Exodus 27:6-8 Meaning: Bronze Poles, Not Gold
6You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.
7Its poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when carrying it.
8You shall make it hollow with planks. They shall make it as it has been shown you on the mountain.
6And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.
7And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.
8Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
6And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with brass.
7And the staves thereof shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, in bearing it.
8Hollow with planks shalt thou make it: as it hath been showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
6`And thou hast made staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and hast overlaid them with brass.
7And the staves have been brought into the rings, and the staves have been on the two sides of the altar in bearing it.
8Hollow with boards thou dost make it, as it hath been shewed thee in the mount, so do they make it .
6And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of acacia-wood, and overlay them with copper.
7And its staves shall be put into the rings, that the staves may be on both sides of the altar, when it is carried.
8Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it hath been shewn thee on the mountain, so shall they make [it].
Meaning in one sentence
Exodus 27:6, 8 asks why the altar poles were bronze, not gold. The hollow, portable altar shows God’s presence travels with His people.
Context
These verses belong to God’s instructions for the tabernacle, given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The altar described here is the bronze altar of burnt offering, also called the brazen altar. It sat in the courtyard, not inside the tent, and was the place where the people brought their sacrifices. Verses 1, 5 describe its shape and fittings; verses 6, 8 focus on something else: how to move it. The altar was not meant to stay in one place. It was built hollow, with wooden planks, and fitted with two long poles so the Levites could carry it when Israel journeyed through the wilderness.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words give this passage its weight. Baddim (poles or staves) comes from a root meaning “alone” or “separate”, these were not ordinary sticks but objects set apart for sacred use. ‘Atsê shittim (acacia wood) is the same durable desert wood used for the ark and the table; it resists rot and insects, practical for a people always on the move. And nechoshet (bronze, or copper) stands in contrast to the gold that covered the ark’s poles. Bronze could withstand the heat and ash of the altar fire. But it also carries a quieter message: this altar belonged to a different sphere than the innermost sanctuary, still holy, still consecrated, but made for the rough work of sacrifice and travel.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read these verses with slightly different eyes. Older Reformed commentators like Matthew Henry emphasized the altar’s place in the courtyard, where common people could approach, a reminder that God meets us where we are, not only in the holiest place. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) notes a tension between this portable altar and the earlier command to build an altar of earth or stone (Exodus 20:24). Keil and Delitzsch, representing a Lutheran tradition, suggest the hollow frame was filled with earth when in use, protecting the wood from fire. Jewish interpreters have likewise stressed the altar’s portability, seeing in the rings and poles a sign that worship was never tied to one location.
A common misunderstanding
It’s easy to think the bronze covering was simply second‑best, a downgrade from the gold in the tabernacle. But bronze was not a compromise, it was the right material for this purpose. Gold would have melted in the heat of the altar fire. The bronze was not lesser; it was suited to the work of sacrifice, just as gold suited the mercy seat. God gave the right metal for each task.
Living This Out
There is something humbling about an altar designed to be carried. It says that worship is not tied to a building or a Sunday morning. This week, you might find yourself offering a sacrifice of praise in a hospital room, at a kitchen table, or during a long commute. The altar of your heart may be bronze rather than gold, rough, practical, under pressure, but God designed it that way. He knows you are on the move. He gave you something to carry, and He gave you the means to carry it.
Main takeaway: The God who travels with His people gives them a way to worship wherever they are, not just in one holy place.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The Israelites had a special altar that they could take apart and carry when they moved. God wanted them to know He was with them everywhere, not just in one place.
For ages 9, 12
The altar for burnt offerings was made of wood covered with bronze, and it was hollow so it wouldn’t be too heavy to carry. Unlike the ark, which was covered with gold and stayed inside the tent, this altar stood outside and was used for sacrifices. The way it was built shows that God’s presence travels with His people, even when they don’t have a permanent home.
Questions People Ask
Why were the altar poles overlaid with bronze instead of gold?
The altar of burnt offering was exposed to fire, ash, and the elements. Bronze (or copper) could withstand that heat, while gold would have melted. The different metal also shows that this altar served a different purpose from the ark inside the Holy of Holies, it was holy, but made for the rough work of sacrifice and travel.
What does 'hollow with planks' mean?
The altar was built as a hollow frame of acacia wood planks, not solid. This made it light enough to carry. Some commentators, like Keil and Delitzsch, suggest that when the altar was set up for use, it was filled with earth or stones to protect the wood from the fire, similar to the earthen altar described in Exodus 20:24.
How big was this altar?
According to the earlier verses (Exodus 27:1), the altar was five cubits long and five cubits wide (about 7.5 feet square), and three cubits high (about 4.5 feet). The Cambridge Bible explains that it was probably not a solid cube but a hollow frame, making it manageable for the Levites to carry.
Was this altar the same as the altar of incense?
No. This is the bronze altar of burnt offering in the courtyard, used for animal sacrifices. The golden altar of incense was inside the tabernacle, before the veil. They were different objects with different purposes.
What does 'as it was shown you on the mountain' mean?
God gave Moses a pattern or blueprint for the tabernacle and its furnishings while he was on Mount Sinai. The phrase emphasizes that the altar was not Moses’ invention; it was a divinely given design. Hebrews 8:5 later reflects on this, saying the earthly tabernacle was a copy of a heavenly reality.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study