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 27:1KJV
Know the Bible

Exodus 27:1 (KJV)

What does Exodus 27:1 mean?

Exodus 27:1 gives instructions for building an altar out of shittim (acacia) wood, specifying its size as five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, making it a square structure. This altar was to be used in the courtyard of the tabernacle for burnt offerings.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, giving detailed directions for constructing the tabernacle and its furnishings. The focus here is on the altar’s materials and exact measurements, highlighting the importance of following God’s design precisely. The altar’s shape and size set it apart as a central place for sacrifices in Israel’s worship.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 27:1

  • שִׁטִּים (shittim): This word refers to acacia wood, a durable and common material in the region, chosen for its strength and resistance to decay. Its use here underlines the need for the altar to be sturdy and long-lasting.
  • מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach): This is the Hebrew word for "altar," which comes from a root meaning "to slaughter" or "to sacrifice." It emphasizes the altar’s role as a place of offering and dedication.
  • רָבוּעַ (ravu'a): Translated as "foursquare," this word means the altar was to be perfectly square, which suggests symmetry and order in the design, reflecting the careful planning of the tabernacle’s worship space.

Why Exodus 27:1 matters

  • Exodus 27:1 clarifies that the altar was not a random or makeshift structure but was built to exact specifications, showing the seriousness and orderliness of Israel’s worship practices.
  • The mention of shittim wood connects this altar to other tabernacle furnishings, all made from the same material, emphasizing unity in the design.
  • This verse sets the stage for the following instructions about the altar’s use and significance, helping readers understand its central role in the sacrificial system described in the next chapters.

Where else these words appear

“foursquare” Hebrew H7251 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 28:16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
  • Exodus 38:1 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.
  • Ezekiel 40:47 So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.

“shittim” Hebrew H7848 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 25:5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
  • Exodus 27:6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
  • Exodus 37:4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.

“height” Hebrew H6967 · used in 43 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 6:20 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,

“broad” Hebrew H7341 · used in 89 verses

  • Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
  • 1 Kings 7:2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
  • Ezekiel 41:3 Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.