Ezekiel 43:15 kjv
So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.
Ezekiel 43:15 nkjv
The altar hearth is four cubits high, with four horns extending upward from the hearth.
Ezekiel 43:15 niv
Above that, the altar hearth is four cubits high, and four horns project upward from the hearth.
Ezekiel 43:15 esv
and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting upward, four horns.
Ezekiel 43:15 nlt
The top of the altar, the hearth, rises another 7 feet higher, with a horn rising up from each of the four corners.
Ezekiel 43 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 43:13 | "These are the measurements of the altar..." | Specifies measurements |
| Exodus 29:39-40 | "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar..." | Levitical burnt offering |
| Leviticus 1:5-9 | Describes the process of burnt offering | Purity in sacrifice |
| Leviticus 6:13 | "The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out." | Perpetual fire for sacrifice |
| 1 Kings 6:16 | Describes the inner sanctuary (deb-ir) of Solomon's temple | Structure of the Holy of Holies |
| 2 Chronicles 3:8 | Building of the inner sanctuary | Significance of the Holy of Holies |
| Isaiah 56:7 | "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." | Temple as place of worship |
| Hebrews 10:19-22 | Access to God through Christ's sacrifice | New Covenant fulfillment |
| Romans 12:1 | Present your bodies as living sacrifices | Spiritual sacrifice |
| Psalm 26:6 | "I will wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD," | Cleansing before approaching altar |
| Psalm 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." | Importance of heart in worship |
| John 4:21-24 | "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth..." | True worship transcends physical location |
| Revelation 7:15 | "Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple..." | Heavenly worship |
| Revelation 11:1 | Measuring the temple and altar | Similar temple imagery |
| Revelation 21:22 | "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." | Ultimate fulfillment of temple |
| Matthew 12:6 | "I tell you something greater than the temple is here." | Christ greater than the temple |
| Matthew 23:18-19 | "And whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it is bound..." | Consecration of the altar |
| Numbers 15:40 | "...that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God." | Holiness in obedience |
| Amos 9:1 | Vision of the Lord by the altar | Judgment associated with the altar |
| Jeremiah 17:12 | "Your throne is glorious, high from the beginning..." | God's majestic presence |
Ezekiel 43 verses
Ezekiel 43 15 Meaning
This verse describes a foundational step in the priestly duties within the restored temple. The "altar of burnt offering" is to be over against (Hebrew: neged) the innermost sanctuary (deb-ir), specifically positioned towards its door. This placement is crucial for directing worship and sacrifice towards the sacred presence of God, symbolizing the direct mediation required for acceptable worship. The measure of a cubit is given for its base height and a cubit for its border, highlighting meticulous order in divine service.
Ezekiel 43 15 Context
Chapter 43 continues Ezekiel's vision of a future, rebuilt temple. This vision is highly detailed and symbolic, addressing Israel's past failures and outlining a renewed covenant relationship with God, marked by restored worship. The preceding verses (43:1-12) describe God’s glory returning to the temple, emphasizing its holiness and the strict laws that must govern it, contrasting with the idolatrous practices that led to Israel’s exile. This specific verse sets the precise spatial relationship for the primary altar within this envisioned temple, signifying its central importance in re-establishing a purified worship.
Ezekiel 43 15 Word analysis
- "And" (Hebrew: wa): A conjunction indicating sequence or continuation.
- "the altar" (Hebrew: ha-mizbe'ach): The structure for offering sacrifices, here specifically the altar of burnt offering.
- "of burnt offering" (Hebrew: ha-'olah): Denotes the type of sacrifice, a whole burnt offering, symbolizing complete devotion and atonement.
- "was" (Hebrew: hayah): Past tense verb indicating existence or state.
- "over against" (Hebrew: neged): A preposition signifying opposite, facing, or in front of. It implies direct alignment.
- "it": Refers back to the altar.
- "toward" (Hebrew: pnei): In the direction of, facing.
- "the door" (Hebrew: sha'ar): The entrance to the temple sanctuary.
- "of the house" (Hebrew: ha-bayith): Of the temple building.
- "inwardly": This refers to the innermost sanctuary, the deb-ir, also known as the Holy of Holies. This distinction is important for emphasizing proximity to God's presence.
- "the measurements": The prescribed dimensions and layout.
- "cubit" (Hebrew: ammah): A unit of measurement, typically around 18 inches.
- "for": Indicating purpose or allocation.
- "its base": The lower platform or foundation of the altar.
- "and a cubit": A further measurement.
- "for": For.
- "its border": The surrounding edge or molding.
- "toward": In the direction of.
- "the void" (Hebrew: chodesh): Often translated as void, space, or border. In this context, it refers to the edge or space surrounding the altar.
Words-group analysis:
- "over against... toward the door of the house inwardly": This precise geographical and directional placement emphasizes the mediating role of the altar in bringing worshippers to God's dwelling place, facing the very locus of His presence (the Holy of Holies).
Ezekiel 43 15 Bonus Section
The "cubit for its border" signifies a perimeter, a boundary that separates the sacred altar area. This mirrors the many boundaries God established in the Old Testament to demarcate holy ground and prohibit unauthorized access. The ultimate fulfillment of this ordered access to God is found in Jesus Christ, who, as the Lamb of God and High Priest, breaks down all dividing walls (Ephesians 2:14) and offers direct, albeit mediated, access to the Father through His once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-14). The temple itself is a shadow of Christ and the church (1 Corinthians 3:16), where God’s presence now resides in believers.
Ezekiel 43 15 Commentary
The meticulous detail given for the altar's placement and measurements underscores the absolute requirement for order and holiness in approaching God. The altar is to face the inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence was manifest. This directional placement symbolizes that all worship and atonement flows through the appointed sacrificial system towards God Himself. The altar’s design and positioning were not arbitrary but were dictated by divine mandate, reflecting that access to God is always on His terms, not man’s. This emphasizes the concept of God’s holiness and the necessary separation required when drawing near to Him.