Numbers 4:4 kjv
This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:
Numbers 4:4 nkjv
"This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, relating to the most holy things:
Numbers 4:4 niv
"This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.
Numbers 4:4 esv
This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things.
Numbers 4:4 nlt
"The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most sacred objects.
Numbers 4 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 3:29-31 | The clans of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. ...to have charge of the ark... | Introduces Kohathites' primary responsibility for sanctuary articles. |
| Num 4:5-15 | When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in... and they shall cover the ark of the testimony... | Explains how Kohathites handled the holy objects, post-priest covering. |
| Exod 25:10-40 | Details of the Ark of the Covenant, Table of Showbread, and Lampstand construction. | Identifies key "most holy things" within the sanctuary. |
| Exod 30:1-10 | Instructions for the Altar of Incense and Altar of Burnt Offering. | Describes more "most holy things". |
| Exod 40:1-33 | Moses setting up the Tabernacle according to divine command, placing holy items. | Completion of the Tabernacle and its sacred contents. |
| Lev 16:2, 16 | The Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Most Holy Place...” | Highlights the sanctity of the items/space only handled by designated persons. |
| Num 1:50-51 | but you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony... Lest there be wrath upon the people of Israel. | Emphasizes the importance of designated service to prevent divine wrath. |
| Num 18:3 | And they shall attend to you and all the duties of the tent... only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary... | Warns even Levites (like Kohathites) against touching holy things improperly. |
| Deut 10:8 | At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi... to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord... | Reconfirms Levite responsibility for the Ark. |
| Josh 3:3 | "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out..." | Shows the Levites (specifically Kohathites) carrying the Ark as a symbol of divine presence. |
| 1 Sam 6:19 | He struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked into the ark of the Lord. | Illustrates severe consequences for improper handling/viewing of holy things. |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it... | Highlights the strict divine command against direct, unauthorized human contact. |
| Heb 9:1-5 | Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship... For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first section, in which were... | Provides a New Testament perspective on the Old Covenant Tabernacle's holy items as types. |
| Heb 9:24 | For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands... but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God... | Contrasts the earthly Tabernacle and its holy objects with the heavenly reality in Christ. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable... | Relates physical service in the Old Covenant to spiritual worship for believers today. |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. | Suggests Old Testament accounts of holiness and service serve as spiritual lessons for Christians. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood... | Believers are now part of a spiritual temple and a "holy priesthood." |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession... | Extends the concept of priestly service to all New Testament believers. |
| Rev 21:3 | “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people...” | Points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's presence with His people without a physical tabernacle. |
| John 4:23-24 | "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..." | Shifts worship focus from physical structures/objects to spiritual reality. |
Numbers 4 verses
Numbers 4 4 Meaning
Numbers 4:4 details the specific, sacred duty assigned to the Kohathite clan within the Levite tribe. Their unique service pertained exclusively to the "most holy things" found within the Tabernacle of Meeting. This means they were responsible for handling, packing, and transporting the holiest articles of the sanctuary, such as the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand, and the Altars, but only after they had been appropriately prepared and covered by Aaron's sons, the priests. It underscores the sanctity of God's dwelling place and the meticulous order required in divine service.
Numbers 4 4 Context
Numbers chapter 4 meticulously details the specific responsibilities of each Levite clan (Kohath, Gershon, and Merari) regarding the Tabernacle during Israel's wilderness wanderings. Chapters 1-3 established the census and tribal organization around the sanctuary, with the Levites dedicated to its service. Chapter 3 broadly assigned the Kohathites responsibility for the most holy articles, while Gershon and Merari dealt with the Tabernacle's curtains, coverings, and framework respectively. Numbers 4:4 initiates the precise, detailed instructions for the Kohathites' unique and hazardous duties concerning the sacred objects, particularly how these items were to be covered by the priests before the Kohathites could carry them, highlighting the extreme holiness associated with these objects and the specific divine protocol for their transport.
Numbers 4 4 Word analysis
- This is: Hebrew zeh (זֶה). An emphatic introduction, pointing directly to the ensuing description. It signals the beginning of a specific and important directive.
- the service: Hebrew
avodah(עֲבֹדָה). More than just "work," it denotes priestly, cultic, or liturgical service. It implies a dedicated, prescribed duty, often related to worship and administration in the tabernacle. It conveys a sense of responsibility and dedication to a holy task rather than a mere secular chore. - of the sons of Kohath: Hebrew bᵊnê Qehāt (בְּנֵי קְהָת). Kohath was one of Levi's three sons, whose descendants, the Kohathites, were designated with particular sacred duties. Their lineage made them unique custodians of the holiest items. This hereditary aspect highlights God's choice and ordered structure within His worship system.
- in the tabernacle of meeting: Hebrew bᵊʾōhel môʿēḏ (בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד). This refers to the portable sanctuary, literally the "tent of appointed meeting." It was the physical dwelling place where God met with His people and revealed His will. This precise location emphasizes the sacral context of their service.
- concerning: Hebrew lək̲ōl (לְכָל). Preposition "to/for" or "concerning," indicating the direct scope and object of their service.
- the most holy things: Hebrew qōḏeš haqqŏdāšîm (קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים). Literally "holiness of holinesses," or "the most holy." This absolute superlative emphasizes the extreme sanctity and separation of these items from common use or touch. This category included the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand, the Altars, and the various sacred vessels. These objects represented God's immediate presence and His covenant relationship with Israel. Their handling required immense reverence and adherence to strict protocols, highlighting the danger of approaching God irreverently.
Numbers 4 4 Bonus section
The Hebrew phrase qodesh haqqodashim ("the most holy things") is also used to refer to the Holy of Holies section of the Tabernacle itself (e.g., Exod 26:34). However, in Numbers 4:4, and the following verses, the context clearly indicates it refers to the sacred objects that were moved from within that area and the Holy Place. This distinction is vital for understanding the Kohathites' specific role, which was transport of the sacred furniture after priestly preparation, not entering the innermost sanctuary or touching the uncovered items. This level of specification in divine instruction emphasizes the high value God places on order, obedience, and reverence in all matters concerning His presence and worship.
Numbers 4 4 Commentary
Numbers 4:4 is foundational, assigning the Kohathites a precise and uniquely holy role: handling the qodesh haqqodashim. This wasn't a general assignment; it specified direct engagement with items representing God's very presence and attributes—His holiness, sustenance, light, and redemptive plan. The detailed procedures later described (Num 4:5-15) show these "most holy things" had to be meticulously prepared and covered by the priests before the Kohathites could even touch the covers, let alone the objects themselves. This highlights God's unapproachable holiness and the absolute necessity of prescribed mediation and preparation for contact with divine things. The death penalty for improper handling (as seen with Uzzah later) underscores this gravity. For ancient Israel, this verse solidified a structured system of worship, maintaining divine order, preserving sanctity, and preventing presumptuous access, which might otherwise lead to destruction.