Bible Strands
Exodus 27:2
Make a horn on each of its four corners, so that the horns are of one piece, and overlay it with bronze.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God commands Moses to complete the structural specifications for the tabernacle altar immediately after defining its acacia wood dimensions and before listing its utensils.
The words — The Hebrew קַרְנֹתָיו (qarnotav, "its horns") and תִּהְיֶינָה (tihyeyna, "they will be") combine with מִמֶּנּוּ (mimmennu, "from it") to state that the horns are formed integrally from the altar's material rather than attached separately.
The thread — This physical feature reappears in ritual law where blood is applied to the horns (Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7) and in poetic instruction to bind sacrifices to them (Psalms 118:27).
Why it lands — The command demands exact construction standards, requiring the reader to recognize that the altar's projecting corners are structurally unified with its base before any bronze overlay is applied.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.
Cross-references
- Psalms 118:27 The LORD is God; He has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
- Exodus 29:12 Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
- Leviticus 4:7 The priest must then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. And he is to pour out the rest of the bull’s blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Kings 1:50 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.
- Leviticus 4:18 He is also to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and he must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
- Leviticus 4:25 Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
- Leviticus 8:15 Moses slaughtered the bull, took some of the blood, and applied it with his finger to all four horns of the altar, purifying the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it so that atonement could be made on it.
- Leviticus 16:18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar.
- Numbers 16:38 As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”
- 1 Kings 2:28 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.