In biblical terminology, the term "grate" refers to a metal lattice or grid, often used in the context of the altar of burnt offerings in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. The grate served both practical and symbolic purposes in the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 27:4-5 : "You are to 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."

In this passage, God provides Moses with specific instructions for constructing the altar of burnt offerings. The bronze grate was to be placed beneath the altar's ledge, allowing the ashes from the sacrifices to fall through and be collected. This design facilitated the burning process and ensured that the altar remained functional and clean.

2. Exodus 38:4-5 : "He made for the altar a bronze grate of mesh under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom. At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles."

This passage describes the actual construction of the altar by Bezalel, the skilled craftsman appointed by God. The grate's inclusion in the altar's design highlights its importance in the sacrificial system, ensuring that the offerings were consumed by fire as prescribed.

Symbolic Significance:

The grate's function in the sacrificial system can be seen as a representation of the separation between the holy and the profane. The burning of sacrifices on the altar symbolized the purification and atonement for sin, with the grate serving as a barrier that allowed only the smoke and aroma of the offering to ascend to God. This imagery underscores the necessity of mediation and purification in approaching a holy God.

Construction and Materials:

The use of bronze for the grate is significant. Bronze, a durable and resilient metal, was often associated with judgment and strength in biblical symbolism. The choice of material reflects the altar's role in the execution of divine justice and the strength of God's covenant with His people.

Theological Implications:

The grate's presence in the altar of burnt offerings points to the broader theme of atonement and reconciliation with God. The sacrificial system, with its detailed instructions and components like the grate, foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law and provided a means for humanity's redemption. The grate, therefore, is a reminder of the meticulous care with which God established His covenant and the lengths to which He would go to restore fellowship with His creation.

In summary, the grate in the biblical context is more than a mere functional component; it is a symbol of God's provision for atonement and the careful design of His redemptive plan.A network of brass for the bottom of the great altar of sacrifice (Exodus 27:4; 35:16; 38:4, 5, 30). 1. (a.) Serving to gratify; agreeable.

2. (n.) A structure or frame containing parallel or crossed bars, with interstices; a kind of latticework, such as is used in the windows of prisons and cloisters.

3. (n.) A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.

4. (v. t.) To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars; as, to grate a window.

5. (v. t.) To rub roughly or harshly, as one body against another, causing a harsh sound; as, to grate the teeth; to produce (a harsh sound) by rubbing.

6. (v. t.) To reduce to small particles by rubbing with anything rough or indented; as, to grate a nutmeg.

7. (v. t.) To fret; to irritate; to offend.

8. (v. i.) To make a harsh sound by friction.

9. (v. i.) To produce the effect of rubbing with a hard rough material; to cause wearing, tearing, or bruising. Hence; To produce exasperation, soreness, or grief; to offend by oppression or importunity.

GRATE; GRATING

grat, grat'-ing (mikhbar, resheth; the King James Version Grate): This "grating of network of brass" (Exodus 27:4; Exodus 38:4), called also "the net" (Exodus 27:4 f), and "grating of brass" (Exodus 38:4), was that reticulated casting or wrought work of bronze which, in the tabernacle system, formed an element of the altar of sacrifice. Its position is well defined: "Thou shalt put it under the ledge round the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar" (Exodus 27:5; compare Exodus 38:4). The altar being a hollow box-"hollow with planks" (Exodus 27:8)-3 cubits high, overlaid with brass, and presumably filled with stones, there appears to have been a ledge round about it halfway from the base, from which depended vertically this grating of bronze. On the grating were four rings through which the staves were passed by which the altar was borne (Exodus 27:4, 7). If the ledge was for the priests to stand on while handling the sacrifices on the altar, the grating need be thought of only as an ornamental support for the ledge. Others ascribe to it different uses.

W. Shaw Caldecott

5149. trizo -- to cry, chirp, to grind the teeth
... to cry, chirp, to grind the teeth. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: trizo Phonetic
Spelling: (trid'-zo) Short Definition: I grate, gnash Definition: I grate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5149.htm - 6k

1031. brucho -- to bite, to gnash
... gnash. A primary verb; to grate the teeth (in pain or rage) -- gnash. (ebruchon) --
1 Occurrence. 1030, 1031. brucho. 1032 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1031.htm - 6k

4345. makber -- a netted cloth, coverlet
... grate. From kabar in the sense of covering (compare kbarah); a grate -- grate. see
HEBREW kabar. see HEBREW kbarah. 4344, 4345. makber. 4346 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/4345.htm - 6k

2786. charaq -- to gnash or grind
... root Definition to gnash or grind NASB Word Usage gnash (2), gnashed (2), gnashes
(1). gnash. A primitive root; to grate the teeth -- gnash. 2785, 2786. ...
/hebrew/2786.htm - 5k

1624. garah -- to stir up (strife), engage in strife
... contend, meddle, stir up, strive. A primitive root; properly, to grate, ie
(figuratively) to anger -- contend, meddle, stir up, strive. 1623, 1624. ...
/hebrew/1624.htm - 6k

He came to his Own.
... Laddie. He'll be so glad to have me." And bright-coloured visions flitted
through her mind, as she sat over her tea by the open grate. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/he came to his own.htm

The Channel of Power.
... What a strange book this Bible is! It makes such radical statements, and uses such
unpleasant words that grate on the nerves, and startle the ear. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/the channel of power.htm

Visitors and Pastimes
... Throwing the plug of tobacco through the iron grate of his cell, he said: "What
brought me here? What keeps me here? Why am I here? Tobacco! tobacco! tobacco! ...
/.../byrum/how john became a man/chapter vi visitors and pastimes.htm

The Procession of Sorrow
... Hark how their loud voices demand that he should be hastened to execution!
How harshly grate the cruel syllables, "Crucify him! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the procession of sorrow.htm

But Whilst the King Has not that Most Blessed Light...
... apparently prosper, and goodness and truth are forced to the wall,"in such a scene
of awful disorder, laughter and mirth are but discord, and grate upon the ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter vii but whilst the.htm

At Home in Castile
... parts of the country and from over the seas who were taking a rest-time in the lovely
village; and pleasant evenings before the cheerful grate fire in Dr ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hoskins/clara a swain md/at home in castile.htm

Love
... same great Spirit to be still standing between the heavens and the earth, how sad
must he be, when he hears the jarring discard, and feels it grate upon the ear ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/love.htm

Canones Synodi Dordrechtan??.
... Hoc est illud Dei beneficium, in quo exultant Ecclesi?? Belgic??, et fidelis Servatoris
sui miserationes humiliter agnoscunt, ac grate pr??dicant. ...
/.../canones synodi dordrechtanae.htm

Love Never Tests.
... Satan shifts the scene. These wilderness surroundings grate on his nerves. The
setting of this place, once first class, is now rather worn. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/love never tests.htm

The Prisoner.
... 8,6,8,6. The prisoner. When the poor pris'ner through a grate. Sees others walk
at large; How does he mourn his lonely state,. And long for a discharge? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 34 the prisoner.htm

Grate (6 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars; as, to
grate a window. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GRATE; GRATING. ...
/g/grate.htm - 10k

Brazen (42 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Exodus 27:4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon
the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof. ...
/b/brazen.htm - 25k

Grating (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. &. vb. n.) of Grate. ... 6. (n.) A harsh sound caused
by attrition. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GRATE; GRATING. ...
/g/grating.htm - 10k

Staffs (47 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:16 The altar of burnt-offering, with its brazen grate, its staffs,
and all its vessels, the laver and its foot, (WBS). ...
/s/staffs.htm - 19k

Staves (50 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:16 The altar of burnt offering, with his brazen grate, his staves, and
all his vessels, the laver and his foot, (KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT). ...
/s/staves.htm - 23k

Net-work (11 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Exodus 27:4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of net-work of brass; and
upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in its four corners. (WBS YLT). ...
/n/net-work.htm - 9k

Gnash (12 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Hebrews harak, meaning "to grate the teeth", (Job
16:9; Psalm 112:10; Lamentations 2:16), denotes rage or sorrow. ...
/g/gnash.htm - 12k

Laver (13 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:16 The altar of burnt offering, with his brazen grate, his staves, and
all his vessels, the laver and his foot, (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/l/laver.htm - 17k

Maketh (399 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Exodus 38:4 And he maketh for the altar a brazen grate of net-work,
under its border beneath, unto its midst; (YLT). Exodus ...
/m/maketh.htm - 34k

Grind (12 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) To move with much difficulty or friction; to grate. 9. (vi) To perform hard
and distasteful service; to drudge; to study hard, as for an examination. ...
/g/grind.htm - 11k

Grate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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