Exodus 38:4
New International Version
They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar.

New Living Translation
Next he made a bronze grating and installed it halfway down the side of the altar, under the ledge.

English Standard Version
And he made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its ledge, extending halfway down.

Berean Standard Bible
He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.

King James Bible
And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it.

New King James Version
And he made a grate of bronze network for the altar, under its rim, midway from the bottom.

New American Standard Bible
And he made for the altar a grating of bronze netting beneath, under its ledge, reaching halfway up.

NASB 1995
He made for the altar a grating of bronze network beneath, under its ledge, reaching halfway up.

NASB 1977
And he made for the altar a grating of bronze network beneath, under its ledge, reaching halfway up.

Legacy Standard Bible
He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze beneath, under its ledge, reaching halfway down.

Amplified Bible
He made for the altar a grating of bronze mesh under its rim, extending halfway up it.

Christian Standard Bible
He constructed for the altar a grate of bronze mesh under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He constructed for the altar a grate of bronze mesh under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.

American Standard Version
And he made for the altar a grating of network of brass, under the ledge round it beneath, reaching halfway up.

Contemporary English Version
About halfway up the altar he built a ledge around it and covered the bottom half of the altar with a decorative bronze grating.

English Revised Version
And he made for the altar a grating of network of brass, under the ledge round it beneath, reaching halfway up.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He made a grate for the altar out of bronze mesh, [and put it] under the ledge, halfway up the altar.

Good News Translation
He made a bronze grating and put it under the rim of the altar, so that it reached halfway up the altar.

International Standard Version
He made a lattice, a netting of bronze, for the altar. It was under its ledge, extending halfway up.

Majority Standard Bible
He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.

NET Bible
He made a grating for the altar, a network of bronze under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.

New Heart English Bible
He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he made for the altar a brazen grate of net-work under the compass of it beneath to the midst of it.

World English Bible
He made for the altar a grating of a network of bronze, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he makes a bronze grate of network for the altar, under its rim beneath, to its midst;

Young's Literal Translation
And he maketh for the altar a brazen grate of net-work, under its border beneath, unto its midst;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will make for the altar a grate of brass net work under its border from below; even to the half of it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he made the grate thereof of brass, in manner of a net, and under it in the midst of the altar a hearth,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he made its grating of brass, in the manner of a net, and under it, in the midst of the altar, its base,

New American Bible
A grating, a bronze network, was made for the altar and placed around it, on the ground, half as high as the altar itself.

New Revised Standard Version
He made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its ledge, extending halfway down.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he made for the altar a bronze grate of network halfway under the base of it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he made for the altar a grate work of a net of brass under its skirts from underneath unto its midsection.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he made for the altar a grating of network of brass, under the ledge round it beneath, reaching halfway up.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He made an appendage for the altar of network under the grate, beneath it as far as the middle of it; and he fastened to it four brazen rings on the four parts of the appendage of the altar, wide enough for the bars, so as to bear the altar with them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Altar of Burnt Offering
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.…

Cross References
Exodus 27:4-5
Construct for it a grate of bronze mesh, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the mesh. / Set the grate beneath the ledge of the altar, so that the mesh comes halfway up the altar.

1 Kings 7:45
and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. All the articles that Huram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were made of burnished bronze.

2 Chronicles 4:16
and the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other articles. All these objects that Huram-abi made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD were of polished bronze.

Numbers 4:14
and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

Leviticus 6:12-13
The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire, arrange the burnt offering on it, and burn the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. / The fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished.

2 Kings 16:14
He also took the bronze altar that stood before the LORD from the front of the temple (between the new altar and the house of the LORD) and he put it on the north side of the new altar.

2 Chronicles 1:5
But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon before the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there.

Ezekiel 43:13-17
These are the measurements of the altar in long cubits (a cubit and a handbreadth): Its gutter shall be a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this is the height of the altar: / The space from the gutter on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the ledge one cubit wide. The space from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits, and the ledge one cubit wide. / The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upward from the hearth. ...

Hebrews 9:4
containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

Revelation 8:3-5
Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. / And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel. / Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

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.

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.

2 Chronicles 7:7
Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar he had made could not hold all these offerings.

Numbers 16:46-47
Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” / So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people.

Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.


Treasury of Scripture

And he made for the altar a brazen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath to the middle of it.

no reference

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Altar Beneath Brass Brazen Bronze Compass Extending Frame Grate Grating Halfway Half-Way Ledge Middle Midst Network Net-Work Reaching Round Stretching Thereof
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Altar Beneath Brass Brazen Bronze Compass Extending Frame Grate Grating Halfway Half-Way Ledge Middle Midst Network Net-Work Reaching Round Stretching Thereof
Exodus 38
1. The altar of burnt offering
8. The laver of brass
9. The court, and its hangings
21. The sum of what the people offered, and the use to which it was applied














He made a grate of bronze mesh
The use of bronze in the construction of the altar's grate is significant. Bronze, a durable and strong metal, symbolizes judgment and endurance in biblical typology. The bronze mesh allowed for the ashes to fall through, facilitating the burning process. This construction detail reflects the practical needs of the sacrificial system, ensuring that the altar could function efficiently during the numerous offerings. The use of bronze also connects to other biblical instances where bronze is used in contexts of judgment, such as the bronze serpent in Numbers 21:9.

for the altar
The altar referred to here is the altar of burnt offering, central to the sacrificial system established in the Mosaic Law. It was located in the courtyard of the Tabernacle, where sacrifices were made to atone for the sins of the people. The altar's construction and use are detailed in Exodus 27:1-8, emphasizing its importance in Israelite worship. The altar serves as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate sacrifice for sin, fulfilling the sacrificial system's requirements once and for all (Hebrews 10:10).

under its ledge
The ledge of the altar provided a practical function, likely serving as a platform for the priests to stand on while performing sacrifices. This detail highlights the careful design of the altar, ensuring that it met the needs of the priests and the sacrificial rituals. The ledge's presence also indicates the altar's substantial size and the importance of its role in the Tabernacle's worship practices.

halfway up from the bottom
This specific measurement indicates the grate's position within the altar, ensuring optimal airflow and combustion for the sacrifices. The precise instructions for the altar's construction reflect the broader biblical theme of God's attention to detail and order, as seen throughout the instructions for the Tabernacle. This attention to detail underscores the holiness and sanctity of the worship practices, pointing to the need for reverence and obedience in approaching God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Bezalel
The chief artisan appointed by God to construct the Tabernacle and its furnishings, including the bronze altar and its grate.

2. Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the presence of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.

3. Bronze Altar
A key component of the Tabernacle used for burnt offerings, symbolizing atonement and dedication to God.

4. Grate of Bronze
A network or mesh placed within the altar to support the offerings, allowing ashes to fall through and air to circulate.

5. Israelites
The people of God, who were commanded to construct the Tabernacle according to the divine specifications given to Moses.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of the Bronze Altar
The altar represents the need for atonement and the seriousness of sin. It points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who atones for our sins once and for all.

Craftsmanship and Obedience
Bezalel's work on the altar demonstrates the importance of using our God-given talents in obedience to His commands. We are called to serve God with excellence and faithfulness.

The Role of Sacrifice
The grate's function in the altar reminds us of the necessity of sacrifice in our spiritual lives. We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.

God's Detailed Instructions
The specific design of the altar and its components shows that God cares about the details of our worship and service. We should seek to honor Him in every aspect of our lives.

Community and Worship
The construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings was a communal effort, reflecting the importance of unity and cooperation in the body of Christ.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He made
וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

a grate
מִכְבָּ֔ר (miḵ·bār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4345: A netted cloth, coverlet

of bronze
נְחֹ֑שֶׁת (nə·ḥō·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5178: Copper, something made of that metal, coin, a fetter, base

mesh
רֶ֣שֶׁת (re·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7568: A net

for the altar
לַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (lam·miz·bê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

under
תַּ֧חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

its ledge,
כַּרְכֻּבּ֛וֹ (kar·kub·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3749: Border, rim (of an altar)

halfway
חֶצְיֽוֹ׃ (ḥeṣ·yōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2677: The half, middle

up from the bottom.
מִלְּמַ֖טָּה (mil·lə·maṭ·ṭāh)
Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Adverb
Strong's 4295: Downward, below, beneath


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OT Law: Exodus 38:4 He made for the altar a grating (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 38:3
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