Numbers 4 · Verse 20

Numbers 4:20

But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.
Numbers 4:20, King James Version

Numbers 4:20 in other translations

BSBBut the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”
WEBbut they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.”
ASVbut they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.
YLTand they go not in to see when the holy thing is swallowed, that they have died.'
DARBYbut they shall not go in and see for a moment the holy things, lest they die.
BBEBut they themselves are not to go in to see the holy place, even for a minute, for fear of death.
WebsterBut they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

What does Numbers 4:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 4:17-20

17-20. Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites, &c.--a solemn admonition to Moses and Aaron to beware, lest, by any negligence on their part, disorder and improprieties should creep in, and to take the greatest care that all the parts of this important service be apportioned to the proper parties, lest the Kohathites should be disqualified for their high and honorable…

Read the full comment on Numbers 4:17-20 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 When the holy things are covered - Literally, כבלע keballa, when they are swallowed down; which shows the promptitude with which every thing belonging to the holy of holies was put out of sight, for these mysteries must ever be treated with the deepest reverence; and indeed without this they could not have been to them the representatives of heavenly realities. See the concluding note Num 4:36 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 4:4-20

The Kohathites were to carry the holy things of the tabernacle. All the holy things were to be covered; not only for security and respect, but to keep them from being seen. This not only marked the reverence due to holy things, but the mystery of the things signified by those types, and the darkness of the dispensation. But now, through Christ, the case is altered, and we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne…

Read the full comment on Numbers 4:4-20 →

Numbers 4:20 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
יָבֹ֧אוּya.Vo.'uthey will goH935
לִרְא֛וֹתlir.'otto seeH7200
כְּבַלַּ֥עke.va.La'as a swallowingH1104
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁha.Ko.deshthe holy thingH6944
וָמֵֽתוּ\׃\ \פva.Me.tuand they will dieH4191

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 4:20

  • 1 Samuel 6:19

    And he smote the men of Beth–shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

  • Exodus 19:21

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.

  • Numbers 4:19

    But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:

  • Leviticus 10:2

    And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

  • Numbers 4:15

    And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Revelation 11:19

    And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

  • Hebrews 10:19-20

    Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they shall.
15,19; Ex 19:21; Le 10:2; 1Sa 6:19; Heb 10:19,20; Re 11:19
the holy things.{Hakkodesh,} "the holy," or "sanctuary," i.e., the ark, as the Jews generally understand it; and with good reason, as any one may be convinced, who compares 1 Ki 8:8 with 2 Ch 5:9, where that which is called the holy in the former, is called the ark in the latter.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 4:19

    But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:

  • Numbers 4:20

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

  • Numbers 4:21

    And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Read all of Numbers 4

Numbers 4:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No entrarán para ver, cuando cubrieren las cosas santas; que morirán.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils n’entreront pas pour voir, quand on enveloppera les choses saintes, afin qu’ils ne meurent pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		aber sie sollen nicht hineingehen, daß sie auch nur einen Augenblick das Heilige sehen und sterben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Alii nulla curiositate videant quæ sunt in sanctuario priusquam involvantur, alioquin morientur.