Ezekiel 43:13

The Altar of Sacrifice

13 "And these are the measurements of the 1altar by cubits (the 2cubit 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.

Ezekiel 43:13 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 43:13

And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits
Of the altar of burnt offering, which though measured before, the dimensions were not given till now; see ( Ezekiel 40:47 ) , this altar was a type of Christ, ( Hebrews 13:10 ) with respect to his deity, which is greater than the sacrifice of his human nature, the support of it, which sanctified it, and gave virtue and efficacy to it, and rendered it acceptable to God, ( Matthew 23:19 ) and the measures of it are said to be after the cubits used in the measuring of places and things belonging to this house, described; and what these were appears by what follows: the cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth;
not the common cubit, but what was larger than that by a hand breadth, or three inches: even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit;
or, "the bosom" F20; that is, the foundation of the altar, as the Targum and Jarchi; the basis, foot, or settle of it; this was a cubit high, and a cubit broad: and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span;
the edge or "lip" F21, of this bottom or settle, was a cubit broad, for the priests to stand and go round the altar, and to this there was a border of a span, or half a cubit, to prevent their slipping; or else to keep the blood, poured at the foot of the altar, from running upon the pavement: and this shall be the higher place of the altar;
or the projection or jetting of it out beyond others, which was further than any other part; otherwise it was the lower part of the altar.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (qyx) "sinus", Montanus; "gremium", Munster, Cocceius, Starckius. Ben Melech interprets it the middle of the altar.
F21 (htpv) "labium ejus", Pagninus, Montanus.

Ezekiel 43:13 In-Context

11 "If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them.
12 "This is the law of the house: its entire area on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.
13 "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.
14 "From the base on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits and the width one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits and the width one cubit.
15 "The altar hearth shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth shall extend upwards four horns.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Exodus 27:1-8; 2 Chronicles 4:1
  • 2. Ezekiel 40:5; Ezekiel 41:8

Footnotes 2

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