Exodus 37:5 kjv
And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
Exodus 37:5 nkjv
And he put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
Exodus 37:5 niv
And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.
Exodus 37:5 esv
and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
Exodus 37:5 nlt
He inserted the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.
Exodus 37 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:13-15 | You shall make poles of acacia wood... and put them into the rings... the poles shall be in the rings... they shall not be taken from it. | Divine command for permanent Ark poles |
| Num 4:5-6 | When the camp is to set out... they shall cover the ark... and put in its poles. | Procedure for covering and preparing Ark for travel |
| Num 4:15 | When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects... then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them... they must not touch the holy things. | Levite responsibility for carrying, no direct contact |
| Num 7:9 | But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the holy things belonging to them was that they should carry them upon their shoulders. | Kohathites carrying on shoulders, not wagons |
| Deut 10:8 | At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi... to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord. | Levites chosen for bearing the Ark |
| Josh 3:3-4 | When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord... then you shall set out from your place and go after it. | Ark leading the way for Israel |
| Josh 6:6 | Then Joshua... commanded the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets." | Ark carried during the fall of Jericho |
| 1 Sam 4:3-4 | Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord... that it may save us. | Misuse of Ark as a talisman |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | When they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah put out his hand... and the Lord struck him down there... for his error. | Consequence of improper handling/touching the Ark |
| 1 Chr 15:2 | Then David said, "No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the Lord has chosen them..." | Proper way of carrying by Levites reaffirmed |
| 1 Chr 15:15 | The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on it. | Affirmation of carrying by poles on shoulders |
| Ex 26:33-34 | You shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil... and the mercy seat shall be on the ark. | Ark's place within the Most Holy Place |
| Lev 16:2 | He may not come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark. | Reverence and limited access to the Ark's location |
| Heb 9:3-4 | Behind the second veil was a tabernacle called the Most Holy Place, having a golden altar... and the ark of the covenant containing the golden urn with the manna, and Aaron’s staff, and the tablets of the covenant. | Contents of the Ark |
| Ps 132:8 | Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. | Ark representing God's active presence and power |
| Num 10:33 | So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey... with the ark of the covenant of the Lord going before them. | Ark as leader and guide for the camp |
| Deut 31:9 | So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant. | Levites bearing the Ark alongside the Law |
| 1 Kgs 8:8 | The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. | Permanence of the poles, visible in Solomon's Temple |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | For we are the temple of the living God... As God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God...” | God dwelling among His people today (New Covenant) |
| Acts 7:44 | "Our fathers had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, just as God directed Moses to make it according to the pattern which he had seen." | Tabernacle built according to divine pattern |
| Rev 11:19 | And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. | The Heavenly Ark (God's true presence) revealed |
Exodus 37 verses
Exodus 37 5 Meaning
Exodus 37:5 describes the precise placement of the gold-overlaid acacia wood poles into the gold rings attached to the Ark of the Covenant. This act completed the assembly of the Ark for its divinely intended purpose: portability. It highlights the meticulous obedience of Bezalel in constructing the sacred tabernacle furnishings exactly as the Lord commanded Moses, ensuring the Ark, as the dwelling place of God's presence, could accompany the Israelites throughout their wilderness journeys.
Exodus 37 5 Context
Exodus 37 recounts the precise construction of the Tabernacle furnishings by Bezalel, Oholiab, and their skilled assistants, meticulously following the divine blueprint given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25-30). This particular verse, Exodus 37:5, is part of the description of the Ark of the Covenant, the first item built due to its paramount holiness and significance. The Ark represented God's tangible presence among His people, serving as His throne on earth. Given Israel's nomadic lifestyle in the wilderness, the ability to move the Ark and the entire Tabernacle was crucial. The staves and rings were an integral part of this design, ensuring that the Ark could be carried reverently and without direct human contact, reinforcing its absolute sanctity and setting it apart from any common object. This precise execution of the Ark's carrying mechanism demonstrated not only skilled craftsmanship but also profound obedience and reverence for God's explicit commands, differentiating the living God who moved with His people from the static idols of surrounding cultures.
Exodus 37 5 Word Analysis
- And he put (וַיָּבֵא֙ – vayyave’): The Hebrew verb is bo (בֹא), meaning "to come, to bring, to enter, to put." The form vayyave’ indicates a continuous action, emphasizing the direct, deliberate act of placing. "He" refers to Bezalel, the chief craftsman appointed by God, highlighting his faithful execution of the divine instructions. This demonstrates obedient implementation of a precise command.
- the staves (בַּבַּדִּ֔ים – babbaddîm): The Hebrew word is bad (בַּד), meaning "bar, pole, stave." These were not just any sticks but specifically crafted poles of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold (Ex 25:13), designed for durability and sanctity. Their permanent placement (Ex 25:15) was a unique divine command, signifying the Ark's constant readiness for movement, reflective of God's dynamic presence with Israel throughout their journey.
- into the rings (בַּטַּבָּעֹ֗ת – baṭṭabba‘ōṯ): The Hebrew word is tabba'at (טַבַּעַת), meaning "ring." These rings, made of gold (Ex 25:12), were essential for securing the staves. Their design ensured the Ark could be carried by inserting the poles, thus preventing direct human touch, which was forbidden for holy objects to preserve their sanctity (Num 4:15, 2 Sam 6:6-7).
- by the sides (עַל־צַלְעֹ֣ת – ‘al-ṣal‘ōṯ): The Hebrew word is tsela' (צֶלַע), meaning "side, rib." This specifies the location for the rings: four rings, two on each long side of the Ark (Ex 25:12). This exact placement was critical for balancing and securely carrying the sacred object, again showing adherence to precise divine specifications.
- of the ark (הָאָרֹ֔ן – hā’ārôn): The Hebrew word is aron (אָרוֹן), meaning "chest, box, ark." Here, it specifically refers to the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred furnishing in the Tabernacle. It contained the two tablets of the covenant, Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna (Heb 9:4), signifying God's law, priesthood, and provision. The Ark represented God's throne and presence.
- to bear (לָשֵׂ֥את – lāśēṯ): The Hebrew verb is nasa' (נָשָׂא), meaning "to lift, to carry, to bear." This clearly states the explicit purpose of the staves and rings – to enable the solemn and proper transportation of the Ark. It underscores the practical functionality rooted in spiritual significance.
- the ark (הָאָרֹ֖ן – hā’ārôn): The repetition of "the ark" emphasizes the central object and reconfirms its identity and sacred status as the item being handled with such particularity.
- withal (בָּהֶֽם – bāhem): This simply means "by means of them" or "with them," referring directly to the staves. It clarifies that the staves were the sole and prescribed method for carrying the Ark, reinforcing the specificity of God's instructions and the prohibition against alternative methods (like using an ox-cart, which led to Uzzah's death).
Words-Group Analysis:
- "And he put the staves into the rings": This phrase highlights the completion of a vital structural detail. It shows careful, obedient craftsmanship, following the divine design to the letter. It emphasizes that this wasn't a general suggestion but a precise command to be followed for the sacred furniture's function.
- "by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark withal": This phrase succinctly states the Ark's designated means of transport. It speaks to the Ark's purpose as a portable sanctuary element, central to God's journeying with Israel. The deliberate design for carrying (and forbidding direct touch) underscored the Ark's extraordinary holiness, far above any other object.
Exodus 37 5 Bonus Section
The detail of the staves never being removed from the Ark, as commanded in Exodus 25:15, signifies the constant readiness of God's presence to move with His people. It visually portrays the dynamic nature of their covenant relationship—God would not remain stationary but would accompany and lead His flock. This stands in stark contrast to static temple cults of other cultures where deities were localized. In the New Testament, this idea of God's mobile dwelling finds fulfillment in Christ, the "Immanuel" who tabernacled among humanity (Jn 1:14), and in the Church, where believers collectively form a spiritual house or temple for the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 2:5, 1 Cor 3:16). The precision of the Tabernacle's construction, exemplified in Ex 37:5, reflects God's ordered nature and the high regard required for anything associated with His holiness, a principle that transcends dispensations in how believers are called to honor God and His Word.
Exodus 37 5 Commentary
Exodus 37:5 records the meticulous adherence of Bezalel to God's precise architectural blueprint for the Tabernacle and its furnishings, specifically concerning the Ark of the Covenant. The careful placement of the permanent gold-overlaid staves into the gold rings by the Ark's sides was not a mere construction detail but a spiritual imperative. This design facilitated the sacred and exclusive manner of carrying the Ark—by Levites, on their shoulders, and without direct contact (Num 4:15, 1 Chr 15:15). It underscored the Ark's supreme holiness as God's dwelling place among His people. This method ensured reverence, guarded against profanity (2 Sam 6:6-7), and signified the portable, active nature of God's presence as He journeyed with Israel through the wilderness, leading and guiding them (Num 10:33). It distinguishes the living, moving God of Israel from the immovable idols of the surrounding nations, who were carried as static effigies.