Exodus 27:1
And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.
Exodus 27:1 (KJV)
Context
The book of Exodus records how God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt and led them toward the Promised Land. At Mount Sinai, God gave Moses detailed instructions for building the tabernacle, the place where He would dwell among His people. This verse is part of those instructions. Here God commands the construction of the altar of burnt offering, which stood in the courtyard of the tabernacle and was used for sacrifices.
Meaning
The altar was made of shittim wood, also called acacia wood. This wood is hard, durable, and resistant to decay, making it suitable for a structure that would be used regularly. The altar was to be five cubits long, five cubits broad, and three cubits high. A cubit was an ancient measure, roughly the length from a person’s elbow to the tip of the fingers, about eighteen inches. So the altar was about seven and a half feet square and four and a half feet high. The word “foursquare” means that all sides were equal, giving the altar a perfect square shape. This symmetry showed order and balance, reminding Israel that God’s ways are just and righteous.
Biblical connections
The altar was central to Israel’s worship. It was the place where burnt offerings and sacrifices were made for sin and thanksgiving. The altar represented the people’s approach to God, their repentance, and their desire for reconciliation. In the New Testament, the altar points to the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin, as Hebrews 9:11-14 explains. Through Him, believers have direct access to God, as Hebrews 10:19-22 teaches. The physical altar in Exodus was a shadow of the greater sacrifice to come.
Application
Christians no longer offer animal sacrifices, but the call to worship and surrender remains. Romans 12:1 urges believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This means offering our daily lives, our time, our words, and our actions in service to Him. The altar’s precise dimensions also teach the importance of obedience. God gave exact instructions, and Israel was to follow them carefully. In the same way, believers are called to obey God’s Word and to worship Him in spirit and truth, as John 4:23-24 says. The altar’s foursquare shape reminds us that our devotion should be balanced and whole, not partial or uneven.
Reflection
The altar of shittim wood was a place where fire consumed offerings, symbolizing God’s holiness and the cost of sin. Yet it also stood as a place of mercy, where repentant hearts found forgiveness. As we read this verse, we can ask ourselves: Do we approach God with the same reverence and seriousness that the altar demanded? Do we offer Him our whole lives, not just parts? The altar in the tabernacle was a constant reminder that God is holy and that worship requires both sacrifice and obedience. Through Christ, we have a better altar and a perfect sacrifice, but the call to holy living remains the same.
