Ezekiel 43:15 — Word Study
WLCוְהַֽהַרְאֵ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣ע אַמּ֑וֹת וּמֵהָאֲרִיאֵ֣ל וּלְמַ֔עְלָה הַקְּרָנ֖וֹת אַרְבַּֽע׃
BSAThe altar hearthharʼêl△ [place of sacrifice, mount of God] [shall be] fourʼarbaʻ [a simple counting number] cubits [high]ʼammâh [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] and fourʼarbaʻ hornsqeren [a horn; a hill or peak] shall project upwardmaʻal [above, higher] from the hearthʼăriʼêyl [the fireplace, where sacrifices are burned]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְהַֽהַרְאֵ֖ל | and the altar hearth | Conjunction, particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אַרְבַּ֣ע | [is] four | Adj |
| אַמּ֑וֹת | cubits | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| וּמֵהָאֲרִיאֵ֣ל | and [are] from the altar hearth | Conjunction, preposition, particle |
| וּלְמַ֔עְלָה | and upwards | Conjunction, preposition, suffix |
| הַקְּרָנ֖וֹת | the horns | Particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| אַרְבַּֽע׃ | four | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upward from the hearth. |
| KJV | So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns. |
| ASV | And the upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns. |
| YLT | 'And the altar [is] four cubits, and from the altar and upward [are] four horns. |
| WEB | The upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns. |
| BBE | And the fireplace is four cubits high: and coming up from the fireplace are the horns, a cubit high. |
Where they part company is אַרְבַּע — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents the height of the altar hearth, with a subordinate clause detailing the horns projecting from it.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ezekiel 43:15
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Instructions for the Altargenerated
Ezekiel 43:15 provides specific details about the altar in the temple, emphasizing its height and the presence of four horns. This altar is central to the sacrificial system, highlighting its importance in worship and atonement. The surrounding verses further elaborate on the dimensions and structure of the altar, illustrating its significance in the religious practices of the Israelites.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 29:1–2 | Woe to you, O Ariel, the city of Ariel where David camped! Year upon year let your festivals recur. |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | Leviticus 9:9 | The sons of Aaron brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and applied it to the horns of the altar. And he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. |
| 4 | 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. |
| 5 | Psalm 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. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַרְאֵל, ve.ha.har.'Elgenerated
The word הַרְאֵל (ha.har.'El) refers specifically to the altar hearth, a place of sacrifice and worship. It is derived from the words for 'mount' and 'God,' indicating its sacred nature.
In this context, the altar hearth is described as a physical structure where offerings are made. The parsing indicates that it is a noun in the singular form, emphasizing its unique role in the temple.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb in this verse is implied, with the subject being the noun phrase הַרְאֵל (ha.har.'El) and the predicate describing its height and features. The structure is straightforward, presenting the altar's dimensions and characteristics clearly.
The main clause states the height of the altar hearth, followed by a prepositional phrase detailing the horns that project upward, creating a clear and descriptive sentence.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הַרְאֵל as αριηλ, which carries the same meaning of altar or altar hearth. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the term in both Hebrew and Greek contexts.
The translation shows a direct correspondence, emphasizing the altar's role in sacrificial practices without introducing additional interpretations.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezekiel 43:15 tells us that the altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upwards from the hearth. This description is part of the instructions for building the altar, which is essential for sacrifices in the temple.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The altar hearth is a central place for sacrifices, representing a connection between God and the worshippers, where offerings are made for atonement.
The measurements ensure that the altar is built according to God's specifications, emphasizing the importance of following divine instructions in worship.
The four horns on the altar symbolize strength and power, and they are places where blood from sacrifices is applied, signifying atonement.
This verse connects with other passages in the Bible that describe the altar's function and significance, such as in Exodus 27:2 and Leviticus 9:9, which also detail the altar's role in worship.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can understanding the significance of the altar enhance my appreciation of worship practices?
- What does the description of the altar teach us about God's expectations for worship?
- In what ways can I apply the principles of sacrifice and atonement in my own life?
- How does this verse connect to the broader themes of worship and sacrifice in the Bible?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 43:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSo the altar shall be four cubits,.... That is, from the greater settle; so that in the whole it was ten cubits high, the same with Solomon's, 2 Chronicles 4:1 some make this to be eleven cubits
Read John Gill on Ezekiel 43 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge
Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 43 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe altar: this upper part is now called the altar, though sometimes this name is given to the whole, as . Four cubits in height, for it was of much greater wideness, as in the next verse. From the altar; from the top of the altar, at each corner shall be a horn, four in all.
Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 43 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEzekiel 43:15 So the altar [shall be] four cubits; and from the altar and upward [shall be] four horns.Ver. 15. So the altar.] Heb., Hareel, the hill of God, or the only place of sacrifices. And from the altar.] Ariel, the lion of God; so called because the fire of this altar devoured the sacrifices, as a lion doth the prey. See Isaiah 29:16.
Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 43 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 15. So the altar] ההראל haharel, "the mount of God." And from the altar] ומהאראיל umihaariel, "and from the lion of God." Perhaps the first was a name given to the altar when elevated to the honour of God, and on which the victims were offered to him, and the second, the lion of God, may mean the hearth, which might have been thus called, because it devoured and consumed the burnt-offerings, as a lion does his prey. See on Isaiah 29:1.
Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 43 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges15. So the altar] And the altar, lit. the hearth of God (Isaiah 29:1). The word here is spelled harel (mount of God?), and in the next clause ariel (hearth of God). LXX. spells both alike, and probably they do not differ. The form ariel is also Moabite (Mesha inscr. l. 12, 17). From the second ledge up to the altar-hearth or platform was a distance of four cubits, and from the altar area rose four horns, one at each corner. LXX. for “four” reads “a cubit”—as the height of the horns.
Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 43 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe altar ... the altar - See the margin. The two words may denote, the first a square block (N) placed upon the upper settle, the second a slab (O), the thickness of which is not given, from which
Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 43 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible13-17. Here follows the measure of the sacred temple altar of burnt offering (Ezekiel 40:47). Every measure is explicitly declared to be with the sacred cubit.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 43 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upward from the hearth.
The upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns.
The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upward from the hearth.
and the altar hearth, 7 feet, and from the altar hearth four horns projecting upward.
Tyndale line
So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.
And the upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns.
And the upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns.
So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.
So the altar shalbe foure cubites, and from the altar vpward shalbe foure hornes.
Strictly literal
And the upper altar was four cubits; and from the hearth of God and upward were four horns.
'And the altar [is] four cubits, and from the altar and upward [are] four horns.
And the altar [is] four cubits, and from the altar and upward [are] four horns.
And the upper portion of the altar shall be four cubits; and from the upper surface of the altar and upward shall be the four horns.
The hearth on the altar for the burnt offerings is four cubits high, and there are four horns pointing upward on the hearth.
From the Latin
And the Ariel itself was four cubits: and from the Ariel upward were four horns.
Simplified
The altar hearth is to be four cubits high, with four horns pointing upwards from it.
And the fireplace is four cubits high: and coming up from the fireplace are the horns, a cubit high.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording for this verse, with five of the seven words matched. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the core meaning remains consistent across both texts.
וְהַֽהַרְאֵ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣ע אַמּ֑וֹת וּמֵהָאֲרִיאֵ֣ל וּלְמַ֔עְלָה הַקְּרָנ֖וֹת אַרְבַּֽע׃
5 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ezekiel 43:15
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֲרִאֵיל (ariel) refers to an altar or altar hearth, derived from the words for 'mount' and 'God.' It is used in a figurative sense to denote the altar of burnt offerings. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to altars without significant disagreement.
אֲרִאֵיל n.[m.] hearth, altar-hearth = הַרְאֵל
base
H2025 אֲרִאֵיל
2025 har'el har-ale'
from 2022 and 410; mount of God; figuratively, the altar of
burnt-offering:--altar. Compare 739.
see HEBREW for 02022
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 0739
הַרְאֵל (har.el) — altar.
altar, altar hearth
Conj | Art | N-ms — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Td/Ncmsa
harth: Occurs 7 times in the King James Version: Ge 18:6; Ps 102:3; Isa 30:14; Jer 36:22,23 bis; Zec 12:6; 4 times in the Revised Version: Le 6:9; Isa 30:14; Eze 43:15,16 ("altar hearth"); compare also Isa 29:1 the Revised Version margin. It will be noted that the renderings of the two versions agree in only one passage (Isa 30:14).
Hearth
Heb. ah (Jer. 36:22, 23; R.V., “brazier”), meaning a large pot like a brazier, a portable furnace in which fire was kept in the king’s winter apartment.
Heb. kiyor (Zech. 12:6; R.V., “pan”), a fire-pan.
Heb. moqed (Ps. 102:3; R.V., “fire-brand”), properly a fagot.
Heb. yaqud (Isa. 30:14), a burning mass on a hearth.
One way of baking much practiced in the East is to place the dough on an iron plate, either laid on or supported on legs above the vessel sunk in the ground, which forms the oven. The cakes baked "on the hearth" (Genesis 18:6) were probably baked in the existing Bedouin manner, on hot stones covered with ashes. The "hearth" of King Jehoiakim’s winter palace, (Jeremiah 36:23) was possibly a pan or brazier of charcoal. From this we see that the significance of the Hebrew words translated hearth is not the same as with us.
אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.
אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
base
H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
702 'arba` ar-bah'
masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.
see HEBREW for 07251
אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.
four
Adj — AdjHAcbsc
for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;
אַמָּה (ammah) primarily means 'cubit,' a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 0.5 meters, derived from the word for 'mother' or 'forearm.' It can also refer to a foundation or base, as noted in Isaiah 6:4. The lexicons mention different types of cubits used in the Old Testament, including the common cubit and the legal cubit.
אַמָּה 246 n.f. ell, cubit
cubit
† measure, full measure, limit
base
[אַמָּה] n.f. (etym. & mng. dub.; Thes foundation) only Is 6:4.
ref
H520a אַמָּה ell, cubit H520b אַמָּה
520 'ammah am-maw'
prolonged from 517; properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure,
or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a
door-base (as a bond of the entrance):--cubit, + hundred (by
exchange for 3967), measure, post.
see HEBREW for 0517
see HEBREW for 03967
אַמָּה (am.mah) — cubit.
cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment.
Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)
אַמָּה (am.mah) — foundation.
foundation
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
אֲרִאֵיל (ari'eyl) refers to an altar or altar hearth. The entries suggest it may be an orthographical variation of another word related to altars. It is primarily defined as a hearth or altar-hearth, indicating its use in a sacrificial or religious context.
אֲרִאֵיל n.[m.] hearth, altar-hearth = הַרְאֵל
base
H741 אֲרִאֵיל
741 'ari'eyl ar-ee-ale'
either by transposition for 739 or, more probably, an
orthographical variation for 2025; the altar of the temple:--
altar.
see HEBREW for 0739
see HEBREW for 02025
אֲרִאֵיל (a.ri.el) — altar.
hearth, altar hearth, altar
Conj | Prep | Art | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/R/Td/Ncmsa
harth: Occurs 7 times in the King James Version: Ge 18:6; Ps 102:3; Isa 30:14; Jer 36:22,23 bis; Zec 12:6; 4 times in the Revised Version: Le 6:9; Isa 30:14; Eze 43:15,16 ("altar hearth"); compare also Isa 29:1 the Revised Version margin. It will be noted that the renderings of the two versions agree in only one passage (Isa 30:14).
Hearth
Heb. ah (Jer. 36:22, 23; R.V., “brazier”), meaning a large pot like a brazier, a portable furnace in which fire was kept in the king’s winter apartment.
Heb. kiyor (Zech. 12:6; R.V., “pan”), a fire-pan.
Heb. moqed (Ps. 102:3; R.V., “fire-brand”), properly a fagot.
Heb. yaqud (Isa. 30:14), a burning mass on a hearth.
One way of baking much practiced in the East is to place the dough on an iron plate, either laid on or supported on legs above the vessel sunk in the ground, which forms the oven. The cakes baked "on the hearth" (Genesis 18:6) were probably baked in the existing Bedouin manner, on hot stones covered with ashes. The "hearth" of King Jehoiakim’s winter palace, (Jeremiah 36:23) was possibly a pan or brazier of charcoal. From this we see that the significance of the Hebrew words translated hearth is not the same as with us.
מַ֫עַל (ma'al) refers to the concept of being above or upward. It is primarily used as a noun meaning 'higher part' but appears adverbially and prepositionally in phrases indicating positions such as 'above' or 'on higher ground.' The word is built from a root meaning 'to go up' and is found in various contexts in the Old Testament.
מַ֫עַל 140 subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward
base
H4605 מַ֫עַל subst., higher part, only in adv. and prep. phrases, above, upward
4605 ma`al mah'al
from 5927; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially
with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.:--
above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on (X very) high, over,
up(-on, -ward), very.
see HEBREW for 05927
מַ֫עַל (ma.al) — above.
subst
1) higher part, upper part
adv
1a) above
prep
1b) on the top of, above, on higher ground than
with locative
1c) upwards, higher, above
Conj | Prep | Adv | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · suffixHC/R/Acbsa/Sd
The Hebrew word קֶ֫רֶן (*qeren*) primarily means 'horn,' which can refer to a ram's horn, a musical instrument, or horn-like projections on an altar. It also has figurative meanings related to strength and can denote a flask or rays of light. The term קַרְנַ֫יִם (*qarnaim*) refers to a location conquered by Israel, likely in Bashan.
קֶ֫רֶן 75 n.f. horn
of ram
used as oil-flask
as wind instr.
(from curved shape of tusks)
fig. of pers., symbol of strength
of altar, horn-like projections at corners
hill (so in Ar., peak, isolated hill)
rays at his side(s) he had (of lightning-flashes in theoph.)
base
קַרְנַ֫יִם n.pr.loc. conquered by Isr.; prob. in Bashan
base
H7161a קֶ֫רֶן horn . . of ram
. used as oil-flask
. as wind instr.
. (from curved shape of tusks)
. fig. of pers., symbol of strength
. of altar, horn-like projections at corners
. hill (so in Ar., peak, isolated hill)
. rays at his side(s) he had (of lightning-flashes in theoph.)
H7161b קַרְנַ֫יִם conquered by Isr.; prob. in Bashan
7161 qeren keh'-ren
from 7160; a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask,
cornet; by resembl. an elephant's tooth (i.e. ivory), a corner
(of the altar), a peak (of a mountain), a ray (of light);
figuratively, power:--X hill, horn.
see HEBREW for 07160
קֶ֫רֶן (qe.ren) — horn.
1) horn
1a) horn
1b) of strength (fig)
1c) flask (container for oil)
1d) horn (as musical instrument)
1e) horn (of horn-like projections on the altar)
1f) of rays of light
1g) hill
Aramaic equivalent: qe.ren (קֶ֫רֶן "horn" H7162)
קַרְנַ֫יִם (qar.na.im) — Karnaim.
(BDB) Karnaim, a place conquered by Israel probably in Bashan
Another name of ash.te.rot qar.na.yim (עַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם "Ashteroth-karnaim" H6255)
Art | N-cp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHTd/Ncfpa
אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.
אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
base
H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
702 'arba` ar-bah'
masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.
see HEBREW for 07251
אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.
four
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;