### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **makbêr**, represented by `{{H4345}}`, is defined as a **grate**. It is derived from a root word suggesting the sense of covering. Appearing **6 times** in **6 unique verses**, its usage is highly specific, consistently referring to a particular piece of equipment within the Tabernacle.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H4345}}` is exclusively found in the book of Exodus and is always associated with the construction of the Tabernacle's altar. It is identified as the "brasen **grate**" [[Exodus 35:16]] that belongs to the altar of burnt offering `{{H5930}}`. The instructions given by God are precise, commanding that a "**grate** of network of brass" [[Exodus 27:4]] be made for the altar. This grate was fitted with four brasen rings `{{H2885}}` to hold the staves for transport [[Exodus 38:5]], making it an integral and mobile component of the holy altar.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context and function of the **makbêr**:
* `{{H4196}}` **mizbêach** (altar): The grate is a key component of the **altar**, the central structure for sacrifice. The altar was the designated place where Israel was to present burnt offerings to the Lord [[Exodus 20:24]].
* `{{H5178}}` **nᵉchôsheth** (copper, brass): This specifies the material of the grate, which is consistently referred to as "brasen" [[Exodus 39:39]]. The use of **brass** for sacred objects highlights its durability and value, as also seen in the brasen serpent made by Moses [[Numbers 21:9]].
* `{{H5930}}` **ʻôlâh** (burnt offering): This term defines the primary purpose of the altar and its grate. The grate was designed to hold the **burnt offering**, a sacrifice that went up in smoke. The Lord desired such offerings to be accepted on His altar [[Isaiah 56:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4345}}` is understood through its specific function in the Tabernacle worship system.
* **Precision in Worship:** The highly detailed commands for making the grate—specifying its material as brass `{{H5178}}`, its design as a network `{{H4639}}`, and its placement on the altar `{{H4196}}`—emphasize the principle of exact obedience to God's instructions for worship [[Exodus 27:4]].
* **Instrument of Atonement:** As an essential part of the brasen altar, the grate played a direct role in the sacrificial system. The altar was where atonement was made for souls through blood [[Leviticus 17:11]], and the grate physically supported the burnt offering `{{H5930}}` in this process.
* **Symbol of Enduring Service:** The construction from **brass** `{{H5178}}`, a metal associated with strength and defense [[Jeremiah 1:18]], suggests the grate was built for permanence and to endure the constant fires of sacrifice, symbolizing the unending requirements of the sacrificial law.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4345}}` is far more than a simple grate. It is a specialized, divinely specified instrument created for a single, holy purpose: to function as part of the brasen altar in the Tabernacle. Its construction and material underscore the importance of obedience and durability in worship, while its role in holding the burnt offering makes it a critical component in the Old Testament system of sacrifice and atonement.
TRV