Exodus 27
The Bronze Altar
1“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The altar shall be square. Its height shall be three cubits.
2You shall make its horns on its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with bronze.
3You 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.
4You shall make a grating for it of network of bronze. On the net you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners.
5You shall put it under the ledge around the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar.
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.
The Court of the Tabernacle
9“You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen one hundred cubits long for one side.
10Its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.
11Likewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
12For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.
13The width of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
14The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
15For the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
16For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.
17All the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze.
18The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their sockets of bronze.
19All the instruments of the tabernacle in all its service, and all its pins, and all the pins of the court, shall be of bronze.
Oil for the Lamp
20“You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.
21In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil which is before the covenant, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
God provides Moses with detailed instructions for constructing the bronze altar for burnt offerings, establishing the courtyard that will surround the tabernacle, and maintaining the perpetual lamp. The bronze altar, made of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze, will serve as the central place for Israel's sacrificial worship. The courtyard specifications create a sacred boundary around the tabernacle, while the command for pure olive oil ensures the lamp burns continually before the Lord.
Context
This chapter continues the tabernacle construction instructions begun in chapter 25, moving from the inner sanctuary furnishings to the outer courtyard and altar.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8The Bronze AltarDetailed specifications for constructing the altar of burnt offering, including dimensions, materials, and accessories.
- 9-19The Court of the TabernacleInstructions for creating the courtyard boundary with hangings, pillars, and gates that will surround the tabernacle.
- 20-21Oil for the LampCommand for Israel to provide pure olive oil to maintain the perpetual lamp in the tent of meeting.
The Bronze Altar
27:1–27:8Specifications for constructing the bronze altar where sacrifices will be offered, including its dimensions, horns, and various bronze implements. This altar serves as the central place for burnt offerings and sacrificial worship in the tabernacle courtyard.
structural
The bronze altar's square design (5x5 cubits) uniquely mirrors the Holy of Holies' cubic proportions, creating geometric harmony between sacrifice and divine presence.
The Court of the Tabernacle
27:9–27:19Detailed instructions for constructing the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle, including hangings, pillars, and gates with specific measurements and materials. The court creates a defined sacred space that separates the holy tabernacle from the common camp area.
structural
The tabernacle court's 100-cubit length perfectly matches the temple's inner court dimensions in Ezekiel's vision, suggesting divine architectural consistency across Israel's worship history.
Oil for the Lamp
27:20–27:21Commands regarding the provision of pure olive oil for the continual lamp in the tabernacle, with Aaron and his sons responsible for maintaining it. This establishes the perpetual light as an eternal statute symbolizing God's constant presence among Israel.
person_contrast
Aaron's responsibility for maintaining the eternal flame marks a rare shift from his typical role as mediator of holiness laws to guardian of Israel's perpetual light before God.
Exodus 27:1
Exodus 38:1lexicalHe made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its width was five cubits…
Exodus 37:25lexicalHe made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height wa…
Exodus 37:10lexicalHe made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and a…
Exodus 25:23lexical“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a…
Exodus 25:10lexical“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Its length shall be two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and a c…
Exodus 27:2
Exodus 38:2lexicalHe made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze.
Ezekiel 43:20lexicalYou shall take of its blood and put it on its four horns, and on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all ar…
Exodus 27:3
Exodus 38:3lexicalHe made all the vessels of the altar: the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its v…
Numbers 4:14lexicalThey shall put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and…
2 Chronicles 4:16lexicalHuram-abi also made the pots, the shovels, the forks, and all its vessels for King Solomon, for the LORD’s house, of bri…
1 Kings 7:45lexicalthe pots; the shovels; and the basins. All of these vessels, which Hiram made for King Solomon for the LORD’s house, wer…
Jeremiah 52:18lexicalThey also took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze with whic…
Exodus 27:4
Exodus 38:4lexicalHe made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.
Exodus 38:5lexicalHe cast four rings for the four corners of bronze grating, to be places for the poles.
Exodus 27:6
Exodus 38:6lexicalHe made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze.
Exodus 25:28lexicalYou shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
Exodus 37:28lexicalHe made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.
Exodus 25:13lexicalYou shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
Exodus 37:4lexicalHe made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.
Exodus 27:7
Exodus 38:7lexicalHe put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
Exodus 30:4lexicalYou shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and the…
Exodus 25:14lexicalYou shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
Exodus 37:27lexicalHe made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with wh…
Exodus 37:5lexicalHe put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.
Exodus 27:9
Exodus 38:9lexicalHe made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
Exodus 38:18lexicalThe screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. T…
Exodus 38:16lexicalAll the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen.
Exodus 36:23lexicalHe made the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.
Exodus 26:18lexicalYou shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward.
Exodus 27:10
Exodus 38:10lexicaltheir pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silve…
Exodus 38:11lexicalFor the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pilla…
Exodus 38:17lexicalThe sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals we…
Exodus 38:19lexicalTheir pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals,…
Exodus 36:38lexicaland the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five sock…
Exodus 27:11
Exodus 38:11lexicalFor the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pilla…
Exodus 38:12lexicalFor the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and…
Exodus 38:10lexicaltheir pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silve…
Exodus 38:17lexicalThe sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals we…
Exodus 38:19lexicalTheir pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals,…
Exodus 27:12
Exodus 38:12lexicalFor the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and…
Exodus 38:15lexicaland so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pi…
Exodus 38:14lexicalthe hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
Exodus 35:17lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;
Exodus 39:40lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
Exodus 27:13
Exodus 38:13lexicalFor the east side eastward fifty cubits,
Numbers 35:5lexicalYou shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits,…
Ezekiel 41:12lexicalThe building that was before the separate place at the side toward the west was seventy cubits wide; and the wall of the…
Exodus 38:12lexicalFor the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and…
Exodus 38:9lexicalHe made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
Exodus 27:14
Exodus 38:14lexicalthe hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
Exodus 38:15lexicaland so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pi…
Exodus 38:12lexicalFor the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and…
2 Kings 25:17lexicalThe height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on it. The height of the capital was three…
Exodus 39:40lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
Exodus 27:15
Exodus 38:15lexicaland so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pi…
Exodus 38:14lexicalthe hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
2 Kings 25:17lexicalThe height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on it. The height of the capital was three…
Exodus 39:40lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
Exodus 38:12lexicalFor the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and…
Exodus 27:16
Exodus 38:18lexicalThe screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. T…
Exodus 26:36lexical“You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of…
Exodus 36:37lexicalHe made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
Exodus 39:29lexicalthe sash of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 28:8lexicalThe skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple, scarlet,…
Exodus 27:17
Exodus 38:17lexicalThe sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals we…
Exodus 38:19lexicalTheir pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals,…
Exodus 38:10lexicaltheir pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silve…
Exodus 38:11lexicalFor the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pilla…
Exodus 26:37lexicalYou shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You shal…
Exodus 27:18
Exodus 38:18lexicalThe screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. T…
2 Chronicles 6:13lexical(for Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in th…
1 Kings 7:27lexicalHe made the ten bases of bronze. The length of one base was four cubits, four cubits its width, and three cubits its hei…
2 Chronicles 4:1lexicalThen he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
1 Kings 7:2lexicalFor he built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its heig…
Exodus 27:19
Exodus 39:40lexicalthe hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, and all…
Exodus 38:20lexicalAll the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of bronze.
Numbers 4:32lexicalthe pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all the…
Numbers 4:26lexicalthe hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the al…
Exodus 35:18lexicalthe pins of the tabernacle, the pins of the court, and their cords;
Exodus 27:20
Leviticus 24:2lexical“Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn con…
Exodus 35:14lexicalthe lamp stand also for the light, with its vessels, its lamps, and the oil for the light;
Numbers 4:9lexical“They shall take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all…
Exodus 39:37lexicalthe pure lamp stand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light,
Numbers 4:16lexical“The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal o…
Exodus 27:21
Leviticus 24:3lexicalOutside of the veil of the Testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron shall keep it in order from evening to morning befor…
Leviticus 10:9lexical“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This…
Numbers 18:23lexicalBut the Levites shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a statute f…
Exodus 28:43lexicalThey shall be on Aaron and on his sons, when they go in to the Tent of Meeting, or when they come near to the altar to m…
Exodus 40:22lexicalHe put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside of the veil.
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