In most cases, "needy" in the Bible refers to people who lack true knowledge of the Lord and his teachings, but have a desire to learn. Often, especially in the New Testament, it relates to the Gentiles. In some cases, the Bible speaks of "the poor and needy" together; in these cases "poor" means those lacking the desire to be good and "needy" those lacking knowledge. Due to translation issues, though, "poor" and "needy" are often used interchangeably, and the term "beggar" is sometimes used as well.

9831. Verses 5-8 And they shall take the gold, and the violet, and the purple, and the twice-dyed scarlet, and the fine linen, and they shall make the ephod from gold, violet, and purple, twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twined linen, with the work of a designer. Two shoulders ¹ joined together shall it have at its two ends, and it shall be joined together. And the girdle of his ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, ² of [one piece with] it, [made] from gold, violet, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twined linen.

'And they shall take the gold' means the good reigning universally. 'And the violet, and the purple, and the twice-dyed scarlet, and the fine linen' means the good of charity and faith. 'And they shall make the ephod from gold, violet, and purple, twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twined linen' means the outermost part of the spiritual kingdom springing from that good. 'With the work of a designer' means a product of the understanding. 'Two shoulders joined together shall it have at its two ends, and it shall be joined together' means an everlasting preservation of good and truth on every side by all exertion and power through a total uniting together. 'And the girdle of his ephod, which is on it' means the outward bond that gathers things together. 'Shall be of the same workmanship, of [one piece with] it' means that which is like the outermost part of the spiritual kingdom and is a continuation from it. 'From gold, violet, and purple, and twice-dyed scarlet, and fine twined linen' means thus from the good that belongs to faith and to charity on outermost levels.

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