2 Chronicles 4:1
2 Chronicles 4:1 in Multiple Translations
He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.
Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.
Then he made a brass altar, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high.
Solomon made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
And hee made an altar of brasse twentie cubites long, and twentie cubites broade, and ten cubites hie.
And he maketh an altar of brass, twenty cubits its length, and twenty cubits its breadth, and ten cubits its height.
Then he made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length of it, and twenty cubits the breadth of it, and ten cubits the hight of it.
He made also an altar of brass twenty cubits long, and twenty cubits broad, and ten cubits high.
Solomon’s workers made a square bronze altar that was 10 yards wide on each side, and it was 5 yards high.
Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Chronicles 4:1
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
2 Chronicles 4:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יַּ֨עַשׂ֙
מִזְבַּ֣ח
נְחֹ֔שֶׁת
עֶשְׂרִ֤ים
אַמָּה֙
אָרְכּ֔/וֹ
וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
אַמָּ֖ה
רָחְבּ֑/וֹ
וְ/עֶ֥שֶׂר
אַמּ֖וֹת
קוֹמָתֽ/וֹ
וַ/יַּ֨עַשׂ֙
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
מִזְבַּ֣ח
mizbêach
H4196
altar
N-ms
נְחֹ֔שֶׁת
nᵉchôsheth
H5178
bronze
N-fs
עֶשְׂרִ֤ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
twenty
Adj
אַמָּה֙
ʼammâh
H520
cubit
N-fs
אָרְכּ֔/וֹ
ʼôrek
H753
length
N-ms | Suff
וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
twenty
Conj | Adj
אַמָּ֖ה
ʼammâh
H520
cubit
N-fs
רָחְבּ֑/וֹ
rôchab
H7341
width
N-ms | Suff
וְ/עֶ֥שֶׂר
ʻeser
H6235
ten
Conj | Adj
אַמּ֖וֹת
ʼammâh
H520
cubit
N-fp
קוֹמָתֽ/וֹ
qôwmâh
H6967
height
N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — 2 Chronicles 4:1
וַ/יַּ֨עַשׂ֙
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
מִזְבַּ֣ח
mizbêach
H4196
"altar"
N-ms
An altar is a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God, as seen in the Bible's description of the tabernacle and temple. It was a central part of Israel's worship. The altar played a key role in the priestly rituals.
Definition: altar
Usage: Occurs in 338 OT verses. KJV: altar. See also: Genesis 8:20; Leviticus 7:2; 1 Kings 2:28.
נְחֹ֔שֶׁת
nᵉchôsheth
H5178
"bronze"
N-fs
This Hebrew word refers to copper or something made of it, like a coin or chain. It can also symbolize something base or impure, as in lust or filthiness. It appears in various KJV translations, including brasen and brass.
Definition: 1) copper, bronze 1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy) 1b) fetters (of copper or bronze) 1c) copper (as value)
Usage: Occurs in 119 OT verses. KJV: brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel. See also: Genesis 4:22; 1 Kings 7:38; Psalms 107:16.
עֶשְׂרִ֤ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
"twenty"
Adj
This word means twenty, and is also used as an ordinal number, like twentieth, as seen in Genesis 31:38. It can refer to a specific age or quantity.
Definition: twenty, twentieth Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
Usage: Occurs in 281 OT verses. KJV: (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). See also: Genesis 6:3; 1 Kings 9:14; Ezra 2:19.
אַמָּה֙
ʼammâh
H520
"cubit"
N-fs
A cubit is a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm, used in the Bible to describe the size of objects like the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. It is also used to describe a foundation or a door-base.
Definition: cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment. Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)
Usage: Occurs in 132 OT verses. KJV: cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for H3967 (מֵאָה)), measure, post. See also: Genesis 6:15; 2 Chronicles 3:3; Isaiah 6:4.
אָרְכּ֔/וֹ
ʼôrek
H753
"length"
N-ms | Suff
Length can refer to physical distance or a long period of time, and also to patience and self-restraint, like waiting forever for something to happen.
Definition: 1) length 1a) physical length 1b) of time 2) forbearance, self-restraint (of patience)
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] forever, length, long. See also: Genesis 6:15; Psalms 93:5; Psalms 21:5.
וְ/עֶשְׂרִ֥ים
ʻesrîym
H6242
"twenty"
Conj | Adj
This word means twenty, and is also used as an ordinal number, like twentieth, as seen in Genesis 31:38. It can refer to a specific age or quantity.
Definition: twenty, twentieth Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243)
Usage: Occurs in 281 OT verses. KJV: (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). See also: Genesis 6:3; 1 Kings 9:14; Ezra 2:19.
אַמָּ֖ה
ʼammâh
H520
"cubit"
N-fs
A cubit is a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm, used in the Bible to describe the size of objects like the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. It is also used to describe a foundation or a door-base.
Definition: cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment. Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)
Usage: Occurs in 132 OT verses. KJV: cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for H3967 (מֵאָה)), measure, post. See also: Genesis 6:15; 2 Chronicles 3:3; Isaiah 6:4.
רָחְבּ֑/וֹ
rôchab
H7341
"width"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means width or breadth, used to describe physical size or space. It appears in the Bible to describe the width of the earth or a room. In the KJV, it is translated as breadth or broad.
Definition: breadth, width, expanse
Usage: Occurs in 89 OT verses. KJV: breadth, broad, largeness, thickness, wideness. See also: Genesis 6:15; Ezekiel 40:13; Isaiah 8:8.
וְ/עֶ֥שֶׂר
ʻeser
H6235
"ten"
Conj | Adj
This Hebrew word means the number ten, often used in combination with other numbers to describe larger quantities, such as in the story of the ten commandments in Exodus 20. It is commonly translated as 'ten' in the KJV.
Definition: 1) ten 1a) ten 1b) with other numbers Aramaic equivalent: a.sar (עֲשַׂר "ten" H6236)
Usage: Occurs in 157 OT verses. KJV: ten, (fif-, seven-) teen. See also: Genesis 5:14; 1 Kings 6:3; Isaiah 5:10.
אַמּ֖וֹת
ʼammâh
H520
"cubit"
N-fp
A cubit is a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm, used in the Bible to describe the size of objects like the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. It is also used to describe a foundation or a door-base.
Definition: cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment. Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)
Usage: Occurs in 132 OT verses. KJV: cubit, [phrase] hundred (by exchange for H3967 (מֵאָה)), measure, post. See also: Genesis 6:15; 2 Chronicles 3:3; Isaiah 6:4.
קוֹמָתֽ/וֹ
qôwmâh
H6967
"height"
N-fs | Suff
Qomah refers to height or stature, describing how tall someone or something is, like the height of a person or a building in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: 1) height 1a) height, stature 1b) height
Usage: Occurs in 43 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] along, height, high, stature, tall. See also: Genesis 6:15; 1 Kings 7:23; Isaiah 10:33.
Study Notes — 2 Chronicles 4:1
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- 2 Chronicles 4:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 4:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 4:1
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:1
- Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:1
- Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 4:1
- Barnes' Notes on 2 Chronicles 4:1
- Sermons on 2 Chronicles 4:1
Context — The Bronze Altar and Molten Sea
1He made a bronze altar twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.
2He also made the Sea of cast metal. It was circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim, five cubits in height, and thirty cubits in circumference. 3Below the rim, figures of oxen encircled it, ten per cubit all the way around the Sea, cast in two rows as a part of the Sea.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 8:64 | On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar before the LORD was too small to contain all these offerings. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 43:13–17 | These are the measurements of the altar in long cubits (a cubit and a handbreadth): Its gutter shall be a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this is the height of the altar: The space from the gutter on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the ledge one cubit wide. The space from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits, and the ledge one cubit wide. The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upward from the hearth. The altar hearth shall be square at its four corners, twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide. The ledge shall also be square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide, with a rim of half a cubit and a gutter of a cubit all around it. The steps of the altar shall face east.” |
| 3 | 1 Kings 9:25 | Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built for the LORD, burning incense with them before the LORD. So he completed the temple. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 8:22 | Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, |
| 5 | 2 Kings 16:14–15 | He also took the bronze altar that stood before the LORD from the front of the temple (between the new altar and the house of the LORD) and he put it on the north side of the new altar. Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, as well as the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings of all the people of the land. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar to seek guidance.” |
| 6 | 2 Chronicles 1:5 | But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was in Gibeon before the tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the assembly inquired of Him there. |
| 7 | Exodus 27:1–8 | “You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze. Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots for removing ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its firepans. 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. Additionally, make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze. The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried. Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain. |
2 Chronicles 4:1 Summary
This verse describes a large bronze altar that King Solomon made for the temple, which was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high. The altar was used for burnt offerings and sacrifices, which were an important part of the Israelites' worship and atonement for sin, as seen in Leviticus 1:1-17. Just like the Israelites needed to make sacrifices to atone for their sins, we need to recognize our own sin and accept the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us on the cross, as described in Romans 3:23-25. By understanding the significance of the bronze altar, we can appreciate the depth of God's love and mercy towards us, as seen in Psalm 103:8-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the bronze altar in the temple?
The bronze altar was used for burnt offerings and sacrifices, as described in Leviticus 1:1-17, and was a crucial part of the Israelites' worship and atonement for sin, as seen in Exodus 29:38-42.
Why was the bronze altar made to specific dimensions?
The specific dimensions of the bronze altar, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high, may have been prescribed by God to emphasize the importance of precision and obedience in the construction of the temple, as seen in 1 Chronicles 28:11-19.
How does the bronze altar relate to the ministry of Jesus Christ?
The bronze altar, where sacrifices were made to atone for sin, foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, as described in Hebrews 10:1-14, where He became the final and perfect sacrifice for our sins.
What can we learn from the materials used to make the bronze altar?
The use of bronze, a strong and durable metal, may symbolize the strength and endurance of God's people, as seen in Isaiah 40:31, where those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles.
Reflection Questions
- What does the construction of the bronze altar reveal about King Solomon's priorities and values?
- How does the description of the bronze altar's dimensions help me appreciate the attention to detail in God's plan for our lives?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of precise obedience, as seen in the construction of the bronze altar, to my own walk with God?
- How does the bronze altar's role in the temple's worship and sacrifice remind me of the importance of reverence and awe in my own worship and relationship with God?
Gill's Exposition on 2 Chronicles 4:1
[See comments on 2 Chronicles 3:1].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Chronicles 4:1
Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof. He made an altar of brass.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:1
2 CHAPTER 4 The altar of brass, . The molten sea upon twelve oxen, . The ten lavers, candlesticks, and tables, . The courts, and the instruments of brass, . The instruments of gold, . Quest. How could this be, when God had said, Thou shalt not go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon, , and steps were necessary for so high an altar as this was? Answ. 1. These steps were so made that there was no fear of this inconvenience. 2. That law was useful and fit when it was made; but afterwards, when the priests were commanded to wear linen breeches in their holy ministrations to cover their nakedness, , it was not necessary. 3.
Howsoever God could undoubtedly dispense with his own law, as here he did; for he it was that gave these dimensions for the altar.
Trapp's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:1
2 Chronicles 4:1 Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.Ver. 1. Moreover, he made an altar of brass.] This altar was a type of the cross of Christ, yea, of Christ himself. "We also have an altar," &c. And ten cubits the height thereof.] That all the people might see the burnt offerings, and be reminded of their sins and of their Saviour; for the ceremonial law was their gospel.
Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:1
(a) THE VESSELS OF THE TEMPLE (2 Chronicles 4:1-10). THE BRAZEN ALTAR (2 Chronicles 4:1). (l) An altar of brass.—The brazen altar, or altar of burnt offering, made by Solomon, is not noticed in the parallel chapters of Kings (1 Kings 6, 7) which describe the construction of the temple and its vessels of service, but it is incidentally mentioned in another passage of the older work (1 Kings 9:25), and its existence seems to be implied in 1 Kings 8:22; 1 Kings 8:64. This altar stood in the inner court of the temple. It rose from a terraced platform. (Comp. Ezekiel 43:13-17.) The Hebrew of this verse is such as to suggest that it must have existed in the original document. The style is the same. (Comp. the construction of the numerals with the noun, and note the word qômâh, “height,” now used for the first time by the chronicler.) It would appear, therefore, that the verse has been accidentally omitted from the text of Kings. THE BRAZEN SEA (2 Chronicles 4:2-5).
(Comp. 1 Kings 7:23-26.) (2) Also he made a molten sea.—And he made the sea (i.e., the great basin) molten—i.e., of cast metal. Of ten cubits . . . thereof.—Ten in the cubit from its lip to its lip, circular all round; and five in the cubit was its height. Word for word as in 1 Kings 7:23, save that Kings has one different preposition (‘ad, “unto,” instead of ‘el, “to”). “Lip.” Comp. “lip of the sea,” Genesis 22:17; “lip of the Jordan,” 2 Kings 2:13; a metaphor which is also used in Greek. And a line of thirty cubits . . .—Line, i.e., measuring-line, as in Ezekiel 47:3. The Hebrew is qâw. In Kings we read a rare form, qâwèh. The rest of the clause is the same in both texts. Did compass.—Would compass, or go round it.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:1
CHAPTER IV The brazen altar, 1. Molten sea, and its supporters, 2-5. The ten lavers, 6. Ten golden candlesticks, 7. Ten tables, the hundred golden basons, and the priests' court, 8-10. The works which Huram performed, 11-17. Solomon finishes the temple, and its utensils, 18-22. NOTES ON CHAP. IV
Cambridge Bible on 2 Chronicles 4:1
Ch. 2 Chronicles 4:1. The Altar of Brass 1. twenty cubits] The measurements of the altar belonging to Solomon’s Temple are not given in 1 Kings; but in Exodus 38:1 the altar made in the wilderness is described as measuring five cubits by five cubits, and in height three cubits. An altar three cubits high could perhaps be served from the ground, but one of ten cubits would require steps, which are forbidden in Exodus 20:26. In Ezekiel 43:17, however, it is assumed that the altar must have steps and a position is assigned them on the East, so that the priest ascending them faces the direction of the Holy of Holies which was on the West.
Barnes' Notes on 2 Chronicles 4:1
The supplementary character of Chronicles is here once more apparent. The author of Kings had omitted to record the dimensions of the brass altar. It stood in the great court 2 Chronicles 6:12-13.
Sermons on 2 Chronicles 4:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Building of the Temple Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of being aware of the presence of God in our lives. He emphasizes that if we were more conscious of Jesus' presence, we |
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1.4 the Moment of Revival by Colin Peckham | In this sermon, the speaker shares his experiences of witnessing the presence of God in meetings and conventions. He recounts a specific incident where he handed over the meeting t |
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The Offering Up of the Body of Jesus by Joshua Daniel | This sermon delves into the significance of altars, emphasizing the offerings we bring to God, the true value of sacrifices, and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It hi |
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The Altar (The Cross) Governs Everything by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the centrality and universality of the Cross in his sermon 'The Altar (The Cross) Governs Everything.' He illustrates how the altar in Ezekiel's vision |
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A Monument Before God by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the preacher talks about a widow who demonstrated unwavering faith and generosity. He emphasizes the importance of acts of kindness and helping those in need, as th |
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(1 Kings) the Wisdom of Solomon by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of organization and order in the Bible. He uses the example of God organizing the Israelites in the book of Numbers to emphasiz |
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Christ Church Ministries by Hattie Hammond | In this sermon, the speaker shares about the importance of hearing from God and experiencing His presence. They recount a story of a young minister who asked if there was any word |