Exodus 38:4 kjv
And he made for the altar a brazen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it.
Exodus 38:4 nkjv
And he made a grate of bronze network for the altar, under its rim, midway from the bottom.
Exodus 38:4 niv
They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar.
Exodus 38:4 esv
And he made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its ledge, extending halfway down.
Exodus 38:4 nlt
Next he made a bronze grating and installed it halfway down the side of the altar, under the ledge.
Exodus 38 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 27:4 | "You shall make for it a grating of bronze network..." | Command for the bronze grating |
| Ex 27:5 | "...put it under the ledge of the altar beneath, so that it may reach halfway up the altar." | Location and extent of the grating |
| Ex 30:18 | "...and its stand of bronze. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar..." | Bronze Laver in courtyard |
| Ex 35:16 | "the altar of burnt offering, with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils..." | Listing the completed Tabernacle items |
| Ex 39:39 | "the bronze altar with its bronze grating..." | Altar included in the complete construction |
| Ex 40:6 | "And you shall set the altar of burnt offering before the entrance of the tent of meeting." | Placement of the Altar |
| Ex 40:29 | "And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting..." | Altar set up after construction completion |
| Lev 1:9 | "and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering..." | Function of the Altar for offerings |
| 1 Chr 21:26 | "And David built there an altar to the LORD..." | Altar as a place of sacrifice/atonement |
| Num 21:9 | "So Moses made a bronze serpent..." | Bronze symbolizing judgment/healing |
| 1 Ki 7:47 | "...Solomon did not weigh the bronze, because there was so much of it." | Abundance of bronze for Temple construction |
| Isa 48:4 | "...and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead bronze." | Bronze metaphor for stubbornness |
| Jer 6:28 | "They are all stubborn rebels, going about as slanderers; they are bronze and iron..." | Bronze as impurity/hardenedness |
| Eze 1:7 | "...and their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot, and they sparkled like the gleam of burnished bronze." | Bronze used in prophetic vision imagery |
| Dan 10:6 | "His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze..." | Bronze in divine being description |
| Rev 1:15 | "His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace..." | Bronze in depiction of the resurrected Christ |
| Rev 2:18 | "These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze." | Christ's feet, symbolizing righteous judgment |
| Ex 25:9 | "Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and all its furniture, so you shall make it." | Emphasizes divine blueprint |
| Ex 25:40 | "And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown you on the mountain." | Instruction to follow God's pattern precisely |
| Ex 31:3 | "and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship," | Divine empowerment for Tabernacle building |
| Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things..." | Tabernacle as a shadow of heavenly realities |
| Heb 9:12 | "...he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." | Fulfillment in Christ's sacrifice |
Exodus 38 verses
Exodus 38 4 Meaning
Exodus 38:4 describes the specific construction of a key component for the bronze altar in the Tabernacle's courtyard: a bronze grating or network. This grating was meticulously placed beneath the altar's encircling ledge, extending upwards to cover half of the altar's height from its base. This detail emphasizes the precise adherence of the craftsmen to God's divine instructions for the sacred Tabernacle.
Exodus 38 4 Context
Exodus chapter 38 continues the detailed narrative of the Tabernacle's construction by Bezalel, Oholiab, and the skilled Israelite craftsmen, meticulously following the divine blueprint given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai (chapters 25-31). This specific verse, Exodus 38:4, describes the fabrication and placement of a key component of the altar of burnt offering—the primary place for sacrifices and atonement in the Israelite worship system. This section follows the making of the ark, table of showbread, and lampstand, and precedes the detailed accounting of the materials used in the Tabernacle's construction. Historically and culturally, the precise instructions and their execution highlight the Israelite commitment to Yahweh's prescribed worship, starkly contrasting with the arbitrary, often idolatrous, worship practices of surrounding pagan nations. Every detail, including the specific material (bronze) and placement of the grating, held significance in the divinely ordered worship space.
Exodus 38 4 Word analysis
- He made (וַיַּעַשׂ - va·ya'as): This refers to Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other divinely gifted craftsmen appointed by God to carry out the work. The Hebrew verb ‘asah (to make, to do) emphasizes their faithful execution of God's commands. It highlights divine enablement coupled with human obedience in service.
- for the altar (לַמִּזְבֵּחַ - lam·miz·be·ach): Specifically the altar of burnt offering, located in the Tabernacle's courtyard. This massive bronze altar was central to Israelite worship, serving as the primary place for animal sacrifices, symbolizing atonement for sin and communion with God. Its placement signifies its crucial role in approaching a holy God.
- a grating (מִכְבַּר - michbar): This Hebrew term denotes a lattice or meshwork, a unique structure specifically designed for the altar. It suggests an intricate, open-work pattern, not a solid sheet, crucial for its function within the altar's design.
- of bronze (נְחֹשֶׁת - nechoshet): Bronze (an alloy, often copper-tin) was a durable and heat-resistant metal, highly appropriate for the altar of burnt offering where constant fires burned. In biblical symbolism, bronze is often associated with judgment (e.g., the brazen serpent in Num 21, feet of the glorified Christ in Rev 1), strength, and divine wrath, indicating the serious nature of approaching a holy God and dealing with sin.
- network (מַעֲשֵׂה רֶשֶׁת - ma'aseh reshet): This phrase translates to "work of a net." It elaborates on "grating," emphasizing the intricate, net-like construction. It confirms the "grating" was not solid but woven or interlaced, allowing for air circulation and possibly ash collection or support.
- under its ledge (מִתַּחַת לְכַרְכֻבּוֹ - mit·ta·chat l'char·ku·bo): Karkuv refers to a distinct rim or projection on the altar, its precise meaning debated but commonly understood as a structural component, perhaps a surrounding border. The placement "under" it indicates exact positioning as part of the divine blueprint.
- extending halfway up (בַּחֲצִי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְמָטָּה - ba·chatzi ham·miz·be·ach l'mat·tah): The Hebrew phrase means "at half the altar downwards" or "from the half of the altar downward." This specifies the vertical extent of the grating, generally interpreted as stretching from the base of the altar up to its midpoint. This precise measurement highlights the exactness required in constructing God's dwelling place.
- a grating of bronze network: This combination emphasizes the material strength and the intricate design of the component. The use of bronze ensures its durability in intense heat and underscores the robust nature of the altar that facilitated continual sacrifices. The "network" aspect implies a purpose related to fire and air flow.
- under its ledge, extending halfway up: This detailed positioning speaks volumes about the meticulousness of God's instructions and the precision demanded of the craftsmen. The location "under its ledge" ensures stability, while its vertical extent (halfway up from the base) suggests functionality, perhaps for air circulation to sustain the sacrificial fire, to contain the ashes or for drainage. Every component, however seemingly small, had a divinely appointed place and purpose.
Exodus 38 4 Bonus section
The "ledge" (karkuv) is sometimes interpreted as a projecting border or shelf around the altar that prevented things from falling off, while also serving as a support for the bronze grating. The function of this grating itself is commonly understood by scholars to improve the combustion process by allowing air to circulate around the coals and facilitating ash removal. The consistency and precision required in replicating God's architectural plan, down to minor components like this grating, teach believers about the importance of reverent obedience to God's revealed will in all areas of life and worship. This skill was a divine impartation (Ex 31:3), highlighting that God equips those He calls for His work.
Exodus 38 4 Commentary
Exodus 38:4, in describing the bronze grating of the altar, underscores God's meticulous instructions for the Tabernacle and the Israelite craftsmen's faithful obedience. This grating was not an incidental detail but a functional component, likely designed to aid the sustained burning of sacrificial fires by providing ventilation or facilitating the collection of ashes below the primary grate, ensuring the altar's continual usability for offerings. Its bronze composition speaks to the altar's robustness and the theme of judgment often associated with bronze in scripture. The precise placement—under the altar's ledge and extending halfway up—serves as a reminder that every aspect of Israel's worship was divinely ordered, signifying holiness, purity, and the specific way God was to be approached for atonement. This precise attention to detail in the Tabernacle's earthly "shadow" foreshadowed the perfect and complete work of Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, where no detail was left unfinished for our salvation.