The Meaning of Exodus 30:4 Explained

Exodus 30:4

KJV: And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.

YLT: and two rings of gold thou dost make to it under its crown; on its two ribs thou dost make them, on its two sides, and they have become places for staves, to bear it with them.

Darby: And two rings of gold shalt thou make for it under its border; by its two corners shalt thou make them, on the two sides thereof; and they shall be for receptacles for the staves, with which to carry it.

ASV: And two golden rings shalt thou make for it under the crown thereof; upon the two ribs thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make them; and they shall be for places for staves wherewith to bear it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And two  golden  rings  shalt thou make  to it under the crown  of it, by the two  corners  thereof, upon the two  sides  of it shalt thou make  [it]; and they shall be for places  for the staves  to bear  it withal. 

What does Exodus 30:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 30:1-10 - The Altar Of Incense
It seems late in the story of the Tabernacle that the incense-altar should be only mentioned now; but it is not unsuitable, because intercessory prayer, which it represents, is the crown and climax of the religious life. When our Lord had finished His sacrificial death, He passed into the heavens to make intercession for us. In Revelation 8:3-4, r.v., the veil is lifted, and we are allowed to behold Him, standing by the golden altar in heaven, and adding much incense to the prayers of all saints. What a wealth of prayer is ever passing through those gracious hands and that loving heart! John 17:1-26 is the Golden Altar of Scripture; let us often worship there. But, alas, these earthly altars soon get defiled, even by our prayers, and need the blood that speaketh peace. All our prayer requires the blood of at-one-ment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 30

1  The altar of incense
11  The ransom of souls
17  The bronze basin
22  The holy anointing oil
34  The composition of the incense

What do the individual words in Exodus 30:4 mean?

And two rings gold you shall make for it Under the molding on two of its sides You shall place [them] on two its sides and they will be holders for the poles to bear it with those
וּשְׁתֵּי֩ טַבְּעֹ֨ת זָהָ֜ב תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ לּ֣וֹ ׀ מִתַּ֣חַת לְזֵר֗וֹ עַ֚ל שְׁתֵּ֣י צַלְעֹתָ֔יו תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה עַל־ שְׁנֵ֣י צִדָּ֑יו וְהָיָה֙ לְבָתִּ֣ים לְבַדִּ֔ים לָשֵׂ֥את אֹת֖וֹ בָּהֵֽמָּה

וּשְׁתֵּי֩  And  two 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
טַבְּעֹ֨ת  rings 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: טַבַּעַת  
Sense: ring, signet, signet ring.
זָהָ֜ב  gold 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָהָב  
Sense: gold.
תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־  you  shall  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לּ֣וֹ ׀  for  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
מִתַּ֣חַת  Under 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
לְזֵר֗וֹ  the  molding 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: זֵר  
Sense: border, moulding, circlet.
שְׁתֵּ֣י  two 
Parse: Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
צַלְעֹתָ֔יו  of  its  sides 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צֵלָע  
Sense: side, rib, beam.
תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה  You  shall  place  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
שְׁנֵ֣י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
צִדָּ֑יו  its  sides 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צַד 
Sense: side.
וְהָיָה֙  and  they  will  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְבָתִּ֣ים  holders 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
לְבַדִּ֔ים  for  the  poles 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
לָשֵׂ֥את  to  bear 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
בָּהֵֽמָּה  with  those 
Parse: Preposition-b, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.