Exodus 38:2 kjv
And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.
Exodus 38:2 nkjv
He made its horns on its four corners; the horns were of one piece with it. And he overlaid it with bronze.
Exodus 38:2 niv
They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze.
Exodus 38:2 esv
He made horns for it on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze.
Exodus 38:2 nlt
He made horns for each of its four corners so that the horns and altar were all one piece. He overlaid the altar with bronze.
Exodus 38 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 27:1 | "You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long..." | First description of the altar of burnt offering. |
| Ex 27:2 | "...And you shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze." | Nearly identical phrasing, primary instructions. |
| Ex 30:2 | "It shall be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide...Its horns shall be of one piece with it." | Golden Altar of Incense also foursquare with horns. |
| Lev 4:7 | "...the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of burnt offering..." | Use of the horns for sin offering blood. |
| Lev 8:15 | "...he put some of the blood on the horns of the altar..." | Consecration of the altar by Moses. |
| Num 16:39 | "...the bronze censers...to be hammered out as a covering for the altar." | Bronze of rebellious men's censers used for altar. |
| Deut 33:25 | "Your bars shall be iron and bronze..." | Bronze symbolizing strength and endurance. |
| 1 Kgs 1:50-51 | Adonijah took hold of "the horns of the altar." | Altar horns as a place of asylum/refuge. |
| 1 Kgs 2:28 | Joab "fled to the tent of the LORD and grasped the horns of the altar." | Continued practice of seeking refuge at the altar. |
| Ps 118:27 | "...bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!" | Horns as anchors for the sacrificial animal. |
| Ezek 43:16 | "The altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve cubits wide, foursquare." | Altar in Ezekiel's temple vision is also foursquare. |
| Rev 1:15 | "...feet like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace..." | Bronze symbolizing judgment and purification. |
| Rev 9:13 | "And the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar..." | Horns associated with divine voice/judgment. |
| Rev 21:16 | "The city lies foursquare..." | The New Jerusalem is perfectly foursquare. |
| Heb 9:12 | "...but through his own blood, he entered once for all into the holy places..." | Christ's perfect sacrifice fulfilling the animal sacrifices. |
| Heb 10:14 | "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." | Fulfillment of repetitive sacrifices in Christ. |
| Heb 13:10 | "We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat." | The Christian altar, Jesus Christ. |
| Jn 3:14 | "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up..." | Bronze serpent foreshadows Christ's lifting up for sin. |
| Rom 3:25 | "...whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." | Christ as the ultimate propitiation (atonement) for sin. |
| Col 2:17 | "...which are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." | Tabernacle elements as shadows pointing to Christ. |
Exodus 38 verses
Exodus 38 2 Meaning
Exodus 38:2 details specific structural elements of the bronze altar of burnt offering in the Tabernacle. It describes the altar as perfectly square at its base, with horns forming an integrated part of its structure at each of its four corners. These horns, along with the entire altar, were overlaid with durable bronze, signifying the altar's purpose in handling fire and blood for sacrificial atonement.
Exodus 38 2 Context
Exodus 38 is part of a larger section (chapters 35-40) detailing the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, meticulously following the divine instructions given in earlier chapters (Exodus 25-31). This specific verse, Exodus 38:2, describes the altar of burnt offering, a crucial element of the outer court of the Tabernacle. It serves as a construction report, affirming that Bezalel, Oholiab, and the skilled craftsmen built exactly according to the pattern God had shown Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 25:9, 40).
Historically, the altar of burnt offering was the primary point of interaction for the worshiper in ancient Israel, where atonement for sins was made through the sacrifice of animals. Its robust construction and bronze overlay reflect its purpose: to withstand the intense heat of burnt offerings and the constant exposure to blood. The meticulous detail in its construction contrasted sharply with pagan altars, which were often crude, amorphous, or even involved human sacrifice, emphasizing God's demand for order, sanctity, and specific ritual purity in approaching Him. This verse solidifies the divine design of this critical piece of worship apparatus.
Exodus 38 2 Word analysis
- And: Links to the preceding verse, which describes the altar's primary dimensions and material, indicating a continuation of its detailed construction specifications.
- its four corners: Refers to the altar described in Ex 38:1. This phrase emphasizes the geometric stability and balance of the structure, signifying a foundation.
- were foursquare (רָבֻעַ - ravua): Meaning "square" or "squared." This geometric perfection suggests completion, order, and divine balance. In biblical numerology, "four" often relates to the earth or creation (e.g., four cardinal directions), and being "foursquare" suggests a holistic completeness that touches all aspects. This precise shape indicates adherence to a divine, perfect blueprint, not arbitrary human design.
- its horns (קַרְנֹתָיו - qarnotav): Literal protrusions from the corners. "Horn" (קֶרֶן - qeren) symbolizes strength, power, dignity, and often authority in the ancient Near East. On an altar, the horns served various ritual functions, notably receiving sacrificial blood for atonement (Lev 4:7), acting as a place of refuge or asylum (1 Kgs 1:50), and possibly anchoring animals for sacrifice (Ps 118:27). Their presence underscores the altar's role as a potent instrument of divine interaction.
- were of one piece with it (מִמֶּנּוּ הָיוּ - mimmennu hayu): Emphasizes that the horns were not detachable additions but integral, inseparable parts of the altar's main frame. This integration speaks to the unity, solidity, and foundational nature of the altar and its horns in facilitating atonement and interaction with God. It implies completeness and that no aspect of the sacrificial system could be removed or altered without compromising the whole.
- and he overlaid it: Refers to the craftsmen, notably Bezalel, as empowered by the Holy Spirit (Ex 31:3). This action of covering implies preparation and consecration for its sacred purpose.
- with bronze (נְחֹשֶׁת - nechoshet): Bronze (an alloy primarily of copper, known for its durability and resistance to heat and corrosion). This metal is strongly associated with judgment, divine wrath against sin, and the strength needed to endure fire and sin. For example, the bronze serpent (Num 21:9) points to judgment and salvation. Unlike the gold inside the Tabernacle which symbolizes holiness and deity, the bronze in the outer court symbolizes human sin needing judgment, and the altar’s role in bearing that judgment through substitutionary sacrifice.
Exodus 38 2 Bonus section
The precise specifications of the Tabernacle and its components, down to the shape and material of the altar, convey the profound theological truth that human access to God is not on human terms, but on God's terms alone. The unchanging, divinely commanded design of the altar of burnt offering, from its foursquare stability to its integral horns, assures believers of the unwavering nature of God's covenant and His provided way of atonement. The progression of materials in the Tabernacle from the bronze in the outer court (symbolizing judgment on sin) to silver at the entrance (symbolizing redemption money) and then gold in the Holy Place and Holy of Holies (symbolizing deity and holiness) offers a visual metaphor for the believer's journey from sin to reconciliation with a holy God, all through the shedding of blood and purification. This altar serves as a constant reminder that approaching God requires confronting sin through a divinely appointed sacrifice, foreshadowing the definitive work of Christ on the cross.
Exodus 38 2 Commentary
Exodus 38:2 precisely defines key characteristics of the altar of burnt offering, highlighting its foundational role in Israel's worship. The "foursquare" design points to stability, order, and divine completeness, contrasting human imperfection with God's perfect plan for reconciliation. The altar's "horns," made "of one piece with it," emphasize the inherent power and efficacy of the atonement offered there, representing both judgment (as a place for sin's reckoning) and mercy (as a place of asylum). The material—"bronze"—is highly symbolic; durable against the consuming fires, it underscores the intensity of God's holy wrath against sin while simultaneously representing the means by which judgment is endured through the substitute. The bronze altar, therefore, becomes a tangible representation of how a holy God could dwell among sinful people—through the prescribed and potent mechanism of sacrifice and atonement, all meticulously designed according to His divine pattern. This altar prefigures the ultimate, unified, and enduring sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who perfectly satisfied God's judgment against sin and offers an inseparable refuge (Heb 13:10).