Exodus 38:7 kjv
And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards.
Exodus 38:7 nkjv
Then he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to bear it. He made the altar hollow with boards.
Exodus 38:7 niv
They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar for carrying it. They made it hollow, out of boards.
Exodus 38:7 esv
And he put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it with them. He made it hollow, with boards.
Exodus 38:7 nlt
He inserted the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar. The altar was hollow and was made from planks.
Exodus 38 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 27:7-8 | You shall put poles into the rings... hollow with boards. | Divine command for altar's construction. |
| Num 4:13-14 | They shall remove the ashes from the altar... put cover over it. | Instructions for carrying the altar by priests. |
| Exod 25:12-14 | And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark. | Similar design for Ark of the Covenant's portability. |
| Exod 37:4-5 | And they cast for it four rings... to be holders for the poles... | Similar design for Table of Showbread's portability. |
| Exod 30:4-5 | You shall make two gold rings... put them on the two sides... | Similar design for Altar of Incense's portability. |
| Exod 40:6, 29 | And you shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle... | Placement of altar in the completed Tabernacle. |
| Lev 9:24 | And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering... | God's acceptance of sacrifice on this altar. |
| Deut 12:5-7, 11-14 | But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose... | Foreshadows need for portable altar before a permanent temple. |
| Heb 13:10 | We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. | New Covenant's spiritual altar (Christ's sacrifice). |
| 1 Cor 10:18 | Consider Israel according to the flesh: are not those who eat of the sacrifices partners in the altar? | Participation in worship through sacrifice. |
| 2 Chr 1:5-6 | But the bronze altar that Bezaleel... stood before the tabernacle of the Lord... | Solomon uses a larger version, reflecting altar's significance. |
| John 19:34 | But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. | Christ's sacrifice, the ultimate fulfillment of all altars and offerings. |
| Phil 2:8 | And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death... | Obedience to divine instruction reflected in Christ's ultimate obedience. |
| Heb 9:11-14 | But when Christ appeared as a high priest... through his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. | Christ's once-for-all sacrifice replacing the need for animal offerings. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice... | Spiritual application: believers become spiritual sacrifices. |
| Acts 7:44 | "Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness... made according to the pattern... | Emphasizes the mobile nature of God's presence with His people. |
| Num 10:17, 21 | And the tabernacle was taken down... the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things... | The altar was one of the "holy things" carried during journeys. |
| Exo 29:36-37 | And every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement... | Ritual for sanctifying the altar. |
| 1 Kgs 8:22, 64 | Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord... and made peace offerings... | Continual function of the altar in formalized worship. |
| Ezra 3:2 | Then Jeshua... and his relatives built the altar of the God of Israel... | Emphasizes the centrality of the altar even after exile for worship to resume. |
| Ps 118:27 | Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! | Shows ritual practice connected to the altar. |
| Eph 5:2 | And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. | Christ's sacrifice, the true fulfillment of the altar's purpose. |
| Rev 6:9 | When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain... | Symbolic representation of God's martyrs seeking justice, associated with a heavenly altar. |
| Mal 1:7 | "When you offer polluted food upon my altar, and say, ‘How have we polluted it?’..." | Importance of respecting the altar and its sacred purpose. |
| Gen 8:20 | Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal... | Earliest mention of an altar for worship, prefiguring the Mosaic altar. |
Exodus 38 verses
Exodus 38 7 Meaning
Exodus 38:7 details the final assembly and functional aspect of the bronze altar, also known as the Altar of Burnt Offering. This verse describes how the poles, used for carrying, were inserted into rings on the altar's sides. It further reiterates that the altar was constructed to be hollow and made of boards, emphasizing its divinely ordained design for portability and purpose. The altar was central to Israelite worship, providing the means for sacrificial atonement and communion with God.
Exodus 38 7 Context
Exodus chapter 38 describes the completion of the Tabernacle's furnishings, precisely following the detailed divine instructions given to Moses earlier in Exodus chapters 25-31. This specific verse falls within the section detailing the construction of the Bronze Altar of Burnt Offering, emphasizing its final configuration. Historically, this period marks Israel's wilderness journey, where God's presence resided amongst them in a portable sanctuary. The Altar's construction with carrying poles highlights its necessary mobility, signifying God's covenantal presence that moves with His people, adapting to their journey toward the Promised Land. The meticulous adherence to every specification underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of His commands regarding worship.
Exodus 38 7 Word analysis
- He put: Refers to Bezaleel and the skilled craftsmen working under divine inspiration. It signifies the faithful execution of God's commands, completing the intricate details of the sacred altar.
- the poles (בַּדִּים - baddim): Refers to staffs or bars made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze. These were essential for the portability of the altar, designed to be carried by the Levites. Their material choice reflects both the desert environment (acacia) and the holy yet weighty function (bronze overlay).
- into the rings (טַבָּעֹת - taba'ot): Refers to the bronze rings specifically designed and placed on the altar's sides. These rings provided the secure anchor points for the carrying poles, ensuring stability during transit. The bronze material connected it to the altar itself.
- on the sides of the altar: This precise placement was crucial for balance and proper handling. It demonstrates the meticulous nature of God's blueprint, leaving no detail to human arbitrary decision, reinforcing the altar's sacred function and God's order.
- with which to carry it: This phrase explicitly states the purpose of the poles and rings – for transportation. It highlights the mobile nature of God's dwelling and worship in the wilderness, signifying His immanent presence accompanying His people on their journey. It indirectly contrasts with fixed pagan altars tied to specific locations.
- He made it hollow (נְבוּב - nevuv): The altar was designed with an internal emptiness. This lightness allowed for portability. The hollowness might also signify that its sacredness came from God's commands and the sacrifices placed on it, rather than inherent worth as a solid object or idol. It was an instrument for worship, not an object of worship itself.
- with boards (לוּחֹת - luchot): The primary construction material was wooden planks, specifically acacia wood, renowned for its durability in desert conditions. The use of boards made it structurally sound yet lighter than solid metal or stone, facilitating its hollow design and mobility. This choice reflects God's specific provisions and the function over monumental display.
Exodus 38 7 Bonus section
The Altar of Burnt Offering was specifically constructed for its practical use in the wilderness, implying a direct opposition to pagan practices where altars were often large, fixed stone structures designed for permanence and local idolatry. The emphasis on its portability signified that God's presence was dynamic and traveled with His people, rather than being bound to a fixed geographical site or a man-made edifice. This distinction highlighted God's sovereignty over creation and location. The act of making it hollow further minimized its material "weight," emphasizing its function as a consecrated object for sacred service, not a monolithic deity or a solid idol. Its dimensions (5 cubits by 5 cubits, and 3 cubits high) established a specific, divinely ordained boundary for holy worship.
Exodus 38 7 Commentary
Exodus 38:7 succinctly wraps up the physical details concerning the Altar of Burnt Offering's construction, focusing on its essential features for function and movement. The repeated instruction about its "hollow" nature and the inclusion of "poles" within "rings" is not mere architectural note-taking; it speaks volumes about the nature of God's covenant with Israel. The Altar, where blood atonement was made, had to be portable because God’s presence and His saving provision were not confined to a single, stationary location. Rather, He dwelled in the midst of a people on a journey.
The precision of "He put the poles into the rings on the sides" underscores divine wisdom in crafting every element for practical and spiritual purpose. This altar, unlike crude pagan structures, was a divinely sanctioned apparatus, not just for offering sacrifice, but embodying God's commitment to be with His wandering people. Every aspect, from its acacia wood to its bronze overlay and its very mobility, foreshadows a future when the divine "altar" – Christ Jesus Himself – would offer the ultimate, all-sufficient sacrifice, accessible to all, irrespective of geographical location, a portable salvation found wherever His Spirit is present. This careful construction demonstrated that Israelite worship was strictly prescribed by God, contrasting with the improvised altars and localized deities of surrounding nations.