And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

EXODUS 20:25KJV
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Exodus 20:25 (KJV)

What does Exodus 20:25 mean?

Exodus 20:25 instructs that if the Israelites build an altar of stone for worship, they must not use cut or shaped stones; using tools to shape the stones would make the altar unsuitable for God. The verse emphasizes that altering the stones with human tools would make the altar "polluted" or unfit.

In this verse, God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses right after giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. The instruction is about how to build an altar for sacrifices, stressing simplicity and respect for what God has made. The idea is that using human effort to shape the stones (rather than using them as found) would take away from the altar’s purity and set-apartness.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 20:25

  • "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach): This word refers to a place of sacrifice or offering. The instructions here show that even the construction of the altar is to reflect reverence for God.
  • "hewn stone" (גָּזִית, gazit): This means stones that have been shaped or cut by tools. The verse specifically forbids these, highlighting a preference for natural, unworked materials.
  • "tool" (חֶרֶב, cherev): While often meaning "sword," here it refers to any iron tool used to shape the stones. The use of such a tool is said to "pollute" the altar, suggesting that human alteration is not fitting for something dedicated to God.
  • "polluted" (חָלַל, chalal): This word means to make something common, defile, or profane. Using tools on the stones would make the altar ordinary rather than holy.

Why Exodus 20:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God values what He has created as it is, and that worship should not rely on human skill or decoration to be acceptable.
  • Exodus 20:25 connects to the surrounding laws about worship, showing that the way something is offered to God matters as much as the offering itself.
  • The instruction helps prevent the Israelites from adopting the elaborate altar-building practices of neighboring peoples, keeping their worship distinct and focused on God rather than human artistry.

Where else these words appear

“stone” Hebrew H1496 · used in 11 verses

  • 1 Kings 5:17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
  • 1 Kings 7:11 And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.
  • Isaiah 9:10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

“up” Hebrew H5130 · used in 35 verses

  • Exodus 29:24 And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD.
  • Leviticus 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
  • Joshua 8:31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

“polluted” Hebrew H2490 · used in 131 verses

  • Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
  • Judges 20:39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
  • Jeremiah 16:18 And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.