Deuteronomy 27:6
New International Version
Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

New Living Translation
Build the altar of uncut stones, and use it to offer burnt offerings to the LORD your God.

English Standard Version
you shall build an altar to the LORD your God of uncut stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God,

Berean Standard Bible
You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God.

King James Bible
Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:

New King James Version
You shall build with whole stones the altar of the LORD your God, and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

New American Standard Bible
You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God;

NASB 1995
“You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God;

NASB 1977
“You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones; and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God;

Legacy Standard Bible
You shall build the altar of Yahweh your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to Yahweh your God;

Amplified Bible
You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with whole [uncut] stones, and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God;

Christian Standard Bible
Use uncut stones to build the altar of the LORD your God and offer burnt offerings to the LORD your God on it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Use uncut stones to build the altar of the LORD your God and offer burnt offerings to the LORD your God on it.

American Standard Version
Thou shalt build the altar of Jehovah thy God of unhewn stones; and thou shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah thy God:

Contemporary English Version
Look for stones that can be used without being cut. Then offer sacrifices to please the LORD, burning them completely on the altar.

English Revised Version
Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of unhewn stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You must use uncut stones to build the altar of the LORD your God. Sacrifice burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

Good News Translation
because any altar you build for the LORD your God must be made of uncut stones. There you are to offer the sacrifices that are to be burned,

International Standard Version
Build the altar to the LORD your God with uncut stones, then offer a burnt offering to him.

Majority Standard Bible
You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God.

NET Bible
You must build the altar of the LORD your God with whole stones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.

New Heart English Bible
You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones; and you shall offer burnt offerings thereon to the LORD your God:

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer on it burnt-offerings to the LORD thy God.

World English Bible
You shall build Yahweh your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You build the altar of your God YHWH [with] complete stones, and have caused burnt-offerings to ascend on it to your God YHWH,

Young's Literal Translation
Of complete stones thou buildest the altar of Jehovah thy God, and hast caused to ascend on it burnt-offerings to Jehovah thy God,

Smith's Literal Translation
Whole stones thou shalt build the altar of Jehovah thy God: and bring up upon it burnt-offerings to Jehovah thy God:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And of stones not fashioned nor polished: and thou shalt offer upon it holocausts to the Lord thy God:

Catholic Public Domain Version
out of stones which have not been hewn or polished. And you shall offer holocausts on it to the Lord your God.

New American Bible
You shall build this altar of the LORD, your God, with unhewn stones, and shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD, your God.

New Revised Standard Version
You must build the altar of the LORD your God of unhewn stones. Then offer up burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of undressed stones, and you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But build the altar of LORD JEHOVAH your God with whole stones and offer up burning peace offerings upon it before LORD JEHOVAH your God:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of unhewn stones; and thou shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Of whole stones shalt thou build an altar to the Lord thy God, and thou shalt offer upon it whole-burnt-offerings to the Lord thy God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Altar on Mount Ebal
5Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them. 6You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God. 7There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:25
Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.

Joshua 8:31
just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings.

1 Kings 6:7
The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.

Exodus 20:24
You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

1 Kings 18:31-32
And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” / And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

Isaiah 65:3
to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick,

Ezekiel 20:28
When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.

2 Kings 16:10-11
Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. On seeing the altar in Damascus, King Ahaz sent Uriah the priest a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction. / And Uriah the priest built the altar according to all the instructions King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, and he completed it before King Ahaz returned.

2 Chronicles 4:1
He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.

2 Chronicles 6:7-8
Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. / But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Hebrews 9:11-12
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. / He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.

Ephesians 2:20-22
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. / In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. / And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of whole stones: and you shall offer burnt offerings thereon to the LORD your God:

burnt offerings

Leviticus 1:1-17
And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, …

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

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Altar Ascend Build Buildest Burned Burnt Burnt-Offerings Caused Complete Offer Offering Offerings Stones Thereon Uncut Unhewn Whole
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Altar Ascend Build Buildest Burned Burnt Burnt-Offerings Caused Complete Offer Offering Offerings Stones Thereon Uncut Unhewn Whole
Deuteronomy 27
1. The people are commanded to write the law upon stones
5. and to build an altar of whole stones
11. The tribes to be divided on Gerizim and Ebal
14. The curses to be pronounced on mount Ebal














You are to build
The directive to "build" signifies an active participation in the worship and obedience to God. The Hebrew root word for "build" is "בָּנָה" (banah), which implies not just construction but also establishing and creating something enduring. This command reflects the Israelites' role in establishing a place of worship that honors God, emphasizing their responsibility in maintaining a covenant relationship with Him.

the altar of the LORD your God
The "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach) is a sacred structure for offering sacrifices. In ancient Israel, altars were central to worship and symbolized communion with God. The phrase "of the LORD your God" underscores the personal relationship between the Israelites and Yahweh, their covenant God. It is a reminder that their worship is directed to the one true God who delivered them from Egypt and established them as His people.

with uncut stones
The use of "uncut stones" (אֲבָנִים שְׁלֵמוֹת, avanim shelemot) is significant. These stones, untouched by iron tools, symbolize purity and the natural creation of God. The command to use uncut stones reflects a desire for authenticity and humility in worship, avoiding human pride and craftsmanship that might detract from the divine nature of the altar. This practice also aligns with the broader biblical theme of holiness and separation from pagan practices, which often involved elaborate altars.

and offer burnt offerings
The "burnt offerings" (עוֹלוֹת, olot) were sacrifices completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication and surrender to God. This act of worship was a means of atonement and a demonstration of the worshiper's devotion. The offering of burnt sacrifices on the altar signifies the Israelites' acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and their dependence on His grace and mercy.

on it to the LORD your God
The repetition of "to the LORD your God" emphasizes the exclusivity of worship owed to Yahweh. It serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship and the requirement for the Israelites to remain faithful to God alone. This phrase reinforces the idea that all acts of worship and sacrifice are to be directed solely to God, who is the source of their identity and blessings.

(6) Burnt offerings.--The idea of these is the dedication of man's life to God.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You shall build
תִּבְנֶ֔ה (tiḇ·neh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1129: To build

the altar
מִזְבַּ֖ח (miz·baḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4196: An altar

of the LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

with uncut
שְׁלֵמוֹת֙ (šə·lê·mō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 8003: Complete, safe, at peace

stones
אֲבָנִ֤ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone

and offer
וְהַעֲלִ֤יתָ (wə·ha·‘ă·lî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

upon it
עָלָיו֙ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

burnt offerings
עוֹלֹ֔ת (‘ō·w·lōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

to the LORD
לַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God.
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 27:6 You shall build the altar of Yahweh (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 27:5
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