Exodus 38:1 kjv
And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.
Exodus 38:1 nkjv
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood; five cubits was its length and five cubits its width?it was square?and its height was three cubits.
Exodus 38:1 niv
They built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.
Exodus 38:1 esv
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. Five cubits was its length, and five cubits its breadth. It was square, and three cubits was its height.
Exodus 38:1 nlt
Next Bezalel used acacia wood to construct the square altar of burnt offering. It was 7 1?2 feet wide, 7 1?2 feet long, and 4 1?2 feet high.
Exodus 38 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 27:1 | "You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long..." | Initial command for the altar's construction and dimensions. |
| Exo 29:36-37 | "Every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement..." | Prescribes daily sacrifices and altar consecration. |
| Exo 30:28 | "...the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils..." | The altar and its implements are to be anointed with holy oil. |
| Exo 31:3-5 | "...and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge..." | God gifted Bezalel for the specific work of constructing the Tabernacle elements. |
| Exo 35:30-35 | "See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel...and has filled him with the Spirit of God..." | Reiteration of Bezalel's divine endowment for Tabernacle craftsmanship. |
| Exo 36:1 | "Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill..." | Those empowered by God were to do the work exactly as commanded. |
| Exo 39:43 | "And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it." | Moses' inspection confirms precise obedience to God's instructions. |
| Lev 1:9 | "...and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering..." | Clarifies the function of the altar for consumed offerings ascending to God. |
| Lev 4:7 | "...he shall pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering." | Blood at the altar's base symbolizes life poured out for atonement. |
| Lev 9:24 | "...and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat..." | God's acceptance signified by divine fire consuming the offering on the altar. |
| Num 16:38-40 | "...Let their censers be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them..." | The brazen altar reinforced with censers of Korah's rebellion, a sign to Israel. |
| Deu 10:3 | "So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut two tablets of stone..." | Acacia wood specified for sacred objects like the Ark, highlighting its sacred nature. |
| Jos 22:28 | "...the pattern of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made..." | Emphasizes the significance of patterns and their perpetuation. |
| 1 Kin 8:64 | "On that day King Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord..." | Large-scale altar needed for Temple dedications, continuing the principle. |
| Ezr 3:2 | "Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests...and built the altar of the God of Israel." | Rebuilding the altar was foundational for restored worship after exile. |
| Psa 26:6 | "I wash my hands in innocence and go around Your altar, O Lord," | A psalmist's prayer reflecting the necessary purification for approaching God's altar. |
| Rom 3:25 | "whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." | Christ's sacrifice on the cross fulfills the atoning work symbolized by the altar. |
| Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent..." | The Tabernacle and its elements are earthly copies of heavenly realities. |
| Heb 9:22 | "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." | The altar underscores the necessity of blood atonement for forgiveness. |
| Heb 10:10 | "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." | Christ's perfect, singular sacrifice replaces all the continuous Old Testament offerings. |
| Heb 13:10 | "We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat." | Believers have a spiritual "altar" in Christ's finished work, distinct from the Law. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "knowing that you were ransomed...with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." | The ultimate sacrifice represented by the altar is the spotless Lamb of God. |
Exodus 38 verses
Exodus 38 1 Meaning
Exodus 38:1 details the construction of the Altar of Burnt Offering by Bezalel, the chief craftsman, precisely according to the divine pattern given to Moses. This altar, located in the outer court of the Tabernacle, was the primary place for Israel to offer sacrifices to the Lord, serving as the essential first step for worshipers to approach a holy God and receive atonement for their sins.
Exodus 38 1 Context
Exodus chapter 38 continues the detailed account of the actual construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, faithfully following the instructions God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai (chapters 25-31). This particular verse initiates the description of the making of the Altar of Burnt Offering, which was to be situated in the outer court, immediately inside the Tabernacle entrance. This placement highlights its crucial role as the initial point of access for any Israelite seeking to approach God through sacrifice. The chapter follows the general layout described earlier, meticulously documenting how each element was produced, emphasizing the adherence to the divine blueprint.
Exodus 38 1 Word analysis
- And he made: The subject "he" refers to Bezalel, whom the Lord had filled with the Spirit of God to perform all manner of craftsmanship (Exod 31:3-5; 35:30-35). This signifies divine enablement and endorsement for the work. The construction was not of human ingenuity but divine direction and gifting.
- the altar of burnt offering: The Hebrew is mizbe'ach 'olah (מִזְבֵּחַ עֹלָה).
- Mizbe'ach (מִזְבֵּחַ) means "altar" and comes from a root meaning "to slaughter" or "sacrifice." It was the designated place where offerings were presented and sacrificed.
- 'Olah (עֹלָה) refers to a "burnt offering," meaning "that which ascends" or "goes up." This sacrifice was entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication to God and providing atonement.
- Its name inherently declares its purpose: a place for whole offerings, indicating the seriousness of sin and the need for a complete payment for it. It represents God's demand for holiness and the means He provided for atonement.
- of acacia wood: Hebrew: 'atzei shittim (עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים). Acacia wood was specified for many Tabernacle components (Exod 25:5).
- Acacia: This wood was abundant in the Sinai desert. It is known for its remarkable durability, hardness, and resistance to decay and insects, making it suitable for sacred objects that needed to endure.
- Significance: Its enduring nature in the harsh wilderness points to the permanence and unchanging nature of God's covenant and the means of atonement He provides. While the altar itself was of wood, it was overlaid with bronze (Exod 38:2), indicating judgment and divine justice.
- five cubits: The Hebrew word is 'ammah (אַמָּה). A cubit was an ancient unit of measure, typically the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, roughly 18-21 inches (45-52 cm).
- Dimensions: Precise measurements indicate God's exact requirements for worship. Nothing was left to human approximation.
- Numerology (typological): While caution is needed in applying numerology, "five" can be associated with grace and responsibility in some biblical typologies.
- was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof: This establishes the horizontal dimensions.
- it was foursquare: This description signifies perfection, stability, and completeness. Like the Holy of Holies and the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:16), a square shape often represents divine order and universal presence. For the altar, it implied consistency of access and application in all directions.
- and three cubits the height thereof: This establishes the vertical dimension.
- Numerology (typological): "Three" often signifies divine completeness, wholeness, or resurrection (e.g., the Trinity, resurrection on the third day). In the context of the altar, it points to the vertical relationship with God—sacrifices ascending to Him.
Words-group analysis:
- "And he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood": This phrase encapsulates divine authority and human execution for sacred purposes. God's specific instruction regarding material emphasizes the purity, strength, and durability needed for an enduring covenant place. It also showcases His provision even in the wilderness environment.
- "five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof": This detailed dimensional description underscores the exactness and precision required in God's service. The square shape denotes perfect symmetry and stability, a foundational element for a righteous system of worship, while the specific height contributes to the altar's visibility and presence. The meticulous detail highlights God's demand for adherence to His blueprint for holiness and proper approach.
Exodus 38 1 Bonus section
The Altar of Burnt Offering was symbolically referred to as the "bronze altar" or "brazen altar" due to its bronze overlay. This bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, signified judgment, particularly because copper ore requires intense heat to extract it. This reflects that sin requires judgment by fire. Unlike the golden altar of incense inside the Holy Place, the brazen altar was an outdoor altar, signifying its public role and the accessibility of atonement to all Israelites who came to worship. It stood directly facing the gate of the Tabernacle court, acting as the immediate and unmissable barrier and portal to God's dwelling, establishing that one could not draw near to God without addressing sin through blood sacrifice.
Exodus 38 1 Commentary
Exodus 38:1 serves as a foundational verse detailing the construction of the most immediate and critical piece of furniture for the Israelites approaching God: the Altar of Burnt Offering. Its primary purpose was for sin and fellowship offerings, underscoring the absolute necessity of sacrifice for atonement. The material, acacia wood, signifies durability and God's provision in the wilderness, yet its being overlaid with bronze (as seen in later verses of Exod 38) indicates divine judgment against sin. Its precise dimensions (5x5x3 cubits) and "foursquare" nature speak to the perfection, stability, and ordered nature of God's requirements for worship. This altar stood at the very entrance of the outer court, signifying that the way to God began with dealing with sin through the shedding of blood. It foreshadows the ultimate, singular, and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross (Heb 10:10), where God's judgment against sin was fully borne, providing eternal access to His presence for those who believe. The work being done by Bezalel, divinely empowered, illustrates that all true spiritual work is a result of God's enablement.