2 Chronicles 4 1

2 Chronicles 4:1 kjv

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

2 Chronicles 4:1 nkjv

Moreover he made a bronze altar: twenty cubits was its length, twenty cubits its width, and ten cubits its height.

2 Chronicles 4:1 niv

He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.

2 Chronicles 4:1 esv

He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.

2 Chronicles 4:1 nlt

Solomon also made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.

2 Chronicles 4 verses

2 Chronicles 4 1 Meaning

This verse details the construction by King Solomon of a substantial bronze altar, also known as the brazen altar, for the newly built Temple in Jerusalem. Its precise dimensions – twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high – emphasize its immense size, signifying its centrality and capacity for large-scale burnt offerings as mandated by the Mosaic Law. It was the primary place where sin was atoned for through the shedding of blood and fire, serving as the Israelites' principal point of access to God within the Temple complex for public worship and sacrificial acts.

2 Chronicles 4 1 Context

2 Chronicles 4:1 stands as part of a detailed account of King Solomon's construction and furnishing of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Following chapters describing the Temple's foundational structure and dimensions in 2 Chronicles 3, chapter 4 focuses on the crucial implements and decorative elements within the Temple and its court. The brazen altar was the largest and most prominent feature in the outer court, immediately upon entering the sacred precincts. It was central to the daily sacrificial rites commanded by the Mosaic Law. For the Chronicler's post-exilic audience, this meticulous detailing served to validate Solomon's adherence to divine instructions for worship and emphasized the enduring importance of proper temple worship, even in the absence of a fully functioning temple. It also likely aimed to inspire faithfulness and reverence for God's prescribed worship as they rebuilt their lives and spiritual identity. The colossal size of this altar, notably larger than the altar of the tabernacle (Ex 27:1), reflected the Temple's permanence and the grand scale of Solomon's kingdom and God's glory, contrasting with the nomadic nature of the tabernacle.

2 Chronicles 4 1 Word analysis

• Moreover he made: The Hebrew verb is וַיַּעַשׂ (wayyaʿaś), "and he made" or "and he did." This connective phrase signifies the continuation of Solomon's construction activities, transitioning from the Temple structure itself to its essential furnishings. It underscores the active role of King Solomon as the divinely appointed builder, fulfilling the vision of his father, David (1 Chr 22, 28). The phrase implies a purposeful, deliberate act of creation, in line with God's directives for His house.
• an altar: The Hebrew term is מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbēaḥ), derived from the root זָבַח (zābaḥ), "to slaughter" or "to sacrifice." This defines its primary function: the place where animals were ritually sacrificed. The altar was the central instrument for maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel, serving as the interface for atonement, communion, and worship. Its presence established the site as a consecrated place for approaching the Holy God.
• of brass: The Hebrew word is נְחֹשֶׁת (nəḥōšeṯ), commonly translated as "bronze" or "copper" in modern scholarship. Bronze was a significant and durable metal in the ancient Near East, highly valued for its strength and resistance to heat. The choice of bronze for the altar signifies its enduring nature and ability to withstand the intense heat of continuous fire, necessary for burnt offerings. Theologically, bronze is sometimes associated with judgment in biblical narratives (e.g., the bronze serpent in Num 21 symbolizing divine judgment on sin), suggesting the altar’s role in bearing God's fiery wrath against sin through the substitute sacrifice. Its material underscored the seriousness of sin and the fiery nature of God’s justice.
• twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof: These precise measurements highlight the architectural grandeur and the functional capacity of the altar. A cubit (אמה, ʾammah) was approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters, meaning the altar was roughly 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.
  • Length and breadth (20x20 cubits): The square base emphasizes stability and perhaps completeness or perfection. This massive base contrasts significantly with the Tabernacle's altar, which was 5x5 cubits (Ex 27:1), illustrating the much larger scale and permanence of the Temple institution, accommodating larger volumes of sacrifices and symbolizing God's vast grace and the extent of sin's demands.
  • Height (10 cubits): The considerable height would have made the altar visually dominant and impressive within the Temple court, ensuring visibility of the sacrificial acts for all worshippers. It also might symbolize reaching towards God or a raised platform for divine encounters. The significant size prepared for large-scale worship events, especially during major festivals, allowing numerous offerings to be consumed simultaneously, pointing to a nation fully committed to covenant faithfulness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "an altar of brass": This phrase combines the functional purpose with the specific material. The "altar" signifies atonement, approach to God, and consecrated worship. The material "brass" (bronze) denotes durability, capacity to endure fire, and possibly hints at the nature of judgment involved in sacrifice, where sin is 'burned away' by divine justice represented by fire.
• "twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof": This detailed enumeration of dimensions highlights divine precision and order in the design of sacred space. It shows the careful adherence to God-given plans (or inspired designs from David, 1 Chr 28:19). The large dimensions are significant, signaling the immense needs of a growing nation for atonement, God's abundant provision, and the magnificence of the divine presence for which such a large instrument of worship was needed.

2 Chronicles 4 1 Bonus section

The Chronicler’s inclusion of the precise and large dimensions for the brazen altar, notably twenty by twenty by ten cubits, is particularly significant when compared to the parallel account in 1 Kings, which surprisingly omits these dimensions for the Temple’s main altar. In 1 Kings 8:64, it is explicitly stated that the existing brazen altar was too small to handle all the offerings during the Temple dedication. By contrast, the Chronicler, writing for a post-exilic audience, emphasizes this massive altar’s size right from its construction. This difference might suggest the Chronicler's intent to highlight the full scale and preparation Solomon undertook for complete and ample worship, correcting or expanding on the narrative for his contemporary audience who would have deeply valued meticulous adherence to divinely mandated architectural details for the Temple and its rituals. The Chronicler might be emphasizing the lavishness of the worship provision in Solomon's time, stressing God's glory and provision through His appointed king, serving as an encouragement for faithfulness and proper worship practices to a returning community looking to re-establish their religious life.

2 Chronicles 4 1 Commentary

2 Chronicles 4:1 succinctly describes the construction of the Temple's formidable bronze altar, a cornerstone of Israelite worship. Its dimensions, far surpassing the Tabernacle's altar, underscore Solomon's era of unprecedented grandeur and the anticipated volume of sacrifices from a thriving nation. This altar stood as the physical locus where God's holiness met human sin through the shedding of blood and the consuming fire. It represented the means of propitiation and reconciliation, a vivid illustration that approaching a Holy God necessitated purification through an appointed substitution. While functionally vital for animal sacrifices, this large altar ultimately pointed to the necessity of a greater, perfect sacrifice that could truly deal with the immensity of human sin, ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Altar" and "Sacrifice" (Heb 13:10). The detail and prominence given to the altar by the Chronicler affirm its foundational importance for genuine worship and the continuity of covenant requirements, reassuring the post-exilic community that atonement was still central to God's plan for His people.