Bible Strands
Numbers 4:11
Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text records divine instructions given to Moses for the Levites regarding the transport of the tabernacle furnishings.
The words — מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב (mizbeḥ ha-zahav) translates literally to "the gold altar," while תְּכֵלֶת (tekeleth) denotes a violet or blue covering material.
The thread — This transport protocol parallels the wrapping instructions for other sanctuary items in Numbers 4:10 and Numbers 4:12. The altar referenced here connects to the incense altar described in Exodus 30:1 and Exodus 37:25 as acacia wood, while Exodus 39:38 separately lists a gold altar among the completed sanctuary objects.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to recognize the meticulous care demanded for handling sacred objects during transit. It establishes a standard of ordered reverence that applies to the physical management of holy things.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And 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:
Cross-references
- Exodus 30:1 “You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.
- Exodus 37:25 He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece.
- Exodus 39:38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;
- 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.
- Exodus 40:26 Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil,