The Altar
Altars mark encounters with God and covenant worship.
AI-generated artistic depiction (no historical imagery exists)
The altar is a recurring structure in the Hebrew scriptures, built by patriarchs and leaders as a place of worship, sacrifice, and divine encounter. Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings after the flood (Genesis 8:20). Abram built altars at Shechem (Genesis 12:7), between Bethel and Hai (Genesis 12:8), and later at Hebron (Genesis 13:18), where he called on the name of the LORD. Isaac built an altar at Beersheba (Genesis 26:25), and Jacob erected altars at Shechem (Genesis 33:20) and Bethel (Genesis 35:7). Moses built altars after the victory over Amalek (Exodus 17:15) and at Sinai (Exodus 24:4).
Lore & Background
Altars served as physical sites for offering sacrifices and invoking God's name. Noah's altar involved clean beasts and fowl (Genesis 8:20). Abraham's altar at Moriah was where he bound Isaac (Genesis 22:9). Jacob's altars commemorated divine appearances (Genesis 35:1, 35:7). Moses' altar at Sinai was used for covenant ratification, with blood sprinkled on it (Exodus 24:6). The altar also functioned as a place of asylum: a murderer could be taken from it for execution (Exodus 21:14).
Reader's Guide
The passages portray the altar as both a simple structure of earth or unhewn stone (Exodus 20:24-25) and a more elaborate construction of shittim wood overlaid with brass, with horns, rings, and staves for transport (Exodus 27:1-7). Instructions forbid steps to avoid exposing nakedness (Exodus 20:26). The altar was central to priestly ministry: Aaron and his sons had to wear proper garments when approaching it (Exodus 28:43). Blood was applied to its horns and poured at its base (Exodus 29:12), and fat was burned upon it (Exodus 29:13). The New Testament reference speaks of an altar that those serving the tabernacle have no right to eat from (Hebrews 13:10).
Did You Know?
- Noah's altar is the first altar mentioned in scripture, built after the flood (Genesis 8:20).
- Abraham built altars at multiple locations, including Shechem, Bethel, Hebron, and Moriah (Genesis 12:7; 12:8; 13:18; 22:9).
- Moses named an altar 'Jehovahnissi' after a battle (Exodus 17:15).
- The altar of the tabernacle was made of shittim wood and overlaid with brass, with rings and staves for carrying (Exodus 27:1-7).