The Brazen Altar
Tabernacle FurnitureMeaning: “Altar of burnt offering”
The place of substitutionary sacrifice — atonement by blood.
The large bronze-covered altar at the courtyard entrance where burnt offerings were sacrificed.
What It Was
The altar of burnt offering stood just inside the courtyard gate — the first thing a worshipper met. Five cubits square and three high, of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, with horns at its corners, it was where the sacrifices were slain and burned (Exodus 27:1–8).
Biblical Significance & Symbolism
No one could approach God except by way of the altar and its shed blood — “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). It points directly to the cross, where Christ offered himself once for all.
Timeline
Built of bronze-covered acacia for sacrifices
Scripture References
19 versesExodus7 verses
Exodus 30:28
And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.
Exodus 31:9
And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, furniture: Heb. vessels
Exodus 35:16
The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
Exodus 38:1
And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.
Exodus 38:30
And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the brasen altar, and the brasen grate for it, and all the vessels of the altar,
Exodus 39:39
The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
Exodus 40:29
And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Leviticus3 verses
Leviticus 4:25
And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.
Leviticus 4:30
And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.
Leviticus 4:34
And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
1 Kings1 verse
1 Kings 8:64
The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
2 Kings2 verses
2 Kings 16:14
And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.
2 Kings 16:15
And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.
1 Chronicles1 verse
1 Chronicles 21:26
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
2 Chronicles4 verses
2 Chronicles 1:5
Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. he put: or, was there
2 Chronicles 1:6
And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
2 Chronicles 7:7
Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.
2 Chronicles 29:18
Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.
Ezekiel1 verse
Ezekiel 9:2
And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. which lieth: Heb. which is turned a slaughter: Heb. a weapon of his breaking in pieces by his: Heb. upon his loins
Topics & Symbolism
Biblical themes this object points to and helps interpret.
Related people
Related objects
People associated with this object
Frequently asked about The Brazen Altar
What was The Brazen Altar in the Bible?
The large bronze-covered altar at the courtyard entrance where burnt offerings were sacrificed.
What does The Brazen Altar symbolize?
The place of substitutionary sacrifice — atonement by blood.
What does the name The Brazen Altar mean?
The name The Brazen Altar means “Altar of burnt offering”.
What was The Brazen Altar made of?
The Brazen Altar was made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, measuring 5 × 5 × 3 cubits.
Who made The Brazen Altar?
The Brazen Altar was made by Bezalel.
Where was The Brazen Altar kept?
The Brazen Altar was kept at In the tabernacle courtyard.
Where is The Brazen Altar first mentioned in the Bible?
The Brazen Altar is first mentioned in Exodus 30:28.
How often is The Brazen Altar mentioned in the Bible?
The Brazen Altar is mentioned in 19 verses across 7 books: Exodus, Leviticus, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezekiel.
What was the brazen altar used for?
It was the altar of burnt offering at the courtyard entrance where animal sacrifices were made — the place of atonement by blood, pointing to the cross.
Sermon Mate
Preach on The Brazen Altar?
Build your outline, link these Scripture passages, and draw out the symbolism in Sermon Mate — the workspace for ministry leaders.
Open Sermon Mate →