Exodus 38:1
New International Version
They built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.

New Living Translation
Next Bezalel used acacia wood to construct the square altar of burnt offering. It was 7 1 / 2 feet wide, 7 1 / 2 feet long, and 4 1 / 2 feet high.

English Standard Version
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. Five cubits was its length, and five cubits its breadth. It was square, and three cubits was its height.

Berean Standard Bible
Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.

King James Bible
And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

New King James Version
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood; five cubits was its length and five cubits its width—it was square—and its height was three cubits.

New American Standard Bible
Then he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, square, and three cubits high.

NASB 1995
Then he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, square, and three cubits high.

NASB 1977
Then he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, square, and three cubits high.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide, square, and three cubits high.

Amplified Bible
Then Bezalel made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood; its top was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide, and three cubits high.

Christian Standard Bible
Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, 7 1 /2 feet long and 7 1 /2 feet wide, and was 4 1 /2 feet high.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, 7 1/2 feet long and 7 1/2 feet wide, and was 4 1/2 feet high.

American Standard Version
And he made the altar of burnt-offering of acacia wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof, foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

Contemporary English Version
Bezalel built an altar of acacia wood for offering sacrifices. It was 2.25 meters square and 1.34 meters high

English Revised Version
And he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof, foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He made the altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood 7 1/2 feet square and 4 1/2 feet high.

Good News Translation
For burning offerings, he made an altar out of acacia wood. It was square, 7½ feet long and 7½ feet wide, and it was 4½ feet high.

International Standard Version
Then he made the altar for burnt offerings of acacia wood. It was a square, five cubits long and five cubits wide, and it was three cubits high.

Majority Standard Bible
Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.

NET Bible
He made the altar for the burnt offering of acacia wood seven feet six inches long and seven feet six inches wide--it was square--and its height was four feet six inches.

New Heart English Bible
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was eight feet seven inches, its breadth was eight feet seven inches, and its height was five feet two inches.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he made the altar of burnt-offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length of it, and five cubits the breadth of it; it was foursquare; and its hight was three cubits.

World English Bible
He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits, and its height was three cubits.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he makes the altar of burnt-offering of shittim wood; five cubits its length, and five cubits its breadth (square), and three cubits its height;

Young's Literal Translation
And he maketh the altar of burnt-offering of shittim wood, five cubits its length, and five cubits its breadth (square), and three cubits its height;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will make the altar of burnt-offering of acacia wood: five cubits its length, and five cubits its breadth; four-square; and three cubits its height.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He made also the altar of holocaust of setim wood, five cubits square, and three in height:

Catholic Public Domain Version
He also made the altar of holocaust from setim wood: five cubits square, and three in height,

New American Bible
The altar for burnt offerings was made of acacia wood, on a square, five cubits long and five cubits wide; its height was three cubits.

New Revised Standard Version
He made the altar of burnt offering also of acacia wood; it was five cubits long, and five cubits wide; it was square, and three cubits high.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood; five cubits was its length and five cubits its breadth; it was foursquare; and three cubits were the height thereof.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he made the altar of burning, from wood of the box tree, five cubits its length, and five cubits its width, square, and three cubits its height.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he made the altar of burnt-offering of acacia-wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof, four-square, and three cubits the height thereof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He made the brazen altar of the brazen censers, which belonged to the men engaged in sedition with the gathering of Core.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Altar of Burnt Offering
1Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. 2He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.…

Cross References
Exodus 27:1-8
“You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. / Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze. / Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans. ...

Exodus 31:9
the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand—

Exodus 35:16
the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand;

Exodus 40:6
Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting.

Exodus 40:29
He placed the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Leviticus 4:7
The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Leviticus 4:18
He is also to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Leviticus 4:25
Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

Leviticus 4:30
Then the priest is to take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

Leviticus 4:34
Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.

Numbers 4:13-14
Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, / and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

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

Hebrews 9:2-5
A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. / Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, / containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. ...

Hebrews 9:11-14
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. / For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, ...

Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.


Treasury of Scripture

And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.

the altar.

Exodus 27:1-8
And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits…

Exodus 40:6,29
And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation…

2 Chronicles 4:1
Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

Ezekiel 43:16
And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.

John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

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Acacia Acacia-Wood Altar Breadth Burned Burnt Burnt-Offering Cubits Five Foursquare Four-Square Hard Height High Hight Length Maketh Offering Offerings Shittim Square Thereof Three Wide Wood
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Acacia Acacia-Wood Altar Breadth Burned Burnt Burnt-Offering Cubits Five Foursquare Four-Square Hard Height High Hight Length Maketh Offering Offerings Shittim Square Thereof Three Wide Wood
Exodus 38
1. The altar of burnt offering
8. The laver of brass
9. The court, and its hangings
21. The sum of what the people offered, and the use to which it was applied














Bezalel
Bezalel, whose name means "in the shadow of God," was divinely chosen and endowed with the Spirit of God to oversee the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. His role signifies the importance of God-given talents and skills in fulfilling divine purposes. Bezalel's work is a reminder that God equips His people for the tasks He calls them to, emphasizing the value of craftsmanship and dedication in service to God.

constructed
The act of construction here is not merely a physical task but a spiritual one. The Hebrew root "asah" implies making or doing with purpose and intent. This construction was an act of worship, reflecting obedience to God's detailed instructions. It serves as a reminder that our work, when done for God's glory, is a form of worship.

the altar of burnt offering
The altar of burnt offering, or "mizbeach" in Hebrew, was central to Israelite worship, symbolizing atonement and reconciliation with God. It was the place where sacrifices were made, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This altar represents the seriousness of sin and the necessity of a substitute to bear the penalty, foreshadowing the redemptive work of Christ.

from acacia wood
Acacia wood, known for its durability and resistance to decay, was used extensively in the Tabernacle. Its use here symbolizes the enduring nature of God's covenant and the purity required in worship. The incorruptible nature of acacia wood points to the incorruptible nature of Christ, who is the foundation of our faith.

It was square
The square shape of the altar, with equal sides, signifies balance, stability, and fairness. In biblical symbolism, the square often represents the earth and the completeness of God's creation. This design reflects the order and precision of God's instructions, reminding us of His perfect nature and the order He brings to our lives.

five cubits long, five cubits wide
The dimensions of the altar, five cubits by five cubits, emphasize the significance of the number five, often associated with grace in biblical numerology. The altar's size indicates the sufficiency of God's provision for atonement and His grace extended to all who come to Him in faith.

and three cubits high
The height of the altar, three cubits, may symbolize the divine completeness and perfection, as the number three often represents the Trinity in Christian theology. This height elevates the altar, signifying the exalted nature of the sacrifices made upon it and pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who was lifted up for our salvation.

XXXVIII.

(1) He made the altar.--From the furniture of the sanctuary, the transition is natural to the furniture of the court in which it stood. This is now is now described. It consisted of the brazen altar, or altar of burnt-offering, and the great brazen laver. The construction of the former is related in Exodus 38:1-7; that of the latter in Exodus 38:8.

(1-9) This passage corresponds to Exodus 38:1-8 of Exodus 27 in all main particulars, but is somewhat differently worded. The order of the clauses in Exodus 38:4-5 is changed, and a distinct statement is made, which was not contained in the instructims, that the rings were "for places for the staves."

Verses 1-8. - THE FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE WORK - THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FURNITURE FOR THE COURT. - Vers. 9-20. - AND OF THE COURT ITSELF. On the completion of the tabernacle, Bezaleel and his assistants turned their attention to the court and its furniture; and constructed, first, the altar of burnt offering (vers. 1-7); secondly, the bronze laver (ver. 8); and thirdly, the hangings, pillars, connecting-rods, hooks and pins for the circuit of the court (vers. 9-20). Vers. 1-7 correspond to vers. 1-8 of ch. 27; ver. 8 corresponds to ver. 18 of ch. 30; and vers. 9-20 correspond to vers. 9-19 of ch. 27.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Bezalel constructed
וַיַּ֛עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

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

of burnt offering
הָעֹלָ֖ה (hā·‘ō·lāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

from acacia
שִׁטִּ֑ים (šiṭ·ṭîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 7848: Acacia (a tree and a wood)

wood.
עֲצֵ֣י (‘ă·ṣê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

It was square,
רָב֔וּעַ (rā·ḇū·a‘)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 7251: To be quadrate

five
חָמֵשׁ֩ (ḥā·mêš)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

cubits
אַמּ֨וֹת (’am·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

long,
אָרְכּ֜וֹ (’ā·rə·kōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 753: Length

five
וְחָֽמֵשׁ־ (wə·ḥā·mêš-)
Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

cubits
אַמּ֤וֹת (’am·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

wide,
רָחְבּוֹ֙ (rā·ḥə·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7341: Breadth, width

and three
וְשָׁלֹ֥שׁ (wə·šā·lōš)
Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

cubits
אַמּ֖וֹת (’am·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

high.
קֹמָתֽוֹ׃ (qō·mā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6967: Height


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OT Law: Exodus 38:1 He made the altar of burnt offering (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 37:29
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