Ezekiel 43:13
New International Version
“These are the measurements of the altar in long cubits, that cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth: Its gutter is a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span around the edge. And this is the height of the altar:

New Living Translation
“These are the measurements of the altar: There is a gutter all around the altar 21 inches deep and 21 inches wide, with a curb 9 inches wide around its edge. And this is the height of the altar:

English Standard Version
“These are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): its base shall be one cubit high and one cubit broad, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this shall be the height of the altar:

Berean Standard Bible
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:

King James Bible
And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.

New King James Version
“These are the measurements of the altar in cubits (the cubit is one cubit and a handbreadth): the base one cubit high and one cubit wide, with a rim all around its edge of one span. This is the height of the altar:

New American Standard Bible
“And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a hand width): the base shall be a cubit and the width a cubit, and its border on its edge all around one span; and this shall be the height of the base of the altar.

NASB 1995
“And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): the base shall be a cubit and the width a cubit, and its border on its edge round about one span; and this shall be the height of the base of the altar.

NASB 1977
“And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): the base shall be a cubit, and the width a cubit, and its border on its edge round about one span; and this shall be the height of the base of the altar.

Legacy Standard Bible
“And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): the base shall be a cubit and the width a cubit, and its border on its edge round about one span; and this shall be the height of the base of the altar.

Amplified Bible
“And these are the measurements of the altar [of burnt offering] in cubits (the cubit being a [long] cubit [the length of a forearm] and a hand width): the base shall be a cubit [long] and a cubit wide, with its border on its edge all around it of a span [in width]. And this shall be the height of the base of the altar.

Christian Standard Bible
“These are the measurements of the altar in units of length (each unit being the standard length plus three inches): The gutter is 21 inches deep and 21 inches wide, with a rim of nine inches around its edge. This is the base of the altar.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
These are the measurements of the altar in units of length (each unit being the standard length plus three inches): the gutter is 21 inches deep and 21 inches wide, with a rim of nine inches around its edge. This is the base of the altar.

American Standard Version
And these are the measures of the altar by cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a handbreadth): the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about a span; and this shall be the base of the altar.

Contemporary English Version
According to the official standards, the altar in the temple had the following measurements: Around the bottom of the altar was a gutter 50 centimeters wide and 50 centimeters deep, with a 25-centimeter ledge on the outer rim.

English Revised Version
And these are the measures of the altar by cubits: (the cubit is a cubit and an handbreadth:) the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about a span: and this shall be the base of the altar.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
These are the measurements of the altar, using royal measurements. (The royal measuring stick was 21 inches long.) The base of the altar was 21 inches high and 21 inches wide. All around the edge of the altar was a rim measuring 9 inches wide. This was the height of the altar:

Good News Translation
These are the measurements of the altar, using the same unit of measure as in measuring the Temple. All around the base of the altar there was a gutter 20 inches deep and 20 inches wide, with a rim at the outside edge 10 inches high.

International Standard Version
"Here are the measurements of the altar in cubits that were a cubit and a handbreadth long: its base is a cubit long and a cubit wide, and its border around the edge at one handbreadth is to be the height of the altar.

Majority Standard Bible
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:

NET Bible
"And these are the measurements of the altar: Its base is 1 3/4 feet high, and 1 3/4 feet wide, and its border nine inches on its edge. This is to be the height of the altar.

New Heart English Bible
"These are the measurements of the altar by units of length (each unit is the standard eighteen inches plus three inches ): the bottom shall be twenty-one inches, and the breadth twenty-one inches, and its border around its edge nine inches. And this shall be the height of the altar:

Webster's Bible Translation
And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and a hand-breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border of it by its edge around shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.

World English Bible
“These are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a hand width): the bottom shall be a cubit, and the width a cubit, and its border around its edge a span; and this shall be the base of the altar.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And these [are] measurements of the altar by cubits: the cubit [is] a cubit and a handbreadth, and the center [is] a cubit, and the breadth a cubit; and its border on its edge around [is] one span, and this [is] the upper part of the altar.

Young's Literal Translation
And these are measures of the altar by cubits: The cubit is a cubit and a handbreadth, and the centre is a cubit, and a cubit the breadth; and its border on its edge round about is one span, and this is the upper part of the altar.

Smith's Literal Translation
And these the measures of the altar by cubits: a cubit, a cubit and a hand-breadth; and the bosom, a cubit and a cubit the breadth; and its bound to its lip round about, one span: and this the back of the altar.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And these are the measures of the altar by the truest cubit, which is a cubit and a handbreadth: the bottom thereof was a cubit, and the breadth a cubit: and the border thereof unto its edge, and round about, one handbreadth: and this was the trench of the altar.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now these are the measures of the altar by the most true cubit, which has a cubit and a palm. Its bend was a cubit, and it was a cubit in width. And its boundary, even to its edge and all around, was the width of one palm. The trough of the altar was like this also.

New American Bible
These were the dimensions of the altar in cubits, a cubit being one cubit plus a handbreadth. The channel was one cubit deep by one cubit wide, and its rim had a lip one span wide all around it. The height of the altar itself was as follows:

New Revised Standard Version
These are the dimensions of the altar by cubits (the cubit being one cubit and a handbreadth): its base shall be one cubit high, and one cubit wide, with a rim of one span around its edge. This shall be the height of the altar:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And these are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a hand breadth): even the base shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and its border to its edges round about shall be a span, and likewise on its sides.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
These are the measurements of the altar by the forearm, which is a cubit and a handbreadth, its hollow of a forearm cubit, and the railing is a span to its edge in a circle, and so in its side
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And these are the measures of the altar by cubits--the cubit is a cubit and a handbreadth: the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about a span; and this shall be the base of the altar.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And these are the measures of the altar by the cubit of a cubit and a span, the cavity shall be a cubit deep, and a cubit shall be the breadth, and the border on the rim of it round about shall be a span: and this shall be the height of the altar

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Altar of Sacrifice
13These 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: 14The 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.…

Cross References
Exodus 27:1-8
“You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. / Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze. / Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans. ...

1 Kings 6:20
The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar.

2 Chronicles 4:1
He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.

Exodus 38:1-7
Bezalel constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. / He 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. / He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans. ...

Leviticus 6:9-13
“Command Aaron and his sons that this is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the hearth of the altar all night, until morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. / And the priest shall put on his linen robe and linen undergarments, and he shall remove from the altar the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed and place them beside it. / Then he must take off his garments, put on other clothes, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place. ...

Hebrews 9:1-5
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. / A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. / Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, ...

Revelation 11:1
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there.

Exodus 25:8-9
And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. / You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.

1 Kings 7:27-39
In addition, he made ten movable stands of bronze, each four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high. / This was the design of the stands: They had side panels attached to uprights, / and on the panels between the uprights were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the uprights was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of beveled work. ...

2 Chronicles 3:3-4
The foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God was sixty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, according to the old standard. / The portico at the front, extending across the width of the temple, was twenty cubits long and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold.

Exodus 30:1-10
“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense. / It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece. / Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it. ...

Hebrews 8:5
The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

Revelation 21:15-17
The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls. / The city lies foursquare, with its width the same as its length. And he measured the city with the rod, and all its dimensions were equal—12,000 stadia in length and width and height. / And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.

Exodus 40:29
He placed the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as the LORD had commanded him.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.

the measures

Exodus 27:1-8
And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits…

2 Chronicles 4:1
Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

The cubit

Ezekiel 40:5
And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

Ezekiel 41:8
I saw also the height of the house round about: the foundations of the side chambers were a full reed of six great cubits.

bottom [heb] bosom

Jump to Previous
Altar Base Border Bottom Breadth Broad Cubit Cubits Deep Dimensions Edge Gutter Hand Handbreadth Hand-Breadth Hand's Hand-Stretch Height High Higher Hollow Measure Measurements Measures Overhanging Round Span Thereof Width
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Altar Base Border Bottom Breadth Broad Cubit Cubits Deep Dimensions Edge Gutter Hand Handbreadth Hand-Breadth Hand's Hand-Stretch Height High Higher Hollow Measure Measurements Measures Overhanging Round Span Thereof Width
Ezekiel 43
1. The returning of the glory of God into the temple
7. The sin of Israel hindered God's presence
10. The prophet exhorts them to repentance and observation of the law of the house
13. The measures
18. and ordinances of the altar














These are the measurements of the altar
The phrase introduces a detailed description of the altar's dimensions, emphasizing the importance of precision in worship. In Hebrew, "measurements" (מִדּוֹת, middot) signifies the divine order and structure God desires. The altar, central to sacrificial worship, symbolizes the place where humanity meets the divine. Historically, altars were pivotal in Israelite worship, serving as a tangible connection to God’s covenant and presence.

in cubits, the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth
The "cubit" (אַמָּה, ammah) was an ancient unit of length, approximately 18 inches, based on the length of the forearm. The addition of "a handbreadth" (טֶפַח, tephach) suggests a slightly longer measurement, indicating precision and care in construction. This detail underscores the sacredness of the altar, as every aspect of its design is divinely ordained. The use of specific measurements reflects God’s meticulous nature and the importance of obedience in worship practices.

The base shall be a cubit high and a cubit wide
The "base" (חֵיק, cheq) serves as the foundation of the altar, symbolizing stability and strength. Its dimensions, "a cubit high and a cubit wide," highlight the altar's solid and enduring nature. In a spiritual sense, the base represents the foundational truths of faith upon which believers build their lives. The altar's base being square signifies completeness and perfection, reflecting God’s unchanging nature.

with a rim of one span around the edge
The "rim" (גָּבוּל, gavul) encircling the altar serves both a practical and symbolic purpose. Practically, it prevents offerings from falling off, while symbolically, it represents a boundary of holiness. The "span" (זֶרֶת, zeret), approximately half a cubit, indicates a protective measure, ensuring the sanctity of the offerings. This detail reminds believers of the need to guard their spiritual lives and maintain purity in worship.

And this is the height of the altar
The "height" (קוֹמָה, qomah) of the altar signifies its prominence and the elevation of worship. The altar's height draws the eyes upward, symbolizing the lifting of the heart and spirit towards God. In a broader sense, it represents the exaltation of God above all earthly concerns. The altar's height serves as a reminder of the transcendence of God and the call for believers to rise above worldly distractions in their devotion.

(13) A cubit and an hand breadth.--The measurement of the altar begins with the statement that the cubit used was of the same length as before (see Ezekiel 40:5). The description that follows (Ezekiel 43:13-17) will be made clearer by a simple diagram, with references to the parts described. The size of the base of the altar, it will be seen, was 16 cubits square, and its entire height was either 11 or 12 cubits. The altar in Solomon's Temple was of brass, 20 cubits square, and 10 cubits high (2Chronicles 4:1), while that in the Tabernacle (of shittim-wood overlaid with brass) had been 5 cubits square, and 3 cubits high (Exodus 27:1). That in Herod's Temple is said to have been 32 cubits square, and 10 cubits high, and was of hewn stone. The dimensions of Ezekiel's altar seem to have been selected for the symmetry of the numbers in the several parts. In height it exceeded any of the others.

(a)Base or "bottom," 1 cubit high, and 1 broad. This was 16 cubits square.

(bb?)"The border thereof," a span or � cubit. It is uncertain whether this projected, forming a moulding as at b, and in this case was under c, and so increased the height of the altar; or whether it was as at b?, a ledge around 100. In Ezekiel 43:13 "higher place" should be base. The word means, primarily, arched, then a back, and then a support. . . .

Verses 13-27. - The temple-altar described (vers. 13-17), and the ritual for its consecration explained (vers. 18-27). Verse 13. - The measures of the altar. The altar is הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, that formerly mentioned as standing in the inner court, immediately in front of the" house" (Ezekiel 40:47), the altar of burnt offering, and not the altar of incense in the holy place (Ezekiel 41:22). Its dimensions, then omitted, are now reported in connection with its consecration, which also is narrated as a pendant to that of the "house," because of the intimate connection between the two - the consecration of the altar being practically equivalent to the consecration of the house, and the consecration of the house finding approximate expression in the consecration of the altar. As in the other portions of the temple, so in this, the measurements are given after the cubits, i.e. by or in cubits, the length of each cubit being noted at "a cubit and an hand-breadth," as in Ezekiel 40:5. They are likewise taken first from the foundation upwards (vers. 13-15), and then from the top downwards (vers. 16, 17). The first portion measured is the bottom; literally, the bosom (Hebrew, חֵיק, "that which embraces," from הוּק "to embrace;" LXX., κόλπωμα: Vulgate, sinus); but what exactly that signified is debated among interpreters. Gesenius thinks of "the hollowed part for the fire;" Hitzig, of "a frame running round, a stand in which the altar stood;" Kliefoth, of "a deepening on the wooden ring in which the whole altar stands;" Keil, of" a lower hollow or base of the altar, formed by a border of a definite height;" Smend, of "the channel or gutter of the altar base, which should receive the sacrificial blood;" Havernick, Currey, and Plumptre, of "a base upon which the altar stood." If Smend's feasible notion be not adopted, then probably that of Hitzig, Kliefoth, or Keil most nearly expresses the conception of the Hebrew term. The altar was surrounded by an enclosure in which it seemed to be set, or out of which to rise; the dimensions of this "stand" or "enclosure" being a cubit in height, and a cubit in breadth, with a border on its edge round about a span or half a cubit high. This, the stand just described, should be the higher place; literally, the back; hence the support, base (Revised Version), or elevation, ὕψος (LXX.) of the altar.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
These
וְאֵ֨לֶּה (wə·’êl·leh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

are the measurements
מִדּ֤וֹת (mid·dō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4060: Extension, height, breadth, a measure, a portion, a vestment, tribute

of the altar
הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

in long cubits
בָּֽאַמּ֔וֹת (bā·’am·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

(a cubit
אַמָּ֥ה (’am·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

and a handbreadth):
וָטֹ֑פַח (wā·ṭō·p̄aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2948: A spread of the hand, a palm-breadth, a corbel

Its gutter
וְחֵ֨יק (wə·ḥêq)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2436: The bosom

[shall be] a cubit deep
הָאַמָּ֜ה (hā·’am·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

and a cubit
וְאַמָּה־ (wə·’am·māh-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 520: A mother, a cubit, a door-base

wide,
רֹ֗חַב (rō·ḥaḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7341: Breadth, width

with a rim
וּגְבוּלָ֨הּ (ū·ḡə·ḇū·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed

of one
הָאֶחָ֔ד (hā·’e·ḥāḏ)
Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

span
זֶ֣רֶת (ze·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2239: The spread of the fingers, a span

around
סָבִיב֙ (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

its edge.
שְׂפָתָ֤הּ (śə·p̄ā·ṯāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

And this [is]
וְזֶ֖ה (wə·zeh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

the height
גַּ֥ב (gaḇ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1354: The back, the top, rim, a boss, a vault, arch of eye, bulwarks

of the altar:
הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 43:13 These are the measures of the altar (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 43:12
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