from הַר and אֵל; mount of God; figuratively, the altar of burnt-offering; altar. Compare אֲרִיאֵל.
Transliteration:harʼêl
Pronunciation:har-ale'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H2025}}`, transliterated as *har'êl*, is a compound word derived from `{{H2022}}` (*har*, "mountain" or "hill") and `{{H410}}` (*'êl*, "God" or "mighty one"). Its literal meaning is "Mount of God." This etymology immediately imbues the term with a profound sense of divine elevation and sacred presence. In its specific biblical usage, particularly within the book of Ezekiel, `{{H2025}}` takes on a figurative meaning, referring to a specific part of the altar of burnt-offering, or the altar as a whole, within the visionary temple. This semantic shift from a geographical feature to a liturgical object underscores the altar's elevated status and its function as a meeting place between God and humanity, akin to a sacred mountain.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H2025}}` appears exclusively in the book of Ezekiel, specifically in the detailed architectural vision of the new temple:
* **[[Ezekiel 43:15]]**: "And the altar hearth shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth upward shall be four horns. And the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve broad, square in its four sides. This is the Har'el."
* **[[Ezekiel 43:16]]**: "And the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve broad, square in its four sides. And the top of the altar shall be twelve cubits long by twelve broad, square in its four sides. And the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve broad, square in its four sides." (Note: The term har'el is used in [[Ezekiel 43:15]] to refer to a specific part, often understood as the upper part or hearth of the altar, while ari'el `{{H739}}` is used for the base in the same context, though some interpretations see them as referring to the same structure.)
In these passages, har'el describes the dimensions and structure of the visionary altar for burnt offerings. The context of Ezekiel 43 is the meticulous description of the temple's layout and the regulations for its worship, emphasizing purity, order, and the manifest glory of God. The altar, as the central point of sacrifice and atonement, is given a name that signifies its divine origin and purpose. The precise measurements and the use of a term like "Mount of God" for a part of the altar highlight its supreme holiness and its role as the point where God's presence is most intensely encountered through acceptable worship.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of `{{H2025}}` is enriched by examining its constituent parts and closely related terms:
* **`{{H2022}}` (*har*):** "Mountain." In biblical theology, mountains are frequently sites of divine revelation, covenant, and encounter (e.g., Mount Sinai, Mount Zion). The application of "mountain" to the altar elevates its spiritual significance beyond a mere structure.
* **`{{H410}}` (*'êl*):** "God." This component firmly anchors the term in the divine realm, emphasizing that the altar's holiness and function are derived from God Himself.
* **`{{H739}}` (*'ari'êl*):** "Lion of God" or "Hearth of God." This term appears alongside `{{H2025}}` in [[Ezekiel 43:15]] and [[Ezekiel 43:16]], also referring to the altar. Some scholarly interpretations suggest ari'el refers to the lower base of the altar, while har'el refers to the upper hearth. Others view them as complementary or even synonymous terms for the altar, both conveying a sense of divine power and sacredness. The shared context and similar structure (*'el* as a suffix) underscore their close semantic relationship within Ezekiel's vision.
* **Concepts of Altar and Sacrifice:** The *har'el* is intrinsically linked to the concepts of atonement, propitiation, and communion with God through burnt offerings. It represents the divinely appointed place for approaching God with sacrifices, symbolizing the means by which sinful humanity can draw near to a holy God.
### Theological Significance
The designation of the altar as har'el, the "Mount of God," carries profound theological weight.
1. **Divine Presence and Holiness:** By naming the altar the "Mount of God," Ezekiel elevates its status to a sacred space where God's presence is uniquely manifested. Just as God met Moses on Mount Sinai, the altar becomes a place of divine encounter, emphasizing its extreme holiness and the reverence required for approaching it.
2. **Ascension and Acceptance:** The imagery of a "mount" suggests ascension – offerings ascending to God, and perhaps humanity's spiritual ascent toward God through worship. This underscores the idea that sacrifices offered on the har'el are acceptable and pleasing to God, reaching Him as if from a holy peak.
3. **Ideal Worship:** In Ezekiel's visionary temple, the *har'el* represents the ideal, purified worship that God desires from His people. It stands in contrast to the defiled altars and idolatrous practices that led to the destruction of the first temple. The *har'el* signifies a return to pure, unadulterated worship in a restored relationship with God.
4. **Symbol of Atonement:** As the place of burnt offerings, the har'el is central to the concept of atonement. It is the designated locus where the life of the sacrifice is given to cover sin, facilitating reconciliation between God and humanity. Its divine name reinforces the efficacy and divine sanction of this process.
### Summary
`{{H2025}}`, *har'êl*, literally meaning "Mount of God," is a unique term found exclusively in Ezekiel's vision of the new temple. It figuratively designates the altar of burnt-offering, specifically referring to its upper hearth or the altar as a whole. This powerful compound word, combining "mountain" `{{H2022}}` and "God" `{{H410}}`, elevates the altar from a mere structure to a sacred point of divine encounter and presence. Closely related to `{{H739}}` (*'ari'êl*), also used for the altar, har'el underscores the extreme holiness, divine sanction, and theological significance of the place where sacrifices are offered. It symbolizes ideal worship, the efficacy of atonement, and the profound truth that the altar is indeed a divinely appointed "Mount of God" where humanity can draw near to the Holy One.
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