Numbers 4 20

Numbers 4:20 kjv

But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

Numbers 4:20 nkjv

But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die."

Numbers 4:20 niv

But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."

Numbers 4:20 esv

but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die."

Numbers 4:20 nlt

The Kohathites must never enter the sanctuary to look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die."

Numbers 4 verses

Numbers 4 20 Meaning

Numbers 4:20 forbids the Kohathites, who were responsible for transporting the Tabernacle's holiest furnishings, from entering the Most Holy Place or gazing upon these sacred articles, even for the briefest moment, once Aaron and his sons had covered them for transport. Disregarding this explicit command would result in their death. This verse underscores the extreme holiness of God and the objects consecrated to Him, requiring strict adherence to divine protocol to protect both God's honor and the lives of those serving Him.

Numbers 4 20 Context

Numbers chapter 4 details the specific duties of the Levites' three major clans—Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites—regarding the care, transport, and assembly of the Tabernacle and its furnishings during Israel's wilderness wanderings. Verses 1-20 specifically focus on the Kohathites, whose responsibility involved the holiest articles: the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Menorah, and the Altars. Crucially, before the Kohathites could handle these items, Aaron and his sons, the priests, were commanded to cover each sacred article with multiple layers of coverings (blue cloth, badger skin, etc.). Numbers 4:20 serves as a strict prohibition, outlining a critical boundary condition. The command reinforces the concept of God's absolute holiness, demonstrating that any unauthorized direct interaction, even a momentary glance at the unveiled holy things, constituted a profound violation that carried the penalty of immediate death. Historically, this highlights the Tabernacle as a visible representation of God's awesome presence and His dwelling among His people, yet His nature remained set apart and unapproachable except by divine appointment and strict adherence to specific rituals and garments. This set Israel's worship apart from contemporary pagan practices, which often allowed more casual interaction with cult images.

Numbers 4 20 Word analysis

• but they shall not go in: The phrase "go in" (Hebrew: ba' בֹּא) implies entering a prohibited space. In this context, it refers to approaching the veiled sacred objects without proper authorization or entering the area from which they could be viewed. It signifies a forbidden boundary crossing.

• to look on: The Hebrew word is ra'ah (רָאָה), which means "to see," "to look at," or "to behold." It denotes more than a casual glance; it implies an intentional gaze or observation. This suggests that even visual access to the unveiled holy things was strictly forbidden, emphasizing that their holiness permeated beyond physical touch to even sight. The coverings were not merely for protection during transport but also for concealing the sacred from profane eyes.

• the holy things: The Hebrew ha-qodashim (הַקֳּדָשִׁים) literally means "the holy ones" or "the sacred things." This plural form refers collectively to the consecrated articles of the Tabernacle, specifically the most sacred items like the Ark of the Covenant, Table of Showbread, Menorah, and altars of incense and burnt offering, which the Kohathites were designated to carry. These items were set apart for God's exclusive use, sanctified by His presence and His command, and were extensions of His own holiness.

• even for a moment: The Hebrew phrase is ke-vala' (כְּבַלַּע). This is a strong, emphatic idiom meaning "in a swallowing," or "as a gulp," vividly conveying the brevity of the time—the shortest conceivable instant. It underlines the uncompromising nature of the prohibition: no duration of exposure, however fleeting, was permissible. This stresses the absolute immediacy of the divine consequence for any transgression, reinforcing the utmost sensitivity of the divine sphere.

• lest they die: The Hebrew ve-lo' yamutu (וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ), literally "and they shall not die" when followed by the infinitive. Here, pen yamutu (פֶּן יָמֻתוּ) meaning "lest they die," indicates the direct and inevitable consequence. It refers to a swift, divinely administered death. This was not a natural death or illness, but a direct judgment for violating God's explicit command concerning His holiness, reinforcing the solemnity and severe consequences of defiling His sacred space or items. This consequence serves as a stark warning to all who might approach God cavalierly.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "but they shall not go in to look on the holy things": This phrase highlights a strict boundary for access. The Kohathites' duty was to carry, not to observe or expose, the holy items. It underscores the distinction between permissible and forbidden interaction with the sacred, emphasizing that visual contact with unveiled holy objects was a serious transgression, equivalent to physical trespass in its violation of divine protocol.
  • "even for a moment, lest they die": This potent phrase conveys the extreme urgency and severity of the command. The minimal duration, "even for a moment," reveals the absolute, unyielding nature of divine holiness; any breach, however slight, would provoke an immediate and terminal consequence. This linkage between fleeting disobedience and swift death illustrates God's unbending justice concerning His sacred sphere, serving as a powerful deterrent and emphasizing the radical separation between the holy and the common.

Numbers 4 20 Bonus section

The strict prohibition in Numbers 4:20 serves as a crucial theological pointer, demonstrating that fallen humanity cannot approach the unveiled presence of God, or His consecrated items, directly and live. The coverings prescribed for the sacred objects (Num 4:5-15) were not merely for protection from dirt or damage during transport, but primarily acted as a veil, shielding human eyes from the radiant holiness of God's dwelling place. This underscores the need for divine mediation, prefiguring the work of Christ. While the Old Covenant emphasized distance and separation (seen in the layered curtains of the Tabernacle and strict rules like this one), the New Covenant, through the tearing of the temple veil at Jesus' death (Mt 27:51), grants a new and living way of access to God, not through sight of physical objects but through faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ. This verse thus stands in stark contrast to the access believers have today, by grace, through Christ, demonstrating the magnitude of His redemptive work that removed the barrier of death from drawing near to God.

Numbers 4 20 Commentary

Numbers 4:20 is a profound statement on the absolute holiness of God and the perils of approaching His sacred presence without proper reverence, protocol, and mediation. It serves as a specific instruction within the broader context of priestly and Levitical duties, highlighting that even those appointed for sacred service faced grave consequences if they breached the divine boundaries. The danger stemmed not from malice but from disregarding God's specific commands concerning His holy character. The "holy things" (Ark, Menorah, etc.) were extensions of God's presence, requiring a strict veil or covering to protect both His sanctity and the lives of the people. This verse reveals several key theological truths: God's character demands respect and specific access, the Law provides essential boundaries for human interaction with the divine, and human life is jeopardized by casual or presumptuous attempts to bypass these divine rules. It prepares the reader for incidents like Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10) or Uzzah (2 Sam 6), demonstrating that God's justice in these matters was not arbitrary but consistent with His established commands. The prohibitions in the Old Testament, though seemingly severe, protected the people from immediate destruction in the presence of an infinitely holy God, highlighting humanity's inherent separation from divine perfection and foreshadowing the necessity of a mediator and a new covenant.