The Meaning of Exodus 27:1 Explained

Exodus 27:1

KJV: 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.

YLT: And thou hast made the altar of shittim wood, five cubits the length, and five cubits the breadth -- the altar is square -- and three cubits its height.

Darby: And thou shalt make the altar of acacia-wood, five cubits the length, and five cubits the breadth; the altar shall be square; and the height thereof three cubits.

ASV: And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 27:1 Mean?

Study Notes

altar
Brazen altar, type of the Cross upon which Christ, our whole burnt-offering offered Himself without spot to God Hebrews 9:14 .
height (Cf) Exodus 25:10 . The altar of burnt offering is double the height of the mercy-seat. The atonement more than saves us-- it glorifies God John 17:14 .
shittim i.e. acacia.
wood The wood (Christ's humanity), completely inclosed in brass, must have become completely charred by sacrificial fires. Cf. Hebrews 10:5-7 .
height (Cf) Exodus 25:10 . The altar of burnt offering is double the height of the mercy-seat. The atonement more than saves us-- it glorifies God John 17:14 .
shittim i.e. acacia.
wood The wood (Christ's humanity), completely inclosed in brass, must have become completely charred by sacrificial fires. Cf. Hebrews 10:5-7 .
shittim i.e. acacia.
wood The wood (Christ's humanity), completely inclosed in brass, must have become completely charred by sacrificial fires. Cf. Hebrews 10:5-7 .

Context Summary

Exodus 27:1-19 - The Altar And The Court
The brazen altar is dealt with long before any particular mention is made of the altar of incense, because the question of our relationship with God, through the death of our Lord on the Cross, must precede our fellowship with Him, and our successful intercession. Each of these altars was made of the same kind of wood, but in the case of the altar we are now considering, and which stood in front of the Tabernacle, the wood was encased in brass, that metal suggesting the severity of the sacrificial flame that burned at the Crucifixion, when Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. Let us distinguish between these altars. We have passed beyond the one; we are called to minister perpetually at the other. The court was fifty yards long by twenty-five broad, and was formed by curtains of fine-twined yarn. There must be separation between God's priests and the world. See 1 Peter 2:5. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 27

1  The altar of burnt offering, with the vessels thereof
9  The court of the tabernacle enclosed with hangings and pillars
18  The measure of the court, and the furniture of brass
20  The oil for the lamp

What do the individual words in Exodus 27:1 mean?

And You shall make - an altar of wood acacia five cubits long and five wide square shall be the altar and three its height [shall be]
וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶת־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים חָמֵשׁ֩ אַמּ֨וֹת אֹ֜רֶךְ וְחָמֵ֧שׁ רֹ֗חַב רָב֤וּעַ יִהְיֶה֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְשָׁלֹ֥שׁ קֹמָתֽוֹ

וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ  And  You  shall  make 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ  an  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
עֲצֵ֣י  of  wood 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
שִׁטִּ֑ים  acacia 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שִׁטָּה  
Sense: acacia tree, acacia wood.
חָמֵשׁ֩  five 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: חָמֵשׁ  
Sense: five.
אַמּ֨וֹת  cubits 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אַמָּה 
Sense: cubit—a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 8 in (.
אֹ֜רֶךְ  long 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹרֶךְ  
Sense: length.
וְחָמֵ֧שׁ  and  five 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, feminine singular
Root: חָמֵשׁ  
Sense: five.
רֹ֗חַב  wide 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹחַב  
Sense: breadth, width, expanse.
רָב֤וּעַ  square 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: רָבַע  
Sense: to square, be squared.
יִהְיֶה֙  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ  the  altar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
וְשָׁלֹ֥שׁ  and  three 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, feminine singular
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
קֹמָתֽוֹ  its  height  [shall  be] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹומָה  
Sense: height.