Exodus 38:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He put the carrying-poles into the rings on the sides of the altar; he made it of planks and hollow inside.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar for carrying it. He made the altar with boards so that it was hollow.

American Standard Version:

And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, wherewith to bear it; he made it hollow with planks.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he put^{H935} the staves^{H905} into the rings^{H2885} on the sides^{H6763} of the altar^{H4196}, to bear^{H5375} it withal; he made^{H6213} the altar hollow^{H5014} with boards^{H3871}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Exodus 38:7

**Exodus 38:7** is part of the detailed instructions given by God to Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle, which was the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. This verse specifically describes the completion of the altar of burnt offering, which was a central piece of the Tabernacle's courtyard.

**Themes:**
1. **Divine Detail:** The precise instructions for the Tabernacle's construction, including the altar, emphasize the importance of following God's commands meticulously.
2. **Portability:** The inclusion of staves (poles) to be inserted into rings on the sides of the altar reflects the nomadic lifestyle of the Israelites at this time. The Tabernacle and its furnishings had to be portable to travel with the people.
3. **Holiness and Sacrifice:** The altar was where offerings and sacrifices were made to God, symbolizing the people's dedication and atonement. The hollow construction with boards might have been to facilitate carrying while maintaining the structure's integrity.
4. **Craftsmanship:** The verse implies skilled workmanship, as the altar had to be both functional and sacred, reflecting the Israelites' best efforts in honor of God.

**Historical Context:**
The events of Exodus occur during the time of Moses, traditionally dated to the late 2nd millennium BCE. The Israelites had recently been freed from slavery in Egypt and were wandering in the Sinai Peninsula. God commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle as a sanctuary where God could dwell among His people. The Tabernacle and its accouterments, including the altar of burnt offering, were constructed according to the patterns and specifications that God provided to Moses on Mount Sinai. This period marks a formative stage in the religious and national identity of the Israelites, as they transitioned from a group of escaped slaves to a people with a distinct covenant relationship with God.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
2. Strong's Number: H905
   There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּד
   Transliteration: bad
   Pronunciation: bad
   Description: from בָּדַד; properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of atree, bar forcarrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an adverb, apart, only, besides; alone, apart, bar, besides, branch, by self, of each alike, except, only, part, staff, strength.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2885
   There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טַבַּעַת
   Transliteration: ṭabbaʻath
   Pronunciation: tab-bah'-ath
   Description: from טָבַע; properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), i.e. signet (for sealing); hence (generally) a ring of any kind; ring.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6763
   There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צֵלָע
   Transliteration: tsêlâʻ
   Pronunciation: tsay-law'
   Description: or (feminine) צַלְעָה; from צָלַע; a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence, a side, literally (of a person) or figuratively (of an object or the sky, i.e. quarter); architecturally, a (especially floor or ceiling) timber or plank (single or collective, i.e. a flooring); beam, board, chamber, corner, leaf, plank, rib, side (chamber).
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5375
   There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשָׂא
   Transliteration: nâsâʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-saw'
   Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5014
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָבַב
   Transliteration: nâbab
   Pronunciation: naw-bab'
   Description: a primitive root; to pierce; to be hollow, or (figuratively) foolish; hollow, vain.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3871
   There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לוּחַ
   Transliteration: lûwach
   Pronunciation: loo'-akh
   Description: or לֻחַ; from a primitive root; probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal; board, plate, table.