Numbers 4:14
New International Version
Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles in place.

New Living Translation
All the altar utensils—the firepans, meat forks, shovels, basins, and all the containers—must be placed on the cloth, and a covering of fine goatskin leather must be spread over them. Finally, they must put the carrying poles in place.

English Standard Version
And they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the fire pans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles.

Berean Standard Bible
and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

King James Bible
And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.

New King James Version
They shall put on it all its implements with which they minister there—the firepans, the forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar—and they shall spread on it a covering of badger skins, and insert its poles.

New American Standard Bible
They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with it: the firepans, the forks, shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a cover of fine leather over it and insert its carrying poles.

NASB 1995
“They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with it: the firepans, the forks and shovels and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles.

NASB 1977
“They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with it: the firepans, the forks and shovels and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles.

Legacy Standard Bible
They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they minister in connection with it: the firepans, the flesh hooks and shovels and the bowls, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles.

Amplified Bible
They shall also put on it all its utensils with which they minister in connection with it: the pans, the meat-forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a covering of porpoise skin over it, and insert its carrying poles.

Christian Standard Bible
and place all the equipment on it that they use in serving: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and basins—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread a covering made of fine leather over it and insert its poles.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and place all the equipment on it that they use in serving: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and basins—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread a covering made of manatee skin over it and insert its poles.”

American Standard Version
and they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, the firepans, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of sealskin, and put in the staves thereof.

Contemporary English Version
On that cloth will be placed the utensils used at the altar, including the fire pans, the meat forks, the shovels, and the sprinkling bowls. All of this will then be covered with a piece of fine leather, before the carrying poles are put in place.

English Revised Version
and they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, the firepans, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of sealskin, and put in the staves thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Next, they will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar's accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather over all this. Then they will put the poles in place.

Good News Translation
They shall put on it all the equipment used in the service at the altar: fire pans, hooks, shovels, and basins. Then they shall put a fine leather cover over it and insert the carrying poles.

International Standard Version
Then they are to put all the instruments with which they minister there—trays, forks, shovels, bowls, and all the utensils of the altar. They are to spread over it a leather-dyed skin covering and then insert its poles.

Majority Standard Bible
and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

NET Bible
Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there--the trays, the meat forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar--and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather, and then insert its poles.

New Heart English Bible
They shall put on it all its vessels, with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the shovels, and the basins; all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they shall put upon it all its vessels, with which they minister about it, even the censers, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to it its staffs.

World English Bible
They shall put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and the basins—all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and have put on it all its vessels with which they minister on it—the censers, the hooks, and the shovels, and the bowls, all the vessels of the altar—and have spread a covering of tachash skin on it, and have placed its poles.

Young's Literal Translation
and have put on it all its vessels wherewith they minister about it, the censers, the hooks, and the shovels, and the bowls, all the vessels of the altar, and have spread on it a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves:

Smith's Literal Translation
And they shall give upon it all its vessels which they shall serve upon it with them, the fire pans, and the flesh hooks, and the shovels and the vases, and all the vessels of the altar; and they covered over it a tahash skin covering, and they set up its bars.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And shall put it with all the vessels that they use in the ministry thereof, that is to say, firepans, fleshhooks and forks, pothooks and shovels. They shall cover all the vessels of the altar together with a covering of violet skins, and shall put in the bars.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and they shall place it with all the vessels which they use in its ministry, that is, receptacles for fire, small hooks as well as forks, larger hooks and shovels. They shall cover all the vessels of the altar together with a veil of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

New American Bible
On this they shall put all the utensils with which it is served: the fire pans, forks, shovels, basins, and all the utensils of the altar. They shall then spread a covering of yellow-orange skin over this, and put the poles in place.

New Revised Standard Version
and they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of fine leather, and shall put its poles in place.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they shall put with it all the vessels thereof, with which they minister upon it, the censers, the meathooks and the shovels and the basins and all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put in its poles.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they will put with it all of its implements with which they minister upon it, the censers and the forks and the shovels and the fire pans and all of the implements of the altar, and they shall cover over it a membrane of leather of sky blue and they will set its poles.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, the fire-pans, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of sealskin, and set the staves thereof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they shall put upon it all the vessels with which they minister upon it, and the fire-pans, and the flesh-hooks, and the cups, and the cover, and all the vessels of the altar; and they shall put on it a blue cover of skins, and shall put in its staves; and they shall take a purple cloth, and cover the laver and its foot, and they shall put it into a blue cover of skin, and put it on bars.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Duties of the Kohathites
13Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, 14and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls— all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles. 15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.…

Cross References
Exodus 25:29
You are also to make the plates and dishes, as well as the pitchers and bowls for pouring drink offerings. Make them out of pure gold.

Exodus 37:16
He also made the utensils for the table out of pure gold: its plates and dishes, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.

1 Kings 7:50
the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers; and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Place) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

2 Chronicles 4:22
the wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers of pure gold; and the gold doors of the temple: the inner doors to the Most Holy Place as well as the doors of the main hall.

Leviticus 16:12-13
Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. / He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die.

Exodus 30:1-5
“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense. / It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece. / Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it. ...

Exodus 27:3
Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans.

1 Chronicles 28:17
the weight of the pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls, and pitchers; the weight of each gold dish; the weight of each silver bowl;

Hebrews 9:4
containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

Revelation 8:3-5
Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. / And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel. / Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

Exodus 31:8
the table with its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense,

Exodus 40:5
Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony, and hang the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

1 Kings 6:20-22
The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. / So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. / So he overlaid with gold the whole interior of the temple, until everything was completely finished. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.

2 Chronicles 29:18
Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported, “We have cleansed the entire house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table of the showbread with all its utensils.

Exodus 39:37
the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its utensils, as well as the oil for the light;


Treasury of Scripture

And they shall put on it all the vessels thereof, with which they minister about it, even the censers, the meat hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.

all the vessels thereof

Exodus 38:1-7
And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof…

2 Chronicles 4:19
And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set;

basons, or bowls

Jump to Previous
Altar Badgers Basins Censers Connection Cover Covering Fire Firepans Fire-Pans Flesh Fleshhooks Goatskin Hooks Insert Minister Ministering Pans Poles Porpoise Sealskin Serve Shovels Skin Skins Spread Thereof Used Utensils Vessels Wherewith
Jump to Next
Altar Badgers Basins Censers Connection Cover Covering Fire Firepans Fire-Pans Flesh Fleshhooks Goatskin Hooks Insert Minister Ministering Pans Poles Porpoise Sealskin Serve Shovels Skin Skins Spread Thereof Used Utensils Vessels Wherewith
Numbers 4
1. The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service
4. The duty of the Kohathites
16. The charge of Eleazar
17. The office of the priests
21. The duty of the Gershonites
29. Of the Merarites
34. The number of the Kohathites
38. Of the Gershonites
42. And of the Merarites














Then they shall place on it
This phrase indicates a specific action to be taken by the Levites, highlighting the importance of order and obedience in the service of God. The Hebrew root for "place" (שׂוּם, sum) implies setting or appointing, suggesting a deliberate and careful action. This reflects the meticulous nature of worship and service, where every detail is significant and ordained by God.

all the vessels used to serve there
The "vessels" (כְּלִי, keli) refer to the sacred instruments used in the tabernacle service. Each item had a specific purpose, symbolizing the various aspects of worship and sacrifice. Historically, these vessels were crafted with precision, often from precious metals, underscoring the reverence due to God. This phrase reminds us of the importance of dedicating our best resources to God's service.

the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls
These items were essential for the sacrificial rituals. The "firepans" (מַחְתָּה, machtah) were used to carry coals, symbolizing the presence of God's purifying fire. "Meat forks" (מִזְלָג, mizlag) were used in handling the sacrifices, representing the offering of our labors to God. "Shovels" (יָע, ya) were used for removing ashes, signifying the removal of sin. "Sprinkling bowls" (מִזְרָק, mizraq) were used for sprinkling blood, a powerful symbol of atonement and cleansing. Each tool reflects a facet of the sacrificial system, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.

all the equipment of the altar
The "equipment" (כְּלִי, keli) of the altar encompasses all tools necessary for the offerings, emphasizing the completeness and sufficiency of God's provision for worship. The altar, central to Israelite worship, foreshadows the cross, where the ultimate sacrifice was made. This phrase calls believers to recognize the comprehensive nature of Christ's atonement.

And they are to spread over it a covering of fine leather
The "covering of fine leather" (תַּחַשׁ, tachash) served to protect the sacred items during transport, symbolizing God's protection over His holy things. The use of fine leather indicates the value and care God places on His worship. This covering can be seen as a metaphor for God's grace, which covers and protects us.

and put the poles in place
The "poles" (בַּד, bad) were used to carry the altar, ensuring it was never touched directly, preserving its sanctity. This practice underscores the holiness of God and the reverence required in approaching Him. The poles remind us of the need for mediation, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who bridges the gap between God and humanity.

(14) The censers.--Better, the fire-pans, as in Exodus 27:3.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and place
וְנָתְנ֣וּ (wə·nā·ṯə·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

on it
עָ֠לָיו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the vessels
כֵּלָ֞יו (kê·lāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

used to serve
יְֽשָׁרְת֧וּ (yə·šā·rə·ṯū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8334: To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to

there:
עָלָ֣יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the firepans,
הַמַּחְתֹּ֤ת (ham·maḥ·tōṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4289: A fireholder, censer, snuff dish

meat forks,
הַמִּזְלָגֹת֙ (ham·miz·lā·ḡōṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4207: A utensil used in offering sacrifices

shovels,
הַיָּעִ֣ים (hay·yā·‘îm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3257: A shovel

and basins—
הַמִּזְרָקֹ֔ת (ham·miz·rā·qōṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4219: Bowl, basin

all
כֹּ֖ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the equipment
כְּלֵ֣י (kə·lê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

of the altar.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

They are to spread
וּפָרְשׂ֣וּ (ū·p̄ā·rə·śū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6566: To break apart, disperse

over it
עָלָ֗יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a covering
כְּס֛וּי (kə·sui)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3681: Covered, a covering

of fine leather
תַּ֖חַשׁ (ta·ḥaš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8476: Perhaps porpoise (a kind of leather or skin)

and insert
וְשָׂמ֥וּ (wə·śā·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

the poles.
בַדָּֽיו׃ (ḇad·dāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of


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OT Law: Numbers 4:14 They shall put on it all its (Nu Num.)
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