Topical Bible: Poles

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In the context of the Bible, "poles" often refer to the long, cylindrical objects used for carrying or supporting various sacred items, particularly in the construction and transportation of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. These poles were integral to the Israelites' worship practices and were designed according to specific divine instructions given to Moses.

Construction and Use:

The primary use of poles in the Bible is associated with the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Altar of Incense, and the Bronze Altar. These items were considered holy and were not to be touched directly by human hands. The poles allowed the Levites to transport these sacred objects without defiling them.

1. Ark of the Covenant:
· The Ark, which contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, was the most sacred object in the Tabernacle. God commanded that it be constructed with acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. The Ark had rings of gold on its four feet, through which poles were inserted for carrying. These poles were to remain in the rings of the Ark and were never to be removed. This is detailed in Exodus 25:13-15 : "And you are to make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, so that the ark may be carried by them. The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed."

2. Table of Showbread:
· Similar to the Ark, the Table of Showbread was also equipped with poles for transportation. The table was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, and it held the bread of the Presence. Exodus 25:27-28 states: "The rings are to be close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them."

3. Altar of Incense:
· The Altar of Incense, used for burning incense before the Lord, was also transported using poles. Exodus 30:4-5 describes: "Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding on two opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold."

4. Bronze Altar:
· The Bronze Altar, used for burnt offerings, was similarly equipped with poles. Exodus 27:6-7 instructs: "Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. The poles are to be inserted into the rings, so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried."

Symbolism and Significance:

The use of poles in the transportation of sacred objects underscores the holiness and separateness of these items. The poles allowed the Israelites to obey God's command to treat these objects with reverence and to avoid direct contact, which could result in death, as seen in the account of Uzzah, who touched the Ark and was struck down (2 Samuel 6:6-7).

The poles also symbolize the mobility of God's presence with His people. As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, the Tabernacle and its furnishings, including the Ark, were carried from place to place, signifying that God was with them wherever they went.

Materials and Craftsmanship:

The poles were typically made of acacia wood, a durable and resistant material, and were overlaid with gold or bronze, depending on the object they were designed to carry. This combination of materials reflects the blend of humanity (wood) and divinity (gold/bronze) in the sacred objects, pointing to the intersection of the earthly and the heavenly in Israel's worship.

In summary, poles in the biblical context are not merely functional items but are imbued with deep spiritual significance, reflecting the holiness of God and His covenant relationship with His people.

Strong's Hebrew

4133. motah -- a pole, bar (of a yoke)
... Word Origin fem. of mot Definition a pole, bar (of a yoke) NASB Word Usage bars
(2), poles (1), yoke (5), yoke bars (1), yokes (3). bands, heavy, staves, yoke. ...
/hebrew/4133.htm - 6k

905. bad -- separation, a part
... 40), disease (1), except (1), except* (1), himself (6), including (1), itself (7),
limbs (2), Myself (1), only (11), part of each (1), poles (37), separate (1 ...
/hebrew/905.htm - 6k

Library

Tarbula, the Sister of Symeon, and Her Martyrdom.
... The Magi having seized Tarbula and her companions, condemned them to death; and
after having sawn them asunder, they fastened them up to poles and made the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xii tarbula the sister of.htm

Letter cccxlvii. Libanius to Basil.
... I want some rafters. [3280] Any other sophist would have called them stakes, or
poles, not because he wanted stakes or poles, but rather for shewing off his ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cccxlvii libanius to basil.htm

section i.
... antipathies between the two extreams, their contrarieties in condition, affection,
and opinion, may with the same hopes expect an union in the Poles of Heaven. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/religio medici/section i.htm

The Church and the Heathen
... The first attempts of the Poles to influence their troublesome Pomeranian neighbours
failed. The ultimate success of a mission was due to a German. ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xiv the church and.htm

The Mediaeval History of Continental Churches
... The conversion of Pomerania was first attempted by the Poles, who, on obtaining
possession of the country at the end of the tenth century, founded a bishopric ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter xi the mediaeval history.htm

How Taricheae was Taken. A Description of the River Jordan, and of ...
... their onset, and at their good order, made resistance against their attacks for
a little while; but when they were pricked with their long poles, and overborne ...
/.../chapter 10 how taricheae was.htm

The Preacher's Cry --Pray for Us!
... Men in the pew given to praying for the preacher, are like the poles which
hold up the wires along which the electric current runs. ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/x the preachers crypray for.htm

Preface
... They lay at opposite poles of thought; and for a time I succeeded in keeping the
Science and the Religion shut off from one another in two separate ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/preface.htm

In the House of Kimberker
... used less than half of the house, for it was a huge building with many rooms, and
that he was more than willing to rent the unused rooms to the young Poles. ...
/.../chapter vi in the house.htm

Essay v. Whose Powers Shed Round Him in the Common Strife...
... A mind of this sort we may compare to a magnetic needle, the poles of which have
been suddenly reversed by a flash of lightning, or other more obscure accident ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/essay v whose powers shed.htm

Thesaurus

Poles (58 Occurrences)
...Poles (58 Occurrences). Exodus 25:13 You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay
them with gold. ... Exodus 25:15 The poles shall be in the rings of the ark. ...
/p/poles.htm - 22k

Rings (46 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry
the ark. ... Exodus 25:15 The poles shall be in the rings of the ark. ...
/r/rings.htm - 20k

Acacia (28 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 25:13 You shall make poles of acacia wood,
and overlay them with gold. (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/a/acacia.htm - 16k

Overlay (15 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 25:13 You shall make poles of
acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/o/overlay.htm - 11k

Sides (170 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Exodus 25:14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark
to carry the ark. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/sides.htm - 38k

Overlaid (50 Occurrences)
... Exodus 37:4 He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. ... Exodus
37:28 He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. ...
/o/overlaid.htm - 21k

Goatskin (7 Occurrences)
... Goatskin (7 Occurrences). Numbers 4:6 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. ...
/g/goatskin.htm - 8k

Porpoise (14 Occurrences)
... Numbers 4:6 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. (See NAS). ...
/p/porpoise.htm - 11k

Cows (33 Occurrences)
... Numbers 4:6 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. (See NIV). ...
/c/cows.htm - 15k

Sealskin (8 Occurrences)
... Sealskin (8 Occurrences). Numbers 4:6 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. ...
/s/sealskin.htm - 9k

Resources

What is an Asherah pole? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean for Jesus to be your true north? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Jehoshaphat in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Poles: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Poles (58 Occurrences)

Exodus 25:13
You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:14
You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:15
The poles shall be in the rings of the ark. They shall not be taken from it.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:27
the rings shall be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:28
You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 27:6
You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with brass.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 27:7
Its poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar, when carrying it.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 30:4
You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and they shall be for places for poles with which to bear it.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 30:5
You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 34:13
but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherim;
(See NIV)

Exodus 35:12
the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 35:13
the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the show bread;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 35:15
and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 35:16
the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of brass, it poles, and all its vessels, the basin and its base;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:4
He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:5
He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:14
The rings were close by the border, the places for the poles to carry the table.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:15
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:27
He made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with which to carry it.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:28
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 38:5
He cast four rings for the four ends of brass grating, to be places for the poles. Numbers
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 38:6
He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with brass.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 38:7
He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 39:35
the ark of the testimony with its poles, the mercy seat,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 39:39
the bronze altar, its grating of brass, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 40:18
Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.
(See RSV)

Exodus 40:20
He took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:6
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.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:8
They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:11
"On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:14
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.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 21:18
the well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter, and with their poles." From the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah;
(WEB)

Deuteronomy 7:5
But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, and dash their pillars in pieces, and cut down their Asherim, and burn their engraved images with fire.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 12:3
and you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods; and you shall destroy their name out of that place.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 8:7
For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 8:8
The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the oracle; but they were not seen outside: and there they are to this day.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 14:15
For Yahweh will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking Yahweh to anger.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 14:23
For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree;
(See NIV)

2 Kings 17:10
and they set them up pillars and Asherim on every high hill, and under every green tree;
(See NIV)

2 Kings 18:4
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 23:14
He broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:15
The children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of Yahweh.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 5:8
For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its poles above.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 5:9
The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen outside: and there it is to this day.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 14:3
for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and cut down the Asherim,
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 17:6
His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 19:3
Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 24:18
They forsook the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:1
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 33:3
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 33:19
His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherim and the engraved images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 34:3
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 34:4
They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and the incense altars that were on high above them he cut down; and the Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 34:7
He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 17:8
He will not be looking to the altars, the work of his hands, or to the wood pillars or to the sun-images which his fingers have made.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 27:9
So by this will the sin of Jacob be covered, and this is all the fruit of taking away his punishment; when all the stones of the altar are crushed together, so that the wood pillars and the sun-images will not be put up again.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 17:2
while their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees on the high hills.
(See NIV)

Micah 5:14
I will uproot your Asherim out of your midst; and I will destroy your cities.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Poles

Related Terms

Policemen (2 Occurrences)

Battalion (6 Occurrences)

Authorities (44 Occurrences)

Agreement (341 Occurrences)

Cause (1309 Occurrences)

Ruler (329 Occurrences)

Violently (92 Occurrences)