covering of sealskin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
- BSB They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.
- 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.
- NASB and they shall place a covering of fine leather on it, and spread over it a cloth of pure violet, and insert its carrying poles.
- NLT Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place.
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 ark received layered coverings—sealskin, then an all-blue cloth—and its poles were set in place. Every detail of transport was prescribed by God.
Overview
The multiple coverings protected the ark and underscored its sacredness, while the inserted poles meant it could be carried without being touched directly. The blue cloth, visible on the outside, distinguished the ark above all other furnishings. Such precise reverence teaches that God defines how He is to be approached, a principle that finds its perfect resolution in Christ, the appointed mediator.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Exod 25:13–15And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
- Num 4:11–13And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:
- Exod 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.
- Exod 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 the LORD commanded Moses.
- Exod 39:41The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons’ garments, to minister in the priest’s office.
- Num 4:7–8And 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:
- 1 Kgs 8:7–8For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
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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 4:6 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.