King James Version

What Does Numbers 7:86 Mean?

Numbers 7:86 in the King James Version says “The golden spoons were twelve , full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The golden spoons were twelve , full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.”

Numbers 7:86 · King James Version

Context

84

This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:

85

Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

86

The golden spoons were twelve , full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.

87

All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve , the lambs of the first year twelve , with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve .

88

And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.

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Commentaries2 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels (כָּל־זְהַב הַכַּפּוֹת עֶשְׂרִים וּמֵאָה זָהָב, kol-zehav hakapot esrim ume'ah zahav)—The twelve golden spoons total 120 shekels (12 × 10), combining governmental perfection (twelve) with divine order (ten). Gold signifies deity, purity, and the imperishable; incense represents prayer and worship ascending to God.

The 120 shekels may allude to the 120 years of human longevity before the Flood (Genesis 6:3), or the 120 priests who sounded trumpets at Solomon's temple dedication (2 Chronicles 5:12). In the New Testament, 120 disciples waited in the upper room for Pentecost (Acts 1:15), representing the faithful remnant awaiting the Spirit. The incense-filled spoons prefigure the golden bowls of Revelation 5:8, where the prayers of the saints rise before God's throne.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The incense formula was divinely prescribed (Exodus 30:34-38) and forbidden for personal use. The golden spoons (or ladles) were specifically designed for offering incense on the golden altar before the veil. The total weight of 120 shekels represents substantial value, as gold was the most precious metal.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the connection between incense and prayer (Revelation 5:8) deepen our understanding of intercession as mediated worship?
  2. What might the 120 shekels total symbolize, given Scripture's other uses of that number (Genesis 6:3, Acts 1:15)?
  3. Why did God require identical incense from every tribe rather than allowing variety in this aspect of worship?

Compare 2 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
הַכַּפּ֖וֹת1 of 16

“of the spoons”

H3709

the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-

זְהַ֥ב2 of 16

“The golden”

H2091

gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky

שְׁתֵּים3 of 16
H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

עֶשְׂרֵה֙4 of 16

“were twelve”

H6240

ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth

מְלֵאֹ֣ת5 of 16

“full”

H4392

full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially, fully

קְטֹ֔רֶת6 of 16

“of incense”

H7004

a fumigation

עֲשָׂרָ֛ה7 of 16

“weighing ten”

H6235

ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

עֲשָׂרָ֛ה8 of 16

“weighing ten”

H6235

ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

הַכַּפּ֖וֹת9 of 16

“of the spoons”

H3709

the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-

בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל10 of 16

“after the shekel”

H8255

probably a weight; used as a commercial standard

הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ11 of 16

“of the sanctuary”

H6944

a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

כָּל12 of 16
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

זְהַ֥ב13 of 16

“The golden”

H2091

gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky

הַכַּפּ֖וֹת14 of 16

“of the spoons”

H3709

the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-

עֶשְׂרִ֥ים15 of 16

“and twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

וּמֵאָֽה׃16 of 16

“was an hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 7:86 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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