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.

EXODUS 38:1KJV
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Exodus 38:1 (KJV)

What does Exodus 38:1 mean?

Exodus 38:1 describes how the altar for burnt offerings was constructed out of shittim wood, measuring five cubits long and wide (making it square), and three cubits high. This verse gives the specific materials and dimensions for the altar used in Israel’s worship at the tabernacle.

In this part of Exodus, the narrative is describing the actual building of the tabernacle’s furnishings, following the instructions God gave earlier. The people of Israel, under the leadership of Moses and the skilled craftsman Bezalel, are making the altar that would be used for animal sacrifices, which was central to their worship practices at the time.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 38:1

  • "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach): This word refers specifically to a structure for sacrifices, highlighting its purpose as a place where offerings are made to God.
  • "burnt offering" (עֹלָה, olah): This term means a sacrifice that is completely burned, emphasizing that the offering was wholly given to God.
  • "shittim" (שִׁטִּים, shittim): This is a type of acacia wood, known for its durability and resistance to decay, which was important for something exposed to fire and the elements.
  • "foursquare" (רָבוּעַ, rabu'a): This word means square or having equal sides, stressing the symmetry and balance of the altar’s design.

Why Exodus 38:1 matters

  • Exodus 38:1 clears up that the altar was not made of stone or metal, but of shittim (acacia) wood, which was then overlaid with bronze according to earlier instructions, showing careful attention to both function and symbolism.
  • The specific measurements and shape (“foursquare”) underline the orderliness and intentionality in Israel’s worship, reflecting the importance of following God’s instructions exactly.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the Israelites’ obedience in building the tabernacle and its furnishings just as God commanded, which is a major theme in the closing chapters of Exodus.

Where else these words appear

“foursquare” Hebrew H7251 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 27:1 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 37:25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.
  • 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 27:1 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 37:1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:

“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,

“breadth” 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.