What does Exodus 27:3 mean?
ESV: You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and fire pans. You shall make all its utensils of bronze.
NIV: Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.
NASB: And you shall make its pails for removing its ashes, and its shovels, its basins, its forks, and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze.
CSB: Make its pots for removing ashes, and its shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans; make all its utensils of bronze.
NLT: Make ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans, all of bronze.
KJV: And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
NKJV: Also you shall make its pans to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze.
Verse Commentary:
Please see our chapter commentary on Exodus 27; verse-level content coming soon!
Verse Context:
Exodus 27:1–8 records the construction of a bronze sacrificial altar. Israel is to make this of acacia wood overlaid with bronze. Four "horns" protrude from the corners. A grating sits inside and halfway up the altar's height. This altar is carried with bronze-coated poles. This will be known as the "altar of burnt offering" (Leviticus 4:7; 16:18) and placed directly inside the courtyard of the tabernacle.
Chapter Summary:
This passage describes more components of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9). These include a bronze altar for burnt sacrifices. The tabernacle itself (Exodus 26) sits inside a courtyard marked by hanging linens. This area is also home to a basin to be explained later (Exodus 30:17–18).
Chapter Context:
The Lord is describing the sanctuary (Exodus 25:8–9) and sacred objects which Israel is to build. Chapter 25 included the ark, a sacred table, and a lampstand. Chapter 26 described the tabernacle itself, made of wooden scaffolds, linen, and animal skins. This passage depicts the bronze altar, courtyard walls, and lamp oil. Future chapters will discuss priestly concerns, an incense altar, and other regulations.
Book Summary:
The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.
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