Deuteronomy 27 5

Deuteronomy 27:5 kjv

And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.

Deuteronomy 27:5 nkjv

And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not use an iron tool on them.

Deuteronomy 27:5 niv

Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on them.

Deuteronomy 27:5 esv

And there you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them;

Deuteronomy 27:5 nlt

"Then build an altar there to the LORD your God, using natural, uncut stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool.

Deuteronomy 27 verses

Deuteronomy 27 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 27:5 commands the Israelites, upon entering the Promised Land, to construct an altar on Mount Ebal using natural, uncut stones. The prohibition against using any iron tool on these stones emphasizes the divine authorship and purity required in their worship, distinguishing it from human artifice or the violent connotations associated with metal tools. It stresses that acceptable worship is according to God's precise instructions.

Deuteronomy 27 5 Context

Deuteronomy 27 is part of Moses' farewell addresses, outlining the solemn covenant renewal ceremony Israel was to perform upon entering the Promised Land. Prior to verse 5, instructions are given to set up large plastered stones on Mount Ebal upon which the Law was to be written (Deut 27:2-4). Verse 5, continuing in verse 6, then commands the construction of an altar at the same location. Mount Ebal, designated as the mount of curses, underscores that even where judgment looms due to transgression of the Law, God provides atonement through sacrifice offered on an altar built according to His precise terms. This segment emphasizes the centrality of God's Law and the divinely ordained means of atonement as Israel transitioned into their new covenant life in the land. The strict guidelines for the altar underscore purity, obedience, and the distinction of Israelite worship from surrounding pagan practices.

Deuteronomy 27 5 Word analysis

• And there: Hebrew "w-sham" (וְשָׁם). This refers precisely to Mount Ebal, specified earlier in Deut 27:4 as the location for writing the Law. It highlights a divinely appointed place for this crucial act of covenant ratification.
• you shall build: Hebrew "banah" (בָּנָה), a strong imperative. This is not a suggestion but a direct command from God, signifying that the act of construction and the method are mandatory for proper worship.
• an altar: Hebrew "mizbeach" (מִזְבֵּחַ). Derived from the verb "zabach" (זָבַח), meaning "to slaughter" or "to sacrifice." This defines its fundamental purpose: a sacred place for offering sacrifices to God, symbolizing reconciliation and communion.
• to the Lord your God: Hebrew "l-YHWH Eloheicha" (לַֽיהוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ). This clarifies the sole, exclusive object of Israel's worship – YHWH, their covenant God. It underscores the unique relationship and worship prescribed for Him, contrasting with polytheistic worship prevalent in the region.
• an altar of stones: Hebrew "mizbeach avanim" (מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים). Specifies the material. "Stones" (אֲבָנִים, avanīm) denotes natural, unworked rock, crucial for the theological implications.
• you shall not wield: Hebrew "lo' taniph" (לֹֽא־תָנִיף). "Taniph" (נָפַף) means to swing or brandish. This is a clear, emphatic prohibition against actively employing the specified tool.
• an iron tool: Hebrew "barzel" (בַּרְזֶל). Refers to metal, particularly iron. Iron symbolized human strength, industry, technological advancement, and could also be associated with violence (weapons). Its prohibition here limits human manipulation.
• on them: Hebrew "aleha" (עָלֶיהָ), referring back to the "stones." This explicitly ties the prohibition of the iron tool to the integrity of the individual stones comprising the altar.

Words-Group Analysis

• "an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them.": This specific command emphasizes God's standard for worship, first laid out in Exodus 20:25. The core idea is that the altar, representing God's holiness and His provision for atonement, must remain free from any human artistry or intervention that implies perfection by human effort. Unhewn stones emphasize their natural state as God's creation, pure and complete without human modification. Iron tools, capable of shaping, smoothing, or marking, were associated with human craftsmanship and potential defilement (e.g., in war or idol-making). The prohibition ensured that the altar was distinct from the elaborate, often anthropomorphic, altars and idols of pagan nations, pointing instead to the inherent perfection and self-sufficiency of God's provision for salvation.

Deuteronomy 27 5 Bonus section

The purity and natural state of the unhewn altar stones implicitly point to the perfection of Christ, who as our ultimate sacrifice and altar, was not "cut" or "shaped" by human will or deeds, but fulfilled God's eternal plan impeccably. Just as the unblemished stone, unworked by human tool, served for sacrifice, so too Christ was "without blemish or spot" (1 Pet 1:19), offering himself perfectly. This directive also subtly teaches Israel that human wisdom and innovation have their limits in spiritual matters, especially concerning divine ordinances. The absence of the tool, often associated with destruction and conflict, from the altar built for reconciliation, underscored a theology of peace and purity in sacred space. This foreshadows a New Covenant emphasis on inner transformation over external religious artifice, urging believers to offer their "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Pet 2:5) from a place of unfeigned devotion, not human performance or manipulation.

Deuteronomy 27 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 27:5 is a critical instruction in Israel's covenant life, echoing a fundamental principle from earlier Mosaic Law. The requirement to build an altar of unhewn stones, untouched by an iron tool, asserts God's sole proprietorship and definition of worship. Theologically, it implies that acceptable worship to the infinitely perfect God cannot be "improved" or "crafted" by human hands; it must derive its purity from Him alone. This mandate served as a powerful polemic against the pagan practices of the time, where gods were often humanly sculpted, and altars were adorned through human skill and might. The simplicity and naturalness of the altar redirected the focus away from human accomplishment or aesthetic appeal and squarely onto divine command and the divine provision for atonement. It signified that approach to God is by grace through means precisely revealed by Him, not by human ingenuity, effort, or violence often associated with metal tools. It reminds us that our offerings and approach to God must be in accordance with His revealed will and character.