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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 25:13–15You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
- Num 4:11–13“On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
- Exod 35:19the finely worked garments, for ministering 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 39:1Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Exod 39:41the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.
- Num 4:7–8“On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.
- 1 Kgs 8:7–8For the cherubim spread their wings out over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles 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
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