King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
Complete Jewish Bible:
If you do make me an altar of stone, you are not to build it of cut stones; for if you use a tool on it, you profane it.
Berean Standard Bible:
Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.
American Standard Version:
And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And if thou wilt make{H6213} me an altar{H4196} of stone{H68}, thou shalt not build{H1129} it of hewn stone{H1496}: for if thou lift up{H5130} thy tool{H2719} upon it, thou hast polluted{H2490} it.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 27:5
- And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up [any] iron [tool] upon them.
Deuteronomy 27:6
- Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:
Joshua 8:31
- As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up [any] iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 20:25
1. Themes of Exodus 20:25:
- Worship: The verse pertains to the construction of an altar for religious purposes, emphasizing the manner in which the Israelites are to approach worship.
- Holiness and Purity: The prohibition against building the altar with hewn stone and using tools on it reflects the importance of maintaining the sanctity of sacred spaces. The use of unhewn stones and the avoidance of metal tools (which could be used for war or bloodshed) underscore a reverence for the divine and a separation from the profane.
- Divine Presence: The command seeks to ensure that the altar remains a place where the Israelites can come into the presence of God without defilement, symbolizing a pure and unblemished approach to God.
2. Historical Context:
- The Exodus Era: This verse is part of the Law given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai following the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. It is situated within the broader context of the Ten Commandments and other regulations that were to govern the religious and social life of the Israelite community.
- Transition from Nomadic to Settled Life: As the Israelites transitioned from a nomadic existence to a more settled life in the Promised Land, they needed instructions for building permanent places of worship. This verse provides guidelines for constructing altars in a way that respects God's holiness and avoids the pagan practices of the surrounding nations.
- Contrast with Contemporary Cultures: The instruction not to use hewn stones may also serve to differentiate Israelite worship practices from those of the Canaanites and other ancient Near Eastern cultures, which often involved elaborate and ornate altars. The simplicity of the Israelite altar was a testament to the aniconic tradition of Israelite religion, which eschewed the representation of the divine in physical form.
In summary, Exodus 20:25 addresses the construction of altars in a way that honors God's holiness and distinguishes Israelite worship from pagan practices, reflecting the broader themes of purity in worship and the unique relationship between God and the Israelite nation during their formative years following the exodus.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H4196
There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
Transliteration: mizbêach
Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar. - Strong's Number: H68
There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶבֶן
Transliteration: ʼeben
Pronunciation: eh'-ben
Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). - Strong's Number: H1129
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּנָה
Transliteration: bânâh
Pronunciation: baw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H1496
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּזִית
Transliteration: gâzîyth
Pronunciation: gaw-zeeth'
Description: from גָּזָה; something cut, i.e. dressed stone; hewed, hewn stone, wrought. - Strong's Number: H5130
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נוּף
Transliteration: nûwph
Pronunciation: noof
Description: a primitive root; to quiver (i.e. vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in a great variety of applications (including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing, bastinadoing, sawing, waving, etc.); lift up, move, offer, perfume, send, shake, sift, strike, wave. - Strong's Number: H2719
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶב
Transliteration: chereb
Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. - Strong's Number: H2490
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלַל
Transliteration: châlal
Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.