Exodus 27 5

Exodus 27:5 kjv

And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.

Exodus 27:5 nkjv

You shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, that the network may be midway up the altar.

Exodus 27:5 niv

Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar.

Exodus 27:5 esv

And you shall set it under the ledge of the altar so that the net extends halfway down the altar.

Exodus 27:5 nlt

Install the grating halfway down the side of the altar, under the ledge.

Exodus 27 verses

Exodus 27 5 Meaning

Exodus 27:5 precisely describes the required placement of the bronze grating within the altar of burnt offering. It states that this network was to be situated underneath the projecting ledge or rim of the altar, extending downwards only until it reached the exact halfway point of the altar’s total height from its base. This specific structural detail ensured proper airflow for the perpetual fire and likely facilitated the collection of ashes and the placement of offerings.

Exodus 27 5 Context

Exodus chapter 27 details the design and construction of key components for the Tabernacle's outer court, specifically the altar of burnt offering and the courtyard itself. This verse, Exodus 27:5, provides a specific structural instruction for the bronze grating of the altar, building upon the description of the altar’s general dimensions and the grating in preceding verses (27:1-4). This bronze altar was the primary location for animal sacrifices, functioning as the crucial initial point of interaction between God and Israel, where atonement was made. The meticulous instructions, given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, underscore the divine origin and importance of the Tabernacle and its furnishings as the central hub for Israelite worship. Historically, such precise architectural divine blueprints for worship structures were unique, standing in contrast to the often haphazard or syncretistic altars used in contemporary pagan religions. Every detail served to facilitate Israel's journey towards sanctification and communal atonement before a holy God.

Exodus 27 5 Word analysis

• And thou shalt put (וְנָתַתָּה - wə-nā·ṯat·tāh): This is a direct divine command from God to Moses. The imperative verb signifies an unyielding instruction, indicating that every detail of the Tabernacle's construction was God-ordained and essential for its intended purpose. It reflects the authority and precision of the Heavenly architect.
• it (’ֹתָהּ - ’ō·ṯāh): Refers directly to "the grating of network of brass" (הָרֶשֶׁת - hā·re·šeṯ) mentioned in the preceding verse, Exodus 27:4. This clarifies what specific component is being positioned.
• under (מִתַּחַת - mit·ta·ḥaṯ): Indicates the precise position, signifying a subordinate or supporting placement. The grating was not at the top but rather integrated into the lower structure of the altar.
• the compass (לְכַרְכֹּב - lə-ḵar·kōḇ): From the Hebrew root kar·kōḇ, meaning a border, rim, or encircling frame/ledge. This refers to a specific structural projection or shelf on the altar, serving as a support or a defined boundary. Scholars interpret it as a projecting molding or frame that runs around the altar.
• of the altar (הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - ham·miz·bê·aḥ): Refers to the main altar for burnt offerings, previously described as being made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze. This is the central piece of furniture in the Tabernacle court for sacrificial rituals.
• beneath (לְמַטָּה - lə·maṭ·ṭāh): Reinforces the "under" positioning, emphasizing that the grating was to be placed low down within the altar's internal space. It indicates a downward orientation from the kar·kōḇ.
• that the net (וְהָיְתָה הָרֶשֶׁת - wə·hā·yə·ṯāh hā·re·šeṯ): "And the net shall be." This phrase introduces the intended outcome or effect of the placement. hā·re·šeṯ is the definite article "the net/grating," specified as bronze in verse 4.
• may be even to (עַד־חֲצִ֖י - ‘aḏ-ḥa·ṣî): "Until the half of." This defines the exact vertical extent of the grating. ‘aḏ means "until," and ḥa·ṣî means "half." This is crucial for its precise internal positioning.
• the midst of the altar (חֲצִ֖י הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ - ḥa·ṣî ham·miz·bê·aḥ): Specifies "half of the altar," meaning halfway up its height from the base. This ensures that the grating was neither too high (impairing airflow or ash collection) nor too low (limiting space for ashes).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath: This phrase conveys the divine command for precise internal positioning. The grating, not merely laid, but structurally secured "under" a specific architectural feature ("the compass/ledge"), emphasizing a deliberate and calculated placement rather than arbitrary. "Beneath" further clarifies that its position was within the lower half of the altar, below the level of the kar·kōḇ. This exact instruction is foundational for the altar’s proper function, demonstrating that even internal structural components were subject to God's detailed blueprint for holy worship.
• that the net may be even to the midst of the altar: This specifies the exact vertical dimension and result of the grating’s placement. The grating, functioning as the support for offerings and facilitating ash collection and ventilation, needed to be positioned precisely halfway up the altar’s height. This was critical for the efficiency of the sacrifices, ensuring consistent airflow for the continuous fire and providing sufficient space for the ashes below. It signifies that even fractional dimensions mattered in God's sacred architecture.

Exodus 27 5 Bonus section

The kar·kōḇ (compass/ledge) is sometimes interpreted as the base on which the grate rested, or a shelf from which it was suspended, or a surrounding framework to contain it. The instruction for the net to extend "to the midst of the altar" (עַד־חֲצִ֖י הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ) means that it reached halfway up the vertical dimension of the altar. Since the altar was three cubits high (Exo 27:1), the grating would have extended to a height of one and a half cubits from the ground. This specific height provided ample space (1.5 cubits) for the ash pan beneath the grate while also bringing the sacrificial elements high enough to be affected by the fire and viewable. The very nature of this detail emphasizes that form follows function in divine design, and both serve to point to the character of God and the necessary conditions for covenant communion.

Exodus 27 5 Commentary

Exodus 27:5, though brief, provides critical detail regarding the functional design of the bronze altar of burnt offering. The placement of the bronze grating "under the compass of the altar beneath" so it extends "to the midst of the altar" highlights God's demand for order and precision in worship. This seemingly small architectural instruction held significant practical purpose: the grating supported the sacrifices, while its precise height facilitated optimal airflow for the constantly burning fire (Lev 6:12-13) and allowed for the accumulation and eventual removal of ashes.

Beyond its practical function, this verse reinforces the overarching theological principle that every detail of the Tabernacle, as a shadow of heavenly realities (Heb 8:5), was divinely ordained. Nothing was left to human improvisation. The meticulousness in the altar's construction teaches that God desires a worship that is deliberate, ordered, and obedient to His specifications. It speaks to the holiness of the sacred space and the sacred acts performed within it, symbolizing the required purity and exactitude in approaching a holy God. This foundational element, critical for all sacrifices of atonement, reminds believers that God is a God of intricate detail, whose plans are always precise and purposeful, leading to efficacious outcomes whether in physical sanctuary or spiritual living (Rom 12:1).