מַדְבַּח (mad.bach)
mad.bach
altar
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The word madbach is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew mizbeach, meaning an altar used for sacrifice. It appears only once in the Bible, specifically in Ezra 7:17. In this verse, King Artaxerxes instructs the returned exiles to use silver and gold from the royal treasury to purchase bulls, rams, and lambs for offerings on the altar in Jerusalem.
Because it is Aramaic rather than Hebrew, madbach reflects the linguistic reality of the Persian period when much of the Old Testament was written or edited. The term carries the same theological weight as its Hebrew counterpart: a designated place where God’s people present gifts to honor Him and seek forgiveness. Its singular occurrence highlights the restoration of worship after the Babylonian exile.
Translators consistently render madbach as "altar," preserving the continuity of sacrificial practice across languages. The word underscores that even under foreign rule, the community maintained its central ritual of approaching God through prescribed offerings. This single instance connects the post-exilic church to earlier Israelite traditions while adapting to a new cultural context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word madbach simply means 'altar'. It appears only once in Scripture, in Ezra 7:17. Here, King Artaxerxes directs the returned exiles to use royal funds to buy animals for sacrifice on the altar in Jerusalem. This single mention highlights a vital truth: even under foreign rule, God’s people prioritized worship and restoration.
For your faith today, this word reminds us that approaching God requires intentionality. The altar was not just a stone structure; it was the place where heaven met earth through obedience and sacrifice. When we read about these offerings, we see a community committed to honoring God despite difficult circumstances. Their focus on the altar kept their identity intact.
While the Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward to Christ, the principle remains clear. We are called to present our lives as living sacrifices. This word invites us to consider where we place our highest devotion. May your heart always be a place where God is honored first.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- altar/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַדְבְּחָ֔/ה1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 7:17
Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
This verse uniquely shows the altar being funded by a pagan king, proving that worship continues even under foreign authority.