Ezekiel 43:13

13 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.

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 And if they shall be ashamed of all that they have done, show them the form of the house, and the fashion of it, and its goings out, and its comings in, and all its forms, and all its ordinances, and all its forms, and all its laws: and write [it] in their sight, that they may keep the whole form of it, and all its ordinances, and do them.
12 This [is] the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain, the whole limit of it around [shall be] most holy. Behold, this [is] the law of the house.
13 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.
14 And from the bottom [upon] the ground [even] to the lower settle [shall be] two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle [even] to the greater settle [shall be] four cubits, and the breadth [one] cubit.
15 So the altar [shall be] four cubits; and from the altar and upward [shall be] four horns.
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