Exodus 30:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it.

NIV: It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high —its horns of one piece with it.

NASB: Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit; it shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits; its horns shall be of one piece with it.

CSB: It must be square, eighteen inches long and eighteen inches wide; it must be thirty-six inches high. Its horns must be of one piece with it.

NLT: Make it 18 inches square and 36 inches high, with horns at the corners carved from the same piece of wood as the altar itself.

KJV: A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.

NKJV: A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be square—and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it.

Exodus 30:1–10 records the design of a special altar for God's sanctuary (Exodus 25:8–9). This is smaller than the altar used for animal sacrifices (Exodus 27:1). The golden altar (Hebrews 9:3–4) is meant for daily burning of incense (Exodus 30:34). This altar is not used for other sacrifices, though some believe the single atonement each year where Aaron applies blood to an altar's horns (Leviticus 16:18; 23:27) refers to this object. The incense altar is made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Israel transports it with gilded poles fitting into two rings.

Items described here function with other sacred objects (Exodus 25—28) constructed for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9). One is a small gold-lined altar for incense. The other is a large bronze basin for ceremonial washing. The last two sets of instructions are for specially formulated anointing oil and sacred incense. Israel will establish a national tax to pay for these.

Much of Exodus is a description of the tabernacle and its components (Exodus 25—28). This is the last section of new designs given in this book. God will assign craftsmen to make the sacred objects (Exodus 31). But while Moses receives these instructions, Israel slips into idolatry (Exodus 32). The last several chapters of Exodus record how God's earlier instructions were followed with precision.

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.

Accessed 9/13/2025 5:51:25 PM