Deep Dive

Exodus 20:25

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Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 25

All things being prepared for the solemn promulgation of the divine law, we have, in this chapter, I. The ten commandments, as God himself spoke them upon mount Sinai (v. 1-17), as remarkable a portion of scripture as any in the Old Testament. II. The impressions made upon the people thereby (Exo 20:18-21). III. Some particular instructions which God gave privately to Moses, to be by him communicated to the people, relating to his worship (Exo 20:22, etc.).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 25

עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbêach, H4196) — an altar אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) גָּזִית (gâzîyth, H1496) — something cut, i.e. dressed stone נוּף (nûwph, H5130) — to quiver (i.e. vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in a great variety of… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… חָלַל (châlal, H2490) — properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Joshua 8:31rank 6

just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used.” And on it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD, and they sacrificed peace offerings.

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