King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And thou shalt make an altar [of] shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof [shall be] three cubits.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"You are to make the altar of acacia-wood, seven-and-a-half feet long and seven-and-a-half feet wide - the altar is to be square and four-and-a-half feet high.
Berean Standard Bible:
“You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.
American Standard Version:
And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And thou shalt make{H6213} an altar{H4196} of shittim{H7848} wood{H6086}, five{H2568} cubits{H520} long{H753}, and five{H2568} cubits{H520} broad{H7341}; the altar{H4196} shall be foursquare{H7251}: and the height{H6967} thereof shall be three{H7969} cubits{H520}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 38:1
- ¶ And he made the altar of burnt offering [of] shittim wood: five cubits [was] the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; [it was] foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.
Exodus 38:7
- And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards.
Hebrews 13:10
- We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:10
- And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.
Exodus 20:24
- An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
Exodus 20:26
- Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
Exodus 24:4
- And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 27:1
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Instructions:** The verse reflects the theme of God providing precise instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, emphasizing the importance of adherence to divine blueprints.
- **Worship and Sacrifice:** The altar is central to the worship practices of the Israelites, serving as the place for burnt offerings and sacrifices, which are integral to their relationship with God.
- **Holiness and Permanence:** The detailed specifications for the altar, including its dimensions and materials, underscore the holy and enduring nature of the worship practices and the covenant between God and Israel.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus Era:** Exodus 27:1 is set in the context of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. After being freed from slavery, God gives Moses detailed instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary where God would dwell among His people.
- **The Tabernacle:** The altar described in this verse is part of the outdoor furniture of the Tabernacle, situated in the courtyard. It is one of the first items encountered by worshippers as they approach the holy place.
- **Materials:** Shittim wood, likely acacia wood, was chosen for its durability and availability in the Sinai region. The dimensions given (five cubits long and broad, three cubits high) would make the altar substantial in size, yet portable enough to be moved during the Israelites' wanderings.
- **Symbolism:** The square shape of the altar (foursquare) may symbolize stability and the four cardinal directions, suggesting the universal reach of God's presence and the inclusivity of His worship.
In summary, Exodus 27:1 captures the meticulous nature of God's instructions for the Tabernacle's construction, highlighting the centrality of the altar in Israelite worship and the establishment of a sacred space for the divine presence amidst the Israelite community during their wilderness journey.
*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: H7848
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁטָּה
Transliteration: shiṭṭâh
Pronunciation: shit-taw'
Description: feminine of a derivative (only in the plural שִׁטִּים; meaning the sticks of wood) from the same as שֹׁטֵט; the acacia (from its scourging thorns); shittah, shittim. See also בֵּית הַשִּׁטָּה. - Strong's Number: H6086
There are 288 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵץ
Transliteration: ʻêts
Pronunciation: ates
Description: from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood. - Strong's Number: H2568
There are 273 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָמֵשׁ
Transliteration: châmêsh
Pronunciation: khaw-maysh'
Description: masculine חֲמִשָּׁה; a primitive numeral; five; fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece). - Strong's Number: H520
There are 240 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַמָּה
Transliteration: ʼammâh
Pronunciation: am-maw'
Description: prolonged from אֵם; properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance); cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for מֵאָה), measure, post. - Strong's Number: H753
There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹרֶךְ
Transliteration: ʼôrek
Pronunciation: o'rek'
Description: from אָרַךְ; length; [phrase] forever, length, long. - Strong's Number: H7341
There are 89 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹחַב
Transliteration: rôchab
Pronunciation: ro'-khab
Description: from רָחַב; width (literally or figuratively); breadth, broad, largeness, thickness, wideness. - Strong's Number: H7251
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָבַע
Transliteration: râbaʻ
Pronunciation: raw-bah'
Description: a primitive root (rather identical with רָבַע through the idea of sprawling 'at all fours' (or possibly the reverse is the order of deriv.); compare אַרְבַּע); properly, to be four (sided); used only as denominative of רֶבַע; to be quadrate; (four-) square(-d). - Strong's Number: H6967
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קוֹמָה
Transliteration: qôwmâh
Pronunciation: ko-maw'
Description: from קוּם; height; [idiom] along, height, high, stature, tall. - Strong's Number: H7969
There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
Transliteration: shâlôwsh
Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ.