Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting. New Living Translation The camp will be ready to move when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the sacred articles. The Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the things from the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry. English Standard Version And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry. Berean Standard Bible When 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. King James Bible And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. New King James Version And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. “These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. New American Standard Bible When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them by the poles, so that they will not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry. NASB 1995 “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. NASB 1977 “And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they may not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. Legacy Standard Bible When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. Amplified Bible When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all its furniture, as the camp sets out, after all that [is done, but not before], the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them [using the poles], so that they do not touch the holy things, and die. These are the things in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) which the sons of Kohath are to carry. Christian Standard Bible “Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting. Holman Christian Standard Bible Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.” American Standard Version And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting. Contemporary English Version When the camp is ready to be moved, the Kohathites will be responsible for carrying the sacred objects and the furnishings of the sacred tent. But Aaron and his sons must have already covered those things so the Kohathites won't touch them and die. English Revised Version And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting. GOD'S WORD® Translation "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting. Good News Translation When it is time to break camp, the clan of Kohath shall come to carry the sacred objects only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering them and all their equipment. The Kohath clan must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohath clan whenever the Tent is moved. International Standard Version "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the utensils of the sanctuary, and the camp is about to travel, then the descendants of Kohath are to come and carry them, but they are not to touch the most sacred objects, so they won't die. These are the duties of the descendants of Kohath at the Tent of Meeting." Majority Standard Bible When 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. NET Bible "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is ready to journey, then the Kohathites will come to carry them; but they must not touch any holy thing, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting. New Heart English Bible "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting. Webster's Bible Translation And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to move forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. World English Bible “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it; but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. The sons of Kohath shall carry these things belonging to the Tent of Meeting. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Aaron has finished—his sons also—covering the holy place, and all the vessels of the holy place, in the journeying of the camp, and afterward the sons of Kohath come in to carry [it], and they do not come to the holy thing, lest they have died; these [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting. Young's Literal Translation And Aaron hath finished -- his sons also -- covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, in the journeying of the camp, and afterwards do the sons of Kohath come in to bear it, and they do not come unto the holy thing, that they have died; these things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting. Smith's Literal Translation And Aaron and his sons finished to cover the holy place, and all the vessels of the holy place, in removing the camp; and after this the sons of Kohath shall come forth to lift up: and they shall not touch the holy place, and die. These the lifting up of the sons of Kohath in the tent of appointment. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when Aaron and his sons have wrapped up the sanctuary and the vessels thereof at the removing of the camp, then shall the sons of Caath enter in to carry the things wrapped up: and they shall not touch the vessels of the sanctuary, lest they die. These are the burdens of the sons of Caath: in the tabernacle of the covenant: Catholic Public Domain Version And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped the Sanctuary and its vessels at the dismantling of the camp, then the sons of Kohath shall enter, so as to carry what has been wrapped. And they shall not touch the vessels of the Sanctuary, lest they die. These are the burdens of the sons of Kohath concerning the tabernacle of the covenant. New American Bible Only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sacred objects and all their utensils on breaking camp, can the Kohathites enter to carry them. But they shall not touch the sacred objects; if they do they will die. These, then, are the objects in the tent of meeting that the Kohathites shall carry. New Revised Standard Version When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the Kohathites shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, or they will die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the Kohathites are to carry. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to march after that, the sons of Kohath shall come in to bear it, that they may not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are to be borne by the sons of Kohath in the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And when Ahron has finished and his sons covering the holy place and all the garments of Holiness when he picked up camp, then the sons of Qahath shall enter to pick up, that they shall not touch Holiness and die; these are the removals of the sons of Qahath that are in the Time Tent. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the holy furniture, and all the holy vessels, as the camp is to set forward--after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear them; but they shall not touch the holy things, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Aaron and his sons shall finish covering the holy things, and all the holy vessels, when the camp begins to move; and afterwards the sons of Caath shall go in to take up the furniture; but shall not touch the holy things, lest they die: these shall the sons of Caath bear in the tabernacle of witness. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Duties of the Kohathites…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. 16Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”… Cross References 1 Chronicles 13:9-10 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. / And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. 2 Samuel 6:6-7 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. / And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God. Leviticus 10:1-2 Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD. Exodus 25:14-15 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, in order to carry it. / The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed. 1 Samuel 6:19 But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter. 1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.” 1 Chronicles 15:13-15 It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.” / So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. / And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD. Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day. 1 Kings 8:3-4 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, / and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. So the priests and Levites carried them up. Joshua 3:3-4 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. / But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.” 1 Chronicles 23:26-32 So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.” / For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted, / but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God, ... 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. 1 Chronicles 15:11-15 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. / And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. / It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.” ... 1 Chronicles 23:13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. 1 Chronicles 6:48-49 Their fellow Levites were assigned to every kind of service of the tabernacle, the house of God. / But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. Treasury of Scripture And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. after that Numbers 7:9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. Numbers 10:21 And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. Deuteronomy 31:9 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. they shall Numbers 3:38 But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. Exodus 19:12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 1 Samuel 6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. these things Numbers 3:30,31 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel… Jump to Previous Aaron Bear Burden Camp Carry Covering Die End Finished Forward Furniture Holy Kohath Meeting Moves Sanctuary Tent Touch VesselsJump to Next Aaron Bear Burden Camp Carry Covering Die End Finished Forward Furniture Holy Kohath Meeting Moves Sanctuary Tent Touch VesselsNumbers 4 1. The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service4. 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 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects This phrase highlights the sacred duty of Aaron and his sons, the priests, who were responsible for preparing the holy objects for transport. The Hebrew root for "covering" (כָּסָה, kasah) implies a protective action, signifying the reverence and care required in handling items dedicated to God. The act of covering symbolizes the separation between the divine and the mundane, emphasizing the holiness of these objects and the need for them to be shielded from common view and touch. and all their accessories and when the camp is ready to move the Kohathites are to come and do the carrying But they must not touch the holy things, or they will die These are the duties of the Kohathites with regard to the Tent of Meeting After that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it.--Better, to bear, or carry--viz., the whole of the vessels of ministry which had been previously enumerated. The distinction between the service of the priests and that of the Levites in regard to the removal of the Tabernacle and its furniture is here clearly marked. But they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.--The word which is rendered "any holy thing" may here, as elsewhere, denote the sanctuary. This injunction is repeated in Numbers 18:3. We find in 2Samuel 6:6-7 an instance of the fatal result of the violation of this command by Uzzah, who being, as is most probable, a Levite, and of the family of Kohath, ought to have been acquainted with the law respecting the removal of the Ark. It is obvious that the Kohathites, as the immediate assistants of the priests, in regard to the vessels of the Sanctuary, were specially exposed to the risk of violating the law by touching the most holy things. Verse 15. - These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath. One thing which the Kohathites almost certainly had to carry is omitted here, possibly because it was carried without any cover at all, and was not regarded as of equal sanctity with the rest. Anyhow, the omission is very remarkable, and may have been accidental. It is supplied by the Septuagint and the Samaritan text in the following addition to verse 14: "And they shall take a purple cloth, and cover the laver and its foot, and they shall put it into a hyacinthine cover of skin, and put it on bars." The burdens of the Kohathites were six, not counting the laver and its foot:(1) the ark; (2) the table of shewbread; (3) the candelabrum; . . . Hebrew When Aaronאַֽהֲרֹן־ (’a·hă·rōn-) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses and his sons וּ֠בָנָיו (ū·ḇā·nāw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1121: A son have finished וְכִלָּ֣ה (wə·ḵil·lāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent covering לְכַסֹּ֨ת (lə·ḵas·sōṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover the holy objects הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ (haq·qō·ḏeš) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity and all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every their equipment, כְּלֵ֣י (kə·lê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus as soon as the camp הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֒ (ham·ma·ḥă·neh) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army is ready to move, בִּנְסֹ֣עַ (bin·sō·a‘) Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey the Kohathites בְנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son shall come יָבֹ֤אוּ (yā·ḇō·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go and do the carrying. לָשֵׂ֔את (lā·śêṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take But they must not וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no touch יִגְּע֥וּ (yig·gə·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike the holy objects, הַקֹּדֶשׁ֮ (haq·qō·ḏeš) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity or they will die. וָמֵ֑תוּ (wā·mê·ṯū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill These אֵ֛לֶּה (’êl·leh) Pronoun - common plural Strong's 428: These, those are the transportation duties מַשָּׂ֥א (maś·śā) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4853: A burden, tribute, porterage, an utterance, chiefly a, doom, singing, mental, desire of the Kohathites בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son regarding the Tent בְּאֹ֥הֶל (bə·’ō·hel) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 168: A tent of Meeting. מוֹעֵֽד׃ (mō·w·‘êḏ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4150: Appointed time, place, or meeting Links Numbers 4:15 NIVNumbers 4:15 NLT Numbers 4:15 ESV Numbers 4:15 NASB Numbers 4:15 KJV Numbers 4:15 BibleApps.com Numbers 4:15 Biblia Paralela Numbers 4:15 Chinese Bible Numbers 4:15 French Bible Numbers 4:15 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 4:15 When Aaron and his sons have finished (Nu Num.) |
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