Exodus 27:4 kjv
And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof.
Exodus 27:4 nkjv
You shall make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the network you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.
Exodus 27:4 niv
Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network.
Exodus 27:4 esv
You shall also make for it a grating, a network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.
Exodus 27:4 nlt
Make a bronze grating for it, and attach four bronze rings at its four corners.
Exodus 27 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 27:1 | "You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long..." | Establishes the object the verse describes. |
| Exo 27:8 | "...you shall make it hollow with boards." | Details the altar's hollow construction. |
| Exo 38:4 | "He made for the altar a grating of bronze network..." | Recounts the construction fulfilling the command. |
| Exo 38:5 | "...and four rings in its four corners for the bronze grating." | Confirms the completion of the rings. |
| Num 4:13 | "And they shall remove the ashes from the altar..." | Implies the functionality of the grating for ashes. |
| Num 4:14 | "...and shall put on it all its utensils with which they minister there." | Reinforces altar accessories and transport. |
| Lev 1:9 | "But its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water..." | Altar used for washing parts of offerings. |
| Lev 1:17 | "He shall tear it by its wings, but shall not divide it completely..." | Depicts the type of offerings made on the altar. |
| Lev 6:10 | "The priest shall put on his linen garment...and take up the ashes..." | Ritual for removing ashes, indicating grating. |
| 1 Kin 8:64 | "On that day King Solomon consecrated the middle of the court... for burnt offerings..." | Continuity of altar for offerings in Temple. |
| Ezek 43:16 | "And the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve broad..." | Future altar vision, still central to worship. |
| Isa 53:7 | "He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth..." | Foreshadowing of Christ as ultimate sacrifice. |
| Heb 7:27 | "He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily..." | Contrast between animal sacrifices and Christ. |
| Heb 9:12 | "He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats..." | Christ's one sacrifice replaces animal offerings. |
| Heb 9:13 | "For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer..." | Links to ancient sacrificial practices. |
| Heb 10:1 | "For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come..." | Tabernacle components are shadows of Christ. |
| Heb 10:4 | "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." | Explains the insufficiency of animal sacrifices. |
| Heb 10:10 | "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ..." | Fulfillment of sacrifice in Jesus' body. |
| Eph 5:2 | "...and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." | Spiritual sacrifice of Christ as a perfect offering. |
| Phil 2:8 | "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death..." | Christ's obedience as the ultimate sacrifice. |
Exodus 27 verses
Exodus 27 4 Meaning
This verse details the construction of the altar of burnt offering, specifying the need for a bronze grating, designed like a network, and four bronze rings placed at its corners. This grating served as an internal support or a mesh for carrying the altar.
Exodus 27 4 Context
Exodus 27:4 is part of God's detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle, specifically the altar of burnt offering, located in the outer court. This altar was central to the sacrificial system, where atonement for sins was made through animal offerings. Verses 1-8 describe the dimensions, materials, and various components of this altar. The grating and rings described in verse 4 were crucial for its function—likely holding the sacrificial animals above the ashes and fire, and allowing the altar to be portable. This specific command emphasizes God's meticulous nature in instructing His people how to properly approach Him through worship, leaving no detail to human innovation.
Exodus 27 4 Word analysis
And you shall make (וְעָשִׂיתָ - v'asita): A direct divine command to Moses, who then commissioned Bezalel and Oholiab. This indicates God's sovereign authority and His precise plan for worship.
for it (לּוֹ - lo): Refers directly to "the altar" mentioned in Exo 27:1, signifying that this grating is an integral, functional part of the altar itself.
a grating (מִכְבָּר - mikhbar): From the root meaning "to sieve" or "to weave." This denotes an open, sieve-like, or net-like structure. Its purpose was to separate the burnt offering from the ashes below and to allow for air circulation.
of network (מַעֲשֵׂה רֶשֶׁת - ma'aseh reshet): Literally "work of net." Reshet (רֶשֶׁת) specifically means "net" or "mesh." This phrase reinforces the open, interlaced structure of the mikhbar, distinguishing it from a solid sheet.
bronze (נְחֹשֶׁת - nekhoshet): This metal was prominently used for all components of the altar of burnt offering and its utensils. Bronze is durable and resistant to heat, ideal for the altar's fiery purpose. Symbolically, bronze in Scripture can be associated with judgment, enduring strength, and resistance, reflecting the nature of divine justice fulfilled through sacrifice.
and on the net (וְעַל־הָרֶשֶׁת - v'al ha'reshet): Specifies the exact placement of the rings – they were to be directly affixed to the bronze grating itself.
you shall make (תַּעֲשֶׂה - ta'aseh): Repetition of the command, emphasizing the precise nature of the work and God's detailed design.
four bronze rings (אַרְבַּע טַבְּעֹת נְחֹשֶׁת - arba'a tabba'ot nekhoshet): Tabba'ot (טַבְּעֹת) are rings, typically used for inserting carrying poles. The use of "four" highlights symmetry and provides stability when moving. The rings underscore the portable nature of the Tabernacle.
at its four corners (אֶל־אַרְבַּעַת קְצֹתָיו - el arba'at k'tzotav): Precisely positions the rings. "Corners" signifies stability and balanced attachment points for transport.
grating of network bronze: This phrase describes a very specific construction: a metallic, open mesh made from bronze. It was critical for the functioning of the altar, providing support for the sacrifice while allowing efficient combustion and ash collection. The combination of material (bronze) and form (network) ensured both durability and practical use in fire-intensive rituals.
four bronze rings at its four corners: This grouping highlights the dual purpose of stability and portability. The symmetrical placement ensured the altar could be evenly lifted and transported by its carrying poles (mentioned in later verses), which was essential for the nomadic worship of Israel. The consistent use of bronze further emphasized the rugged, functional nature of the altar.
Exodus 27 4 Bonus section
- The meticulous design specifications of the altar and all Tabernacle elements prevented human creativity from defiling holy worship. This contrasts with pagan practices that often involved human ingenuity rather than divine command.
- The distinction of materials in the Tabernacle is significant: gold for the Most Holy Place and Holy Place furnishings, representing God's glory and holiness; silver for redemption; and bronze for the outer court, associated with judgment, endurance, and practical work, particularly regarding sin and sacrifice.
- While the verse mainly speaks to the physical construction, its precise wording reflects a spiritual principle: God demands order and holiness in all approaches to Him, showing the seriousness of sin and the precise nature of atonement.
Exodus 27 4 Commentary
Exodus 27:4 offers a concise yet crucial detail in the construction of the altar of burnt offering. The "grating of network bronze" with its "four bronze rings at its four corners" underscores the altar's twin necessities: practical functionality for sacrificial rituals and readiness for transport. The network grating ensured efficient burning and proper handling of the sacrificial offerings by allowing fat and ashes to drop below, maintaining cleanliness and facilitating the ritual process. The bronze material, robust and heat-resistant, speaks to the intense, fiery nature of sin's atonement. The strategically placed rings emphasize the altar's role within the portable Tabernacle, signifying that God's presence and the means of atonement would accompany Israel on their journey. Every detail in this divine blueprint, no matter how small, pointed to a purposeful, holy, and ultimately provisional system that foreshadowed the ultimate and permanent sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the purpose of every altar and offering.