Exodus 38:2-7 · Bible study
Exodus 38:2-7 Commentary: The Altar of Burnt Offering Built
Hebrew · 4 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study the bronze altar's horns, grating, and poles: a lesson in worship according to God's pattern, with typological and pastoral insights.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Careful construction of the bronze altar according to God’s pattern, emphasizing unity, portability, and holiness.
- Key words: Horns (H7161), bronze (H5178), one piece (מִמֶּנּוּ), grating (H4345), poles (H0905).
- Main debate: Whether the bronze overlay was applied at this time or later (Numbers 16:38-39).
- Theological theme: God’s provision of access through sacrifice; the altar as a type of Christ and the cross.
- Best use: Teaching on worship according to God’s pattern and the unity of Christ’s sacrifice.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
2He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze.
3He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans.
4He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.
5At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles.
6And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.
7Then he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar for carrying it. He made the altar with boards so that it was hollow.
WEB World English Bible 2000
2He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze.
3He made all the vessels of the altar: the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of bronze.
4He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.
5He cast four rings for the four corners of bronze grating, to be places for the poles.
6He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze.
7He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
KJV King James Version 1769
2And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.
3And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass.
4And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it.
5And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves.
6And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass.
7And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
2And he made the horns thereof upon the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of one piece with it: and he overlaid it with brass.
3And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basins, the flesh-hooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass.
4And he made for the altar a grating of network of brass, under the ledge round it beneath, reaching halfway up.
5And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grating of brass, to be places for the staves.
6And he made the staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with brass.
7And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, wherewith to bear it; he made it hollow with planks.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
2and he maketh its horns on its four corners; its horns have been of the same; and he overlayeth it with brass;
3and he maketh all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the sprinkling-pans, the forks, and the fire-pans; all its vessels he hath made of brass.
4And he maketh for the altar a brazen grate of net-work, under its border beneath, unto its midst;
5and he casteth four rings for the four ends of the brazen grate--places for bars;
6and he maketh the staves of shittim wood, and overlayeth them with brass;
7and he bringeth in the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it with them; hollow with boards he made it.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
2And he made its horns on the four corners thereof; its horns were of itself; and he overlaid it with copper.
3And he made all the utensils of the altar: the pots, and the shovels, and the bowls, the forks, and the firepans; all its utensils made he of copper.
4And he made for the altar a grating of network of copper under its ledge from beneath, to the very middle of it.
5And he cast four rings for the four corners of the grating of copper, as receptacles for the staves.
6And he made the staves of acacia-wood, and overlaid them with copper.
7And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. Hollow with boards did he make it.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
2The horns whereof went out from the corners, and he overlaid it with plates of brass.
3And for the uses thereof, he prepared divers vessels of brass, cauldrons, tongs, fleshhooks, pothooks and firepans.
4And he made the grate thereof of brass, in manner of a net, and under it in the midst of the altar a hearth,
5Casting four rings at the four ends of the net at the top, to put in bars to carry it:
6And he made the bars of setim wood, and overlaid them with plates of brass:
7And he drew them through the rings that stood out in the sides of the altar. And the altar itself was not solid, but hollow, of boards, and empty within.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 38:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators read this passage as the faithful execution of the instructions given in Exodus 27. The horns being “of one piece” (Hebrew מִמֶּנּוּ, “from it”) indicates they were integral, not attached separately. This detail is significant: the altar’s power was not added but inherent. The bronze overlay covers the whole structure, though Cambridge Bible notes that Numbers 16:38-39 may record a later overlaying. Matthew Henry sees a clear type of Christ: “Christ was himself the altar to his own sacrifice of atonement.” The grating, rings and poles made the altar portable, showing Israel’s worship was designed for a pilgrim people. Commentators agree that every element mattered; nothing was left to human invention.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal-historical: Focuses on the historical construction according to the pattern in Exodus 27.
- Typological: Reads each element as prefiguring Christ and his sacrifice (e.g., Matthew Henry).
- Symbolic-moral: Sees the bronze, horns, and grating as symbols of divine judgment, strength, and the believer's purification.
What is clear: The altar was built exactly according to God’s instructions to facilitate the sacrificial system for Israel’s worship.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Horns of one piece | The horns were integral to the altar, not detachable, indicating the altar’s strength is inherent. | Some traditions interpret this as a theological statement about Christ’s power; others see a practical construction detail. |
| Bronze overlay | Bronze was chosen for its durability and ability to withstand heat. | Whether bronze symbolizes judgment (as in the bronze serpent) or simply indicates the altar’s lower status compared to the gold furnishings inside the tabernacle. |
| Typology of the altar | The altar points forward to Christ’s sacrifice and the cross. | How detailed the typology should be, Matthew Henry and Reformed tradition see strong typology, while others caution against allegorizing every detail. |
| Chronology of the overlay | The text describes the altar being overlaid with bronze at this point. | Numbers 16:38-39 suggests a later overlaying with the bronze of the censers; some harmonize by positing an initial overlay and a later addition, others see a contradiction. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The bronze altar stood in the court of the tabernacle, the first object a worshipper encountered. It was made of acacia wood, a desert tree known for its durability, and overlaid with bronze, a metal that withstood intense heat. The horns, rising from the four corners, were a distinctive feature of Israelite altars. Unlike altars of other ancient peoples, these horns were not decorative additions but integral, “of one piece” with the altar. Scholarly background notes that the horns came to be seen as essential; the altar’s virtue was thought to reside in them. The grating of bronze mesh was set halfway up, under a ledge, allowing air to feed the fire while protecting the wood. At the four corners of the grate were cast rings for poles, so the altar could be carried on the shoulders of the Levites. This portability was crucial for the wilderness journey. The altar was hollow, made with boards, making it lighter to transport. Acacia wood and bronze were used for other court items: the sockets of the pillars were bronze, while hooks and fillets were silver. The altar’s construction follows the pattern revealed to Moses on the mountain, emphasizing that worship must be according to God’s design.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 38:2-7. The Cambridge Bible mentions a possible later overlaying based on Numbers 16, but this is a comment on chronology, not a textual variant.
Reception History
In the Reformed tradition, Matthew Henry saw the bronze altar as a direct type of Christ, who is both the altar and the sacrifice. The Geneva Bible notes emphasized the functional details. Throughout Christian history, the horns have been seen as symbols of divine protection and refuge. The portable nature of the altar has encouraged believers to see worship as not confined to a sacred place but carried in the heart.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Horns Were One Piece, The altar’s power was not detachable. In Christ, salvation and judgment are inseparable.
- Overlaid with Bronze, Bronze speaks of endurance under fire. Our faith is tested, but the sacrifice of Christ endures.
- Made to Be Carried, The altar was portable. Worship is not tied to a building; God goes with his people.
Five-point outline
- Built According to the Pattern (Exodus 27), Obedience to God’s detailed plan matters.
- Horns of One Piece, Unity and inherent power in the altar.
- Bronze Overlay, Durability and divine judgment (cf. the bronze serpent in Numbers 21).
- Grating for the Fire, The altar could sustain the constant fire; Christ’s sacrifice was complete.
- Poles for Pilgrimage, The church is always on the move; we carry the cross with us.
Illustration hooks
- A master craftsman following blueprints to the letter, refusing to cut corners.
- A camp stove that folds up and fits in a backpack, portable provision for the journey.
- A sculpture carved from a single block of marble: the design is already in the material.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God care about the specific details of worship?
- How can I know if my worship is pleasing to God?
- What does it mean that the altar was carried, is God still with us on the move?
Leading a Discussion
These verses describe the building of the bronze altar, the center of Israel’s sacrificial system. Every detail was specified by God. As you study, consider what God’s attention to detail says about how we approach him.
Discussion questions
- What does the phrase “of one piece” tell us about the relationship between the altar and its horns?
- Why do you think God commanded bronze rather than gold for this altar?
- The altar was designed to be carried. What does that say about Israel’s worship in the wilderness?
- How does this altar help you understand the sacrifice of Jesus?
- In what ways do we try to “add” to what God has provided?
- What does it mean for your personal faith to be “portable”, not dependent on a specific location?
- How can you ensure your worship follows God’s pattern rather than your own preferences?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 27:2 | You shall make its horns on its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with bronze. |
| Job 6:12 | Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze? |
| Exodus 27:3 | You shall make its pots to take away its ashes; and its shovels, its basins, its meat hooks, and its fire pans. You shall make all its vessels of bronze. |
| I Samuel 2:13 | The custom of the priests with the people was that when anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant came while the meat was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand; |
| Exodus 27:4 | You shall make a grating for it of network of bronze. On the net you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners. |
| Exodus 25:6 | oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense, |
| Deuteronomy 10:3 | So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two stone tablets like the first, and went up onto the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand. |
| Acts 9:15 | But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
3 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator observes that the bronze overlay on the altar of burnt offering was not part of the original construction. The account in Numbers 16 shows that this covering was added later, meaning the altar's building happened in stages rather than all at once.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the people's joyful generosity in making offerings was paired with exact obedience to every command
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry notes that Bezalel made the gold furnishings first, which lay mostly out of sight inside the tabernacle, before the bronze altar and laver that stood in the open court. He sees the altar as a type of Christ, who was himself the altar for his atoning sacrifice and still sanctifies every sacrifice of praise we offer through him.