Exodus 38:6 kjv
And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass.
Exodus 38:6 nkjv
And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze.
Exodus 38:6 niv
They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.
Exodus 38:6 esv
He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.
Exodus 38:6 nlt
He made the poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.
Exodus 38 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 27:1-8 | You shall make the altar of acacia wood... make a grating for the altar... of bronze. | Detailed specifications for the Bronze Altar, directly corresponding to items listed in Exod 38:6. |
| Exod 27:9-19 | For the court... Their hooks of silver and their connecting rods of silver, and their bases of bronze. | Specifications for the court enclosure, including the bronze bases, providing context for "bronze bases for the court." |
| Exod 30:17-21 | You shall make a basin of bronze and its stand of bronze... for washing. | Another significant bronze article, the Laver, indicating bronze's prevalence for cleansing rituals. |
| Exod 38:1-7 | He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood... And he made all the utensils of the altar... of bronze. | Immediate context describing the actual construction of these items, showing fulfillment of command. |
| Exod 38:8 | He made the basin of bronze... from the bronze mirrors of the ministering women. | Crucial verse identifying the source of the bronze, highlighting dedicated giving. |
| Exod 36:3-7 | The people continued to bring freewill offerings... more than enough for doing the work. | Highlights the abundance of offerings, including the bronze for these items. |
| Lev 1:1-17 | If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd... | Laws concerning burnt offerings on the bronze altar, clarifying its function. |
| Lev 6:8-13 | This is the law of the burnt offering... The fire on the altar shall be kept burning... | Describes the continuous use of the altar and its implements, underscoring their importance. |
| Num 16:39-40 | So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers... and they were made a covering for the altar. | Bronze from rebellious censers repurposed for a sacred memorial on the altar. |
| Num 21:8-9 | Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole... When he looks at it, he shall live. | The bronze serpent's miraculous healing property, connecting bronze with judgment and divine salvation. |
| Deut 33:25 | Your bars be iron and bronze; and as your days, so may your strength be. | Bronze symbolizes strength and endurance, relevant to the durability of tabernacle elements. |
| 1 Kgs 7:15-47 | Solomon cast two pillars of bronze... great quantities of bronze... | Solomon's Temple continued to feature significant bronze elements, showing continuity in sacred architecture. |
| Isa 53:4-6 | Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows... By his wounds we are healed. | Fulfillment in Christ: The ultimate sacrifice prefigured by the bronze altar and its atonement. |
| Jn 1:29 | Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! | Jesus as the final sacrificial Lamb, the true 'offering' for sin that the altar symbolized. |
| Heb 8:5 | They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent... according to the pattern... | The Tabernacle, including its bronze items, as a earthly shadow pointing to 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. | Highlights the purpose of the bronze altar: where blood was shed for atonement. |
| Heb 10:1-18 | For since the law has but a shadow... never can make perfect those who draw near. | Emphasizes that Tabernacle sacrifices were incomplete and pointed to Christ's perfect sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. | Jesus bearing sin, fulfilling the atoning work represented by the bronze altar's function. |
| Rom 3:25 | Whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. | Jesus' blood as the true propitiation, corresponding to the animal blood on the bronze altar. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. | Christ as the one taking on sin, relating to the burden of sin symbolically laid on the altar's sacrifices. |
| Phil 4:18 | A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. | Spiritual application: Believers' lives as living sacrifices, reflecting the concept of an altar offering. |
| Rev 1:15 | His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace... | Bronze associated with divine judgment and purity, seen in the glorified Christ. |
Exodus 38 verses
Exodus 38 6 Meaning
This verse details specific components of the Tabernacle and its courtyard that were fashioned from bronze. It inventories the bronze bases (or sockets) for the pillars of the Tabernacle's outer court, the Bronze Altar (also known as the Altar of Burnt Offering), its bronze grating or mesh, and all the various utensils essential for the operation of this altar. This enumeration is part of the extensive record of the Tabernacle's construction, emphasizing the precise execution of God's instructions for worship and the sacred space.
Exodus 38 6 Context
Exodus 38:6 is situated within the latter chapters of Exodus (chapters 35-40), which meticulously recount the construction of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings according to the divine blueprint revealed to Moses (Exod 25-31). This particular verse, along with its surrounding verses in Exodus 38, details the creation of various bronze elements—specifically the foundational bases for the court's pillars, the central Altar of Burnt Offering with its grate, and the accompanying cultic utensils. The chapter highlights the obedience and craftsmanship of Bezaleel, Aholiab, and other skilled workers. Historically, the Tabernacle served as God's dwelling place amidst His people, a portable sanctuary signifying His presence and providing the prescribed means for reconciliation through sacrifice. The emphasis on bronze for objects associated with the court and altar reflects its suitability for enduring heat and use in processes involving fire, judgment, and sacrifice. The very specific and unalterable divine design for every item in the Tabernacle served as a clear contrast (a subtle polemic) against the pagan temples and arbitrary worship practices of surrounding nations, reinforcing Israel's unique covenant relationship and God's holiness.
Exodus 38 6 Word analysis
- The bronze (נְחֹ֣שֶׁת - něḥōšeṯ): Refers to copper or bronze, an alloy. In the ancient world, it was durable and commonly used. Symbolically in the Bible, bronze often denotes strength, endurance, and, significantly, judgment. Items for dealing with sin or fire (like altars and the Laver for washing) were made of bronze, highlighting the gravity of sin and the severity of God's holy judgment that must be borne. This metal's ability to withstand fire points to the burning away of sin.
- bases (אַדְנֵ֖י - ’aḏnê): Translates to 'sockets', 'footings', or 'pedestals'. These were the heavy, stable foundations into which the wooden pillars of the Tabernacle court were inserted. Their weight provided stability to the structure. Spiritually, foundations speak of stability, permanence, and underlying support.
- for the court (הֶחָצֵ֑ר - hehāṣēr): Refers to the outer enclosure surrounding the Tabernacle tent. This space served as a boundary, distinguishing the sacred space from the common camp. It was the only area where most Israelites could enter, marking a distinct area for priestly functions and sacrifice. It highlights the divine requirement for set-apartness and orderly approach to God.
- and the bronze altar (הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ - hammizbēaḥ): This is the Altar of Burnt Offering, centrally located in the outer court. It was the primary place where animal sacrifices were made to atone for sins, burning the offerings wholly or partially before God. It stood as a constant reminder of sin's consequence and God's provision for forgiveness through substitutionary atonement. Its bronze composition again links it to enduring God's fiery judgment against sin.
- and the bronze grating (הַמִּכְבָּ֛ר - hammiḵbār): This was a bronze mesh or network structure placed inside or on the altar. It likely functioned to hold the sacrificial material above the internal fire pit or to allow ashes and melted fat to collect below, facilitating a clean and organized sacrifice. Its presence highlights the meticulous detail required for holy service and the reverence for God's presence.
- for the altar (לַמִּזְבֵּחַ - lammizbēaḥ): Further specifies the purpose and attachment of the grating to the Altar of Burnt Offering.
- and all the utensils (וְכָל־כְּלֵ֥י - wĕḵāl-kĕlê): Refers to the complete set of implements necessary for the altar's service. These included pails for ashes, shovels, basins for blood, meat hooks, and fire pans. The phrase "all" emphasizes comprehensiveness; every detail was crucial for the proper execution of the sacred ritual.
- of the altar (הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ - hammizbēaḥ): Specifies that these utensils were directly associated with and used for the activities on the Bronze Altar.
- The bronze bases for the court: This phrase emphasizes the stability and boundary-setting of the Tabernacle complex. The heavy bronze bases securely anchored the outer walls of the sacred courtyard, ensuring a fixed and defined space for holy activities, distinguishing it from the surrounding common ground. It underscores the firm foundation required for approaching a holy God.
- the bronze altar, and the bronze grating for the altar: This grouping highlights the very core of Israelite atonement: the Altar of Burnt Offering. Its material and structure enabled it to withstand the perpetual fire, signifying divine judgment upon sin. The inclusion of the grating demonstrates the order and systematic approach to sacrifice required, ensuring that offerings were handled according to divine specifications. Together, they form the crucial apparatus for dealing with sin through the shedding of blood.
- and all the utensils of the altar: This comprehensive phrase signals that nothing was overlooked in the service of God. Every tool, no matter how seemingly mundane, was consecrated and essential for maintaining the purity, order, and efficacy of the sacrificial system. It illustrates the principle that true worship involves full adherence to God's detailed instructions, underscoring the completeness required for sacred duties.
Exodus 38 6 Bonus section
- The Transformative Power of Sacrifice: The bronze used for these vital items came significantly from the melted-down bronze mirrors donated by the "serving women" (Exod 38:8). Mirrors, often associated with vanity and self-reflection, were repurposed into components central to atonement and reconciliation with God. This act vividly illustrates the concept of sacrificing something precious and personal for God's glory and sacred service, transforming secular items into holy implements. It's a profound picture of spiritual dedication and radical reorientation towards God.
- Symbolism for New Covenant Believers: For Christians, the Tabernacle's elements, including the bronze altar, are not merely historical relics but profound types and shadows fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Altar of Burnt Offering points to Jesus' finished work on the cross, where He became the ultimate sacrifice, enduring God's fiery judgment for sin (Heb 9:26; 10:10). The call for order and purity in the Tabernacle service translates into a call for living lives consecrated to God, offering spiritual sacrifices through worship and service (Rom 12:1; 1 Pet 2:5).
Exodus 38 6 Commentary
Exodus 38:6 enumerates crucial bronze elements of the Tabernacle and its court—the court's foundational bases, the Altar of Burnt Offering, its grating, and all its operational utensils. This detailed list underscores God's meticulous instructions for the construction of His dwelling place and the absolute precision required in all matters of worship. The use of bronze is deeply symbolic; as a durable metal able to withstand the heat of fire, it represents the severity of God's holy judgment against sin. The Altar itself was the place where sin was atoned for through the shedding of innocent blood, prefiguring Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross where He bore God's wrath. Every component, from the stable bases marking off sacred space to the smallest utensil, served to facilitate a structured and holy approach to God, revealing His demand for reverence, purity, and exact obedience in divine service. This highlights that worship is not arbitrary but must be offered according to God's own prescribed way.