Exodus 38:4

KJV

And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he made {H6213} for the altar {H4196} a brasen {H5178} grate {H4345} of network {H7568}{H4639} under the compass {H3749} thereof beneath {H4295} unto the midst {H2677} of it.

Complete Jewish Bible

He made for the altar a grate of bronze netting, under its rim, reaching halfway up the altar.

Berean Standard Bible

He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.

American Standard Version

And he made for the altar a grating of network of brass, under the ledge round it beneath, reaching halfway up.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 38:4 meticulously details the construction of the bronze grate for the Altar of Burnt Offering, specifying its material, form, and precise placement within the altar's hollow structure. This verse underscores the divine precision required for sacred worship and the functional necessity of every component in facilitating the sacrificial system, which served as a profound foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate atonement.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 38 is situated within the latter portion of the book, which transitions from God's detailed instructions for the Tabernacle's construction (Exodus 25-31) to the actual execution of those commands by Bezaleel, Oholiab, and their skilled artisans (Exodus 35-40). Specifically, chapter 38 focuses on the completion of the furnishings for the Tabernacle's outer court. This includes the Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 38:1-7), the bronze laver (Exodus 38:8), and the court hangings and pillars (Exodus 38:9-20). Exodus 38:4, in particular, describes a key component of the Altar of Burnt Offering, a "brasen grate of network," the design of which was initially commanded and described in [Exodus 27:1-8](/exodus/27-1-8 "Exodus 27:1-8 - Instructions for the Altar of Burnt Offering"). The meticulous repetition of these construction details throughout Exodus emphasizes the Israelites' faithful adherence to God's precise and holy instructions, highlighting the importance of obedience in worship.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Tabernacle served as the portable sanctuary for the Israelites during their wilderness journey, a tangible manifestation of God's presence among His people. In the ancient Near East, various cultures had temples and altars for worship, but the Israelite Tabernacle was unique in its divinely revealed design and its emphasis on atonement through sacrifice. The use of "brasen" (bronze/copper) for the Altar of Burnt Offering and its grate was practical, as bronze is durable and heat-resistant, suitable for the intense fires of sacrifice. It also carried symbolic weight, often associated with judgment and strength, distinguishing the outer court where sin was dealt with from the more precious gold and silver used in the Holy Place and Most Holy Place. The meticulous detail in the construction, down to the grate's placement, reflects the absolute holiness of God and the seriousness required in approaching Him, contrasting with the often syncretistic and less precise worship practices of surrounding nations. The entire structure was a testament to God's covenant with Israel and His provision for their reconciliation through the sacrificial system, as outlined in [Leviticus 1-7](/leviticus/1-7 "Leviticus 1-7 - Laws of the Offerings").
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 38:4 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it reinforces the theme of **Divine Prescription and Human Obedience**. God's detailed blueprint for the Tabernacle, down to the smallest component like the grate, demonstrates His sovereign authority and His desire for worship to be conducted according to His specific will, not human invention. The Israelites' faithful execution of these commands, as evidenced in this chapter, underscores the importance of obedience in their covenant relationship with God (cf. [Exodus 39:32](/exodus/39-32 "Exodus 39:32 - Completion of the Tabernacle")). Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of **Holiness and Atonement**. The Altar of Burnt Offering, with its functional bronze grate, was the primary place where sin was addressed through sacrifice. The material (bronze) and the meticulous design speak to the seriousness of sin and the necessity of a divinely provided means of reconciliation. This points to the broader theme of God providing a way for sinful humanity to approach a holy God, a theme that finds its ultimate expression in Christ (cf. [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without the Shedding of Blood There Is No Forgiveness")). Finally, the construction details emphasize **God's Dwelling Among His People**, as the Tabernacle was designed to be the physical manifestation of His presence, enabling Him to reside in the midst of Israel (cf. [Exodus 29:45-46](/exodus/29-45-46 "Exodus 29:45-46 - God's Promise to Dwell Among Israel")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **made (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_):** This primitive root verb signifies "to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application." In this context, it refers to the skilled craftsmanship of Bezaleel and his team in constructing the Tabernacle components precisely as commanded by God. It implies not just creation, but also accomplishment, execution, and fitting together, highlighting the deliberate and purposeful nature of the work.
* **brasen (Hebrew, _nᵉchôsheth'_):** This noun refers to copper, or more commonly, bronze (an alloy of copper), and by extension, something made of this metal. In the Tabernacle, bronze was used for items in the outer court, such as the Altar of Burnt Offering and its grate, signifying durability, resilience, and resistance to heat. Symbolically, bronze is often associated with judgment and strength in biblical contexts, marking the place where sin was confronted and dealt with.
* **grate (Hebrew, _makbêr'_):** This noun, derived from a root meaning "to cover" or "to weave," denotes a grating or network. It describes a mesh-like, open-work structure, crucial for the altar's function. This design allowed for proper air circulation to sustain the sacrificial fire and facilitated the drainage of blood and ashes, ensuring cleanliness and efficiency in the sacrificial rituals.
* **midst (Hebrew, _chêtsîy'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to divide," this noun refers to the half or middle of something. In the context of the grate's placement, it precisely indicates that the network extended upward to approximately the halfway point of the altar's height, ensuring optimal functional positioning for the burning sacrifices and the collection of their byproducts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he made for the altar":** This phrase identifies the subject as Bezaleel, the chief craftsman, and his divinely empowered team (as described in [Exodus 35:30-35](/exodus/35-30-35 "Exodus 35:30-35 - Bezaleel and Oholiab Appointed")). The "altar" refers to the Altar of Burnt Offering, the large, square altar located in the outer court of the Tabernacle, where animal sacrifices were offered to atone for sin.
* **"a brasen grate of network":** This specifies the material and form of a crucial component of the altar. It was a bronze structure, designed as an open grid or mesh. This was not merely decorative but highly functional, essential for the proper burning of sacrifices and the management of their byproducts, ensuring efficient combustion and cleanliness.
* **"under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it":** This clause precisely describes the grate's placement within the altar. "Under the compass thereof" indicates it was placed inside the hollow frame of the altar. "Beneath" suggests it started from the bottom, and "unto the midst of it" means it extended upwards to approximately the halfway point of the altar's height. This strategic positioning ensured optimal airflow for the sacrificial fire and allowed ashes and blood to fall through to the base, facilitating the cleaning process and maintaining the sanctity of the sacred space.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 38:4, like much of the Tabernacle's construction narrative, primarily employs **Precision and Repetition**. The meticulous detailing of every component, down to the exact material, form, and placement of the bronze grate, underscores God's absolute **precision** in His divine blueprint and His demand for the Israelites' exact **obedience** in its execution. This repetition of construction details (first commanded in [Exodus 27:1-8](/exodus/27-1-8 "Exodus 27:1-8 - Instructions for the Altar of Burnt Offering"), then described as built in Exodus 38) serves to emphasize the sanctity of the work and the faithfulness of the builders. The bronze grate itself functions as a practical **symbol** of the necessary order and cleanliness in approaching a holy God. Furthermore, the entire description is a form of **typology**, where the physical structure and its components are divinely designed to foreshadow greater spiritual realities, particularly the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The construction of the "brasen grate of network" on the Altar of Burnt Offering, though a minute detail, profoundly illustrates God's demand for meticulous obedience in worship, where every element matters because it reflects His holy character and His perfect plan for redemption. The Tabernacle, and especially the Altar of Burnt Offering, served as a tangible representation of God's presence and the divinely ordained means of reconciliation between a holy God and sinful humanity. The bronze grate, essential for the altar's function, enabled the sacrificial system that foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice. This attention to detail underscores that true worship is not arbitrary but is defined by God's revealed will, pointing to the profound theological truth that God orchestrates every aspect of salvation, leaving nothing to chance or human preference.

* [Exodus 27:1-8](/exodus/27-1-8 "Instructions for the Altar of Burnt Offering")
* [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Without the Shedding of Blood There Is No Forgiveness")
* [Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Present Your Bodies as Living Sacrifices")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 38:4, while describing an ancient piece of Tabernacle furniture, offers timeless principles for our contemporary understanding of worship and service. It reminds us that God is a God of order, precision, and purpose, and He desires our worship and service to reflect these attributes. Our spiritual lives should not be haphazard or self-serving, but rather intentional, diligent, and aligned with His revealed will. Just as the bronze grate facilitated the sacred work of atonement by ensuring proper function and cleanliness, our lives, offered as "living sacrifices," should be ordered and prepared to facilitate God's purposes in the world. This means paying attention to the "details" of our spiritual walk—our integrity, our commitment to truth, our love for others, our consistent prayer life—recognizing that seemingly small acts of obedience contribute to a larger, divine design for our sanctification and His glory. This verse calls us to a worship that is both heartfelt and meticulously obedient to God's standards, understanding that our carefulness in seemingly minor areas can have significant spiritual implications.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's meticulous attention to detail in the Tabernacle's construction challenge our approach to worship and service today?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to overlook "small" details in our spiritual lives, and what might be the consequences of such oversight?**
* **How can understanding the functional purpose of the bronze grate deepen our appreciation for the practical aspects of holiness and atonement in our own lives?**

### FAQ
**What was the purpose of the "brasen grate of network"?**

Answer: The "brasen grate of network" was a crucial component of the Altar of Burnt Offering. Its primary purpose was functional: to provide a support for the sacrificial offerings and the burning fire, while also allowing for proper ventilation and drainage of blood and ashes. This ensured the altar remained clean and efficient for the continuous sacrifices, which were central to Israelite worship and atonement for sin, as detailed in passages like [Leviticus 1](/leviticus/1 "The Law of Burnt Offerings"). It prevented the accumulation of debris and ensured the fire could burn effectively.

**Why was it made of "brasen" (bronze)?**

Answer: Bronze (or copper) was chosen for the grate and other outer court furnishings due to its durability, resistance to intense heat, and common availability. Theologically, bronze is often associated with judgment and strength in the Tabernacle's symbolism, distinguishing the outer court where sin was dealt with from the inner holy places adorned with more precious gold and silver. This material choice reinforced the seriousness of approaching God's holiness through sacrifice, as seen in the bronze serpent in [Numbers 21:9](/numbers/21-9 "The Bronze Serpent") and the bronze laver for cleansing (cf. [Exodus 30:18](/exodus/30-18 "Exodus 30:18 - The Bronze Laver")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The "brasen grate of network" on the Altar of Burnt Offering, though a seemingly minor detail, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ. The altar itself was the primary place where sin was atoned for through the shedding of blood, and the grate facilitated this process by ensuring the proper burning and drainage of the sacrifices. This entire sacrificial system, with its meticulous requirements, pointed forward to Jesus Christ, who is the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. Just as the grate supported the offerings, Christ, through His perfect obedience and sinless life, perfectly fulfilled the requirements of the Law, offering Himself "once for all" (as seen in [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through the Offering of Jesus Christ Once for All")). His body, broken on the cross, served as the ultimate altar, and His shed blood, far superior to that of bulls and goats, provides eternal redemption (as explained in [Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Blood and Eternal Redemption")). The functional precision of the bronze grate in the Tabernacle thus symbolizes the divine precision and efficacy of Christ's atoning work, which perfectly cleanses us from all sin and grants us access to God's presence (as described in [Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, making all previous sacrifices obsolete (cf. [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"); [Hebrews 10:18](/hebrews/10-18 "Hebrews 10:18 - No Longer Any Offering for Sin")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.