Exodus 38 3

Exodus 38:3 kjv

And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basins, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass.

Exodus 38:3 nkjv

He made all the utensils for the altar: the pans, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the firepans; all its utensils he made of bronze.

Exodus 38:3 niv

They made all its utensils of bronze?its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.

Exodus 38:3 esv

And he made all the utensils of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its utensils of bronze.

Exodus 38:3 nlt

Then he made all the altar utensils of bronze ? the ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans.

Exodus 38 verses

Exodus 38 3 Meaning

This verse details the specific implements crafted for the bronze altar in the Tabernacle. It lists pots, shovels, basins, bowls, forks, and firepans, emphasizing that all these functional items were meticulously made of brass (bronze). This enumeration highlights the practical and comprehensive nature of the divine instructions for worship, ensuring every aspect of the sacrificial ritual could be carried out according to God's precise design.

Exodus 38 3 Context

Exodus chapter 38 describes the construction of the Tabernacle's courtyard, focusing on the materials used and the dimensions of its components, meticulously adhering to the divine pattern given to Moses. Specifically, verses 1-7 detail the bronze altar (also known as the altar of burnt offering), its material (bronze), and its size. Verse 3 directly follows the description of the altar itself (v. 1-2) and precedes the construction of its grate (v. 4-5) and staves (v. 6-7). This verse specifies the array of tools necessary for the daily operations and rituals associated with this primary altar, where sacrifices were made for the atonement of sins. The overarching context of Exodus is the establishment of a covenant relationship between God and Israel, where a holy God dwells among His people, requiring meticulous adherence to His holy commands for worship.

Exodus 38 3 Word analysis

• And all the vessels (וְאֶת כָּל-כְּלֵי - wə’et kol-kēlê):
  • כְּלֵי (kēlê): Implies instruments, utensils, equipment. These were not mere accessories but essential tools for specific tasks. Their comprehensive listing underscores the divine order and thoroughness in preparing for worship.
• of the altar (הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - hammizbēaḥ):
  • מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbēaḥ): Means "place of slaughter/sacrifice." It was the central point of the Tabernacle courtyard, where atonement was symbolically made through burnt offerings. The instruments indicate active use for ongoing rituals.
• the pots (הַסִּירֹת - hassîrôt):
  • סִירֹת (sîrôt): Ash pots. These were for collecting and holding the ashes from the burnt sacrifices, a critical part of maintaining the altar's cleanliness and handling the remains of offerings as per Mosaic Law (e.g., Lev 1:16). Their presence highlights the reality of death and decomposition in the sacrificial system.
• and the shovels (וְהַיָּעִים - wəhayyā‘îm):
  • יָעִים (yā‘îm): Shovels, for scooping and removing the ashes collected in the pots. These humble tools were vital for maintaining ritual purity and order around the holy altar.
• and the basons (וְהַמִּזְרָקֹת - wəhammizrāqôt):
  • מִזְרָקֹת (mizrāqôt): Basins or bowls. These were used for catching and sprinkling the blood of sacrifices. Blood, representing life, was central to the atonement process, symbolizing purification and the covenant (Lev 17:11, Heb 9:22).
• and the bowls (וְהַמִּזְלָגוֹת - wəhammizlāgōṯ - This Hebrew word usually translates to "flesh-hooks" or "forks," the KJV rendering of "bowls" here might be an older interpretation, but "forks" comes next as a separate word in KJV too, see next word analysis, the Hebrew refers to specific implements that can be like hooks.)
  • מִזְלָגוֹת (mizlāgōṯ): Flesh-hooks or forks. These would have been used for handling the meat of the offerings, turning it on the fire, or taking specific portions from the offerings for the priests.
• and the forks (referring to the second וְהַמִּזְלָגוֹת or the translation conflating. Based on KJV word order and common translations, this is generally combined with 'fleshhooks' meaning מִזְלָגוֹת in some interpretations. But usually the מִזְלָגוֹת refers to one type of implement.)
  • It appears that in the KJV's phrasing "the bowls, and the forks," the "bowls" likely corresponds to מִזְרָקֹת (basins for blood), and "forks" refers to מִזְלָגוֹת (flesh-hooks). The repetition or slightly different nuance suggests a detailed inventory for various specific tasks in processing the sacrifice.
• and the firepans (וְהַמַּחְתּוֹת - wəhammaḥtōṯ):
  • מַחְתּוֹת (maḥtōṯ): Firepans or censers. These were portable vessels used for carrying coals from the altar of burnt offering, often to the altar of incense (Lev 16:12, Num 16:6-7), or for removing live coals for specific ceremonial purposes.
• all his vessels made he of brass. (כָּל-כֵּלָיו עָשָׂה נְחֹשֶׁת - kol-kēlāyw ‘āśâ nəḥōšeṯ):
  • כָּל-כֵּלָיו (kol-kēlāyw): "all his utensils." Emphasizes completeness.
  • עָשָׂה (‘āśâ): "he made," referring to Bezalel (and Oholiab under him) as divinely gifted craftsmen (Ex 31:2-6). This confirms human agency under divine command.
  • נְחֹשֶׁת (nəḥōšeṯ): Bronze (often translated as "brass" in older versions). Bronze, being durable and able to withstand heat, was a practical choice for altar implements. Symbolically, bronze is associated with strength, endurance, and judgment throughout the Bible (Num 21:9 - bronze serpent; Deut 28:23 - heavens like bronze signifying judgment). For the altar and its implements, bronze highlighted the enduring nature of God's justice and the intensity of dealing with sin.

Exodus 38 3 Bonus section

The precise enumeration of these tools signifies a God of order and meticulous detail, where every component, no matter how menial its task, is integral to the complete system of worship. This reflects a key biblical principle: God cares about the small things as much as the grand design. These implements, though often stained with the remnants of sin and sacrifice (ash, blood, fat), were holy by virtue of their dedication and use in the Tabernacle's service. The bronze material, derived from the Israelites' collective offerings, including women's bronze mirrors (Ex 38:8), symbolizes a communal participation in the worship and a transformation from vanity to consecration. The requirement for these tools foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ, who, by one offering, perfectly performed the spiritual cleansing that these physical rituals could only symbolize, demonstrating that divine perfection is met in every detail of His atoning work.

Exodus 38 3 Commentary

Exodus 38:3 provides a practical inventory of the tools essential for the operation of the bronze altar, reflecting the divine expectation for detailed and ordered worship. Each vessel had a specific, necessary function, from handling the sacrificial ashes and blood to processing the offerings. This highlights that worship of God involves not only grand structures but also the diligent, sometimes unglamorous, execution of duties with specific implements. The choice of bronze for all these vessels reinforces their durability for constant, fiery use and carries symbolic weight of God's steadfastness and the unyielding demands of His holiness and judgment against sin, which the sacrifices aimed to address. The precision in crafting these items demonstrates that even the seemingly minor details of God's worship are significant and were to be performed exactly as commanded.