An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

EXODUS 20:24KJV
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Exodus 20:24 (KJV)

What does Exodus 20:24 mean?

Exodus 20:24 instructs the Israelites to build an altar out of earth for offering sacrifices to God, promising that wherever God causes His name to be remembered, He will come to them and bless them. The verse emphasizes simple worship and God’s willingness to meet and bless His people wherever they honor Him.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses right after giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. The command is practical: the altar should be made of earth, not fancy materials, and used for burnt and peace offerings, including sheep and oxen. God assures the people that He will be present and bring blessing wherever His name is honored, not limited to one special place.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 20:24

  • "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach): This word refers to a place of sacrifice. The instruction to make it of earth (אֲדָמָה, adamah) highlights simplicity and humility in worship, rather than extravagance.
  • "record" (זָכַר, zakar): The phrase "where I record my name" uses a word that means "to remember" or "to cause to be remembered." It suggests that God’s presence is tied to places where His name is honored or made known, not just a single location.
  • "bless" (בָּרַךְ, barakh): God’s promise to "bless" (barakh) those who worship Him at these altars emphasizes that true blessing comes from God’s presence, not from the altar itself.

Why Exodus 20:24 matters

  • Exodus 20:24 clarifies that God does not require elaborate or permanent altars; simple earth altars are acceptable, countering the idea that worship must be tied to grand structures.
  • The verse shows that God’s presence and blessing are not confined to one location, but are available wherever people honor His name, which is a key theme throughout the Bible.
  • This instruction connects to the wider passage by showing that the relationship between God and His people is based on obedience and reverence, not on outward displays or fixed places of worship.

Where else these words appear

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 24:5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.
  • Leviticus 10:14 And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

“sacrifice” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 2:13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
  • 2 Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.