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.

And he made {H6213} the altar {H4196} of burnt offering {H5930} of shittim {H7848} wood {H6086}: five {H2568} cubits {H520} was the length {H753} thereof, and five {H2568} cubits {H520} the breadth {H7341} thereof; it was foursquare {H7251}; and three {H7969} cubits {H520} the height {H6967} thereof.

He made the altar for burnt offerings of acacia-wood, seven-and-a-half feet long and seven-and-a-half feet wide - it was square - and four-and-a-half feet high.

Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.

And he made the altar of burnt-offering of acacia wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof, foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

Commentary

Exodus 38:1 introduces the detailed construction of the altar of burnt offering, a pivotal piece of furniture for the Tabernacle. This verse initiates the account of the Tabernacle's components being meticulously crafted according to God's precise instructions given to Moses.

Context: The Tabernacle's Sacred Altar

This verse is part of the comprehensive section (Exodus 35-40) detailing the actual construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. This monumental task was carried out by divinely gifted craftsmen such as Bezaleel and Aholiab. The specific divine blueprint for this very altar was first communicated in Exodus 27:1-8. Positioned prominently in the outer court of the Tabernacle, the altar served as the central place for animal sacrifices, which were indispensable for atonement and for the Israelites to approach God during their wilderness journey.

Key Themes: Sacrifice, Atonement, and Worship

  • Centrality of Sacrifice: The altar was the spiritual heart of Israelite worship, profoundly signifying that access to a holy God was possible only through the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins.
  • Divine Design and Obedience: The exact dimensions, specified materials, and precise construction highlight the paramount importance of strict obedience to God's commands in all matters of worship and service.
  • Holiness and Atonement: This sacred structure facilitated the means by which a holy God could dwell among an unholy people, through the divinely ordained process of atonement.

Linguistic and Structural Insights

The chosen material, "shittim wood," refers to acacia wood, widely recognized for its exceptional hardness, durability, and natural resistance to decay and insects. These properties made it an ideal choice for the harsh desert environment. The altar's dimensions – five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high – translate to approximately 7.5 feet by 7.5 feet by 4.5 feet, making it a substantial, "foursquare" structure. This foursquare design often symbolizes stability, completeness, and perhaps even the idea of God's universal reach, as sacrifices made here were for all of Israel.

Practical Application: The Enduring Significance

While the physical altar of burnt offering is no longer in use, its profound spiritual significance remains. It powerfully foreshadowed the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, which provides complete and final atonement for sin (Hebrews 9:22). For believers today, our worship is no longer centered on animal sacrifices but on the finished work of Christ. The altar serves as a timeless reminder of:

  • The grave cost of sin and the absolute necessity of atonement.
  • God's gracious provision for reconciliation through His perfect sacrifice.
  • Our call to offer ourselves as "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1) in worship and devoted service, in grateful response to His ultimate act of love.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 27:1

    ¶ 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.

  • Exodus 27:8

    Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make [it].

  • Ezekiel 43:13

    ¶ And these [are] the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit [is] a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom [shall be] a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about [shall be] a span: and this [shall be] the higher place of the altar.

  • Ezekiel 43:17

    And the settle [shall be] fourteen [cubits] long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it [shall be] half a cubit; and the bottom thereof [shall be] a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.

  • Hebrews 13:10

    We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

  • Revelation 21:16

    And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

  • 2 Chronicles 4:1

    ¶ Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.
← Back