Numbers 4:7 kjv
And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
Numbers 4:7 nkjv
"On the table of showbread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring; and the showbread shall be on it.
Numbers 4:7 niv
"Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
Numbers 4:7 esv
And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it.
Numbers 4:7 nlt
"Next they must spread a blue cloth over the table where the Bread of the Presence is displayed, and on the cloth they will place the bowls, ladles, jars, pitchers, and the special bread.
Numbers 4 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Old Testament: | ||
| Exod 25:23-30 | "You shall make a table of acacia wood... And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly." | Establishment of Showbread and table, constant presence |
| Lev 24:5-9 | "You shall take fine flour... put it in two rows, six in each row... an offering made by fire... on the Sabbath he shall arrange it." | Ritual for arranging the Showbread weekly |
| Num 3:31 | "Their duty to keep the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars..." | Kohathites responsible for holy furniture |
| Num 4:5-15 | "When the camp is to set out... Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen... and wrap the ark..." | Kohathite duties and severe consequences for unauthorized handling |
| Exod 26:1, 31 | "You shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue..." | Blue as color for holy Tabernacle curtains |
| Exod 28:31, 37 | "You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue... breastpiece, with threads of blue..." | Blue as a priestly color, signifying holiness and heaven |
| Num 15:38-39 | "Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations... a cord of blue..." | Blue cord on fringes, reminder of commandments |
| Exod 29:40-42 | "...a drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine... This shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations..." | The tamid (regular) burnt offering, continual service |
| Num 15:1-10 | "When you come into the land... you offer... a drink offering..." | Laws for drink offerings |
| 1 Sam 21:1-6 | David eating the showbread, though unlawful for laymen, in dire necessity. | The sacredness and exception for necessity, prefiguring Christ's grace |
| Dan 8:11-13 | "...he removed the regular burnt offering from him..." | The ceasing of the tamid (regular) offering in prophetic context |
| New Testament: | ||
| Matt 12:3-4 | Jesus referencing David eating the showbread as an example of lawful actions in emergency, highlighting mercy over strict ritualism. | Jesus' authority over ritual law, a foreshadowing |
| John 6:35, 48-58 | "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger... The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven..." | Christ as the true, spiritual "Bread of Life", surpassing the physical Showbread |
| John 6:53-56 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood..." | Eating and drinking Christ as spiritual sustenance and union |
| Heb 9:1-5 | "For a tent was prepared... The first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place." | The Tabernacle setup, prefiguring heavenly realities |
| Heb 9:11-12, 24-25 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest... he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats..." | Christ fulfilling the Tabernacle's purpose, providing access to God's presence |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you... with regard to a food or drink... These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." | Tabernacle rituals are shadows of Christ |
| 1 Cor 10:16-17 | "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" | Communion as spiritual partaking of Christ, echoing the "bread" and "drink" elements |
| Eph 2:20-22 | "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone... into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | The Church as the new dwelling place for God, replacing the physical Tabernacle |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as a spiritual priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices, fulfilled temple imagery |
| Matt 4:4 | "But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”" | Emphasizes spiritual sustenance over physical, a deeper meaning of "bread" |
| 1 Cor 11:23-26 | Institution of the Lord's Supper, taking bread and wine in remembrance of Christ. | Fulfillment of sacred meals, ultimate "bread" and "drink" of presence |
Numbers 4 verses
Numbers 4 7 Meaning
Numbers 4:7 details the specific protocol for preparing the Table of Showbread for transport by the Kohathite Levites. This verse mandates that a cloth of blue fabric must be spread over the table. Upon this blue cloth, all the associated sacred utensils – plates, dishes for incense, bowls, and flagons, including those specifically used for drink offerings – are to be placed. Crucially, the twelve loaves of the Bread of the Presence itself must also remain on the table continuously, maintaining its sacred status and symbolic function even during movement. This meticulous instruction underscores the extreme holiness of God's presence and provisions, requiring reverence and order even in the midst of wilderness journeys.
Numbers 4 7 Context
Numbers 4 details the specific duties of the Levite clans—the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites—in disassembling, transporting, and reassembling the Tabernacle during Israel's journey through the wilderness. This chapter follows the detailed census of the Levites and their general responsibilities. Verses 4:1-15 focus specifically on the Kohathites, who were entrusted with the most holy articles of the Tabernacle: the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Menorah, the altars, and the various vessels. Given the extreme holiness of these objects and the danger of common Levites or even priests touching them uncovered, intricate instructions were necessary to ensure reverence, order, and safety during movement. Numbers 4:7 specifically describes the meticulous covering and arrangement of the items associated with the Table of Showbread, emphasizing their sacred nature and perpetual association with God's presence.
Numbers 4 7 Word analysis
- And on the table of the bread of the Presence:
- table: (Hebrew: שֻׁלְחָן shulchan). Refers to the specific table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle where the Showbread was placed. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, signifying its value and divine connection (Exod 25:23-30).
- bread of the Presence: (Hebrew: לֶחֶם פָּנִים lechem paniym). Literally "bread of faces" or "bread of the presence/face." Refers to the twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing Israel's perpetual communion and dependence on God, and God's sustained presence among them. This bread was always before God's "face." Its enduring presence on the table signified constant sustenance and fellowship.
- they shall spread a cloth of blue:
- spread: (Hebrew: פָּרַשׂ paras). To spread out, lay open. Implies a deliberate and careful action.
- cloth of blue: (Hebrew: בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת beged tekhelet). A garment or covering made of "tekhelet" dye, which was a precious blue-violet color derived from a mollusk. This color represented royalty, heaven, holiness, and God's presence. Its use here signifies the profound sacredness of the Table and its contents. It serves as an inner layer of protection and identification for these holy articles (compared to the outer "badger skin" covering). This specific blue cloth marked the holiest furniture as pertaining to heaven and God's domain.
- and put on it the plates:
- plates: (Hebrew: קְעָרוֹת ke'arot). General term for dishes, bowls, or platters used for the sacred service. They likely held various associated items, perhaps the frankincense before it was placed directly on the bread.
- the dishes for incense:
- dishes for incense: (Hebrew: כַּפּוֹת kappot). Refers to the specific pans or spoons used to hold frankincense, which was placed on each row of showbread as a memorial portion (Lev 24:7). The burning of this frankincense accompanied the weekly renewal of the bread, symbolizing the ascending prayers or pleasing aroma to God.
- and the bowls and the flagons for the drink offering:
- bowls: (Hebrew: קָשֹׁת kashot). Cups, bowls, or goblets, specifically those designated for use with drink offerings.
- flagons: (Hebrew: מְנַקִּיֹּת menakkiyot). Jars or pitchers used for pouring the wine or strong drink for the drink offering (נֶסֶךְ nesek).
- for the drink offering: Though the drink offering was usually accompanied by a burnt offering or grain offering, and not directly by the showbread ritual itself, these vessels were clearly associated with the service of the Tabernacle and its perpetual offerings. Their inclusion here indicates that all instruments belonging to the table’s general function in holy service, even if not solely for the showbread, were prepared for transport together, demonstrating thoroughness.
- and the bread of the Presence shall be on it regularly:
- bread of the Presence: Reinforces the primary element. Even during transit, its status as the divine bread representing God's active presence is maintained.
- regularly: (Hebrew: תָּמִיד tamid). Constantly, perpetually, continuously. This adverb emphasizes the unbroken and continuous presence of the Showbread on the table, whether stationary or in transit. It underscored that God's covenant sustenance and presence with His people was unceasing and never interrupted.
Numbers 4 7 Bonus section
- The meticulous instructions for the Kohathites handling these most holy articles contrast with the relative ease of handling less holy items by other Levite clans, highlighting a graded holiness within the Tabernacle and its service. This system prefigured Christ's singular access to God.
- The coverings for each item (Ark, Table, Lampstand, Altars) varied in color and material, each holding symbolic significance. The blue covering for the showbread table emphasizes its heavenly, rather than earthy, origin of provision.
- The term "regularly" (tamid) links this provision with other tamid (continual) offerings like the daily burnt offering and the perpetual lamp, establishing a continuous pattern of worship and divine interaction in Israel's life.
Numbers 4 7 Commentary
Numbers 4:7 is a profound testament to the order, holiness, and constant nature of God's presence with Israel in the wilderness. The meticulous covering of the Table of Showbread with a tekhelet blue cloth highlights its extreme sacredness, connecting it to the heavens and divine majesty. This particular blue, a royal and holy color, distinguished this inner layer of covering, indicating the items it protected were uniquely sanctified for God's presence and provisions. The careful placement of all associated implements – plates, dishes for incense, and vessels for drink offerings – signifies a divine order that accounted for every detail of holy service. The most significant point is that the Bread of the Presence itself remained on the table "regularly" (tamid) even during transit. This underscores that God's provision and intimate communion with His people were continuous and unceasing, not just confined to the static Tabernacle. This command points to the unwavering reality of God's sustenance for His covenant people, a shadow fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ, the true "Bread of Life" (John 6) who continually nourishes His church.