And you shall make poles for the altar again uses the singular you. The word for poles is the same as in 25.13. Acacia wood is discussed at 25.10. For overlay see the comment at 25.11, and for bronze see 25.3.

And the poles shall be put through the rings is literally “and its poles will be caused to enter into the rings.” Another way to express this is “and you shall cause the poles to be put through the rings,” or even “and you shall have them put the poles through the rings.” So that the poles shall be upon the two sides is literally “and the poles will be upon the two sides.” These two clauses may be combined as in Good News Translation, “and put them in the rings on each side.” When it is carried is literally “to lift it.” It does not indicate whether the poles were to remain in the rings or to be inserted only when the altar was moved. We may assume the latter, since they would extend on opposite sides of the altar and prevent easy movement of the priests around it. So Good News Translation suggests they were to be placed “in the rings” only “when it is carried.”

Alternative translation models for verses 6 and 7 are:

• Make two acacia wood poles for carrying the altar. Cover them with bronze and put them through the rings on each side.

• Have them make two acacia wood poles and cover them with bronze. Then put them through the rings on each side of the altar when it is carried.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .