Exodus 27:2

Translations

Modern

Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze.

Traditional

And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

Literal

And you shall make its horns on its four corners; from it shall be its horns, and you shall overlay it with bronze.

Latin

Cornua autem per quatuor angulos ex ipso erunt: et operies illud ære.

Original

Hebrew

English

Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze.

Notes

Exodus 27:2

Archaeology shows that the horns of the altar were raised parts at the four corners of the altar. They projected upward from each corner.

These horns may have helped keep the wood and offerings from falling off the altar (see Psalm 118:27). They also had meaning related to beliefs about God. The horns represented God’s gracious care for his people.

If a person held onto the horns of the altar, that person was asking for mercy in judgment (see 1 Kings 1:50–51; 2:28). This action showed a request for protection or leniency.

The priests put blood on the horns during atonement and purification ceremonies (special rituals to deal with sin and uncleanness; see Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7).

Exodus 27:1–8

The square altar for burnt offerings, like the tabernacle frames, was made of acacia wood covered with metal. Yet, to match the other features outside the sanctuary, they covered it with bronze (27:2–3; see 27:10, 17, 19).

Exodus 27:1–19

The plans for the altar of burnt offering and the courtyard extend outward from the center. Like the sanctuary, the plans for the courtyard's furniture are provided before the courtyard itself (27:1–8; 27:9–19).

Theme notes and profiles

Altars Ancient Law Codes Pure Worship Temple Design as a Picture of God's Truth

Events

Tabernacle Builtc. 1490 BC

Related verses

Psalm 118:27
The LORD is God; He has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
1 Kings 1:50
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.
Leviticus 4:7
The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Exodus 29:12
Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
1 Kings 8:64
On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar before the LORD was too small to contain all these offerings.
Hebrews 6:18
Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
Leviticus 4:25
Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
1 Kings 2:28
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.
Numbers 16:38–39
As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”
Leviticus 16:18
Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar.
Leviticus 8:15
Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.
Leviticus 4:18
He is also to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Exodus 27:2

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