Laws About Altars
Exodus 20:22-21:1
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Exo.20.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כה: ADV
- תאמר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- ראיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- מן: PREP
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- דברתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- עמכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
Parallels
- Deut.5.4 (quotation): Restates the same claim that the LORD spoke to Israel from the midst of the fire/mountain; a near-verbatim parallel about God’s speaking to the people at Sinai.
- Deut.4.36 (verbal): Affirms that God made Israel hear his voice out of heaven to instruct them—echoes the language of God speaking to the people from above.
- Deut.4.33 (thematic): Reflects on the unique event of God speaking out of fire and heaven to a nation, highlighting the extraordinary, public revelation at Sinai.
- Exod.20.18 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the people’s sensory experience (thunder, lightning, voice) and their reaction prepare the report Moses is to give—ties directly to ‘you have seen that I have spoken.’
- Heb.12.25 (allusion): New Testament reflection that contrasts those who heard God’s voice on earth with Him who speaks from heaven; echoes the theme of divine speech from a heavenly locus.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD said to Moses, Thus you shall say to the Israelites: You yourselves have seen that from the heavens I have spoken with you.
- And the LORD said to Moses, Thus you shall say to the Israelites: You yourselves have seen that from the heavens I have spoken with you.
Exo.20.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לא: PART_NEG
- תעשון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אתי: PRON,1,sg
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- זהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תעשו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Deut.5.8 (quotation): Repeats the Decalogue prohibition against making gods; essentially the same command not to make or worship idols.
- Lev.19.4 (verbal): Commands Israel not to turn to idols or make molten gods—language and intent closely parallel Exodus' ban on crafted deities.
- Ps.115.4-8 (verbal): Describes idols of silver and gold as made by human hands and powerless, directly echoing the condemnation of metal idols in Exodus 20:23.
- Isa.44.9-20 (thematic): Satirizes idol makers and the futility of crafted gods; develops the theological critique of manufactured deities found in Exodus.
- Jer.10.3-5 (allusion): Contrasts the living God with idols 'decked with silver and gold' that cannot speak or act—an implicit echo of the prohibition against silver/gold gods.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall not make alongside me gods of silver, and you shall not make for yourselves gods of gold.
- You shall not make alongside me gods of silver, and you shall not make for yourselves gods of gold.
Exo.20.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מזבח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תעשה: VERB,qal,imf,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- וזבחת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עלתיך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+2,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- שלמיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- צאנך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- בקרך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המקום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אזכיר: VERB,hiph,impf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- שמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1cs
- אבוא: VERB,qal,impf,1,NA,sg
- אליך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- וברכתיך: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg,obj:2m,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 12:7 (thematic): Abram builds an altar when God appears and promises land — parallels the motif of making an altar and divine presence/ blessing connected with the place where God's name is invoked.
- Genesis 13:18 (verbal): Abram 'built an altar' and 'called on the name of the LORD' — language closely echoes Exodus 20:24's commands about altars and invoking God's name.
- Exodus 24:4-5 (verbal): Moses builds an altar at the mountain and offers burnt and peace offerings — a near-verbatim narrative parallel in form and sacrificial detail to 20:24.
- Deuteronomy 12:5-7, 11-14 (thematic): Instruction about the place 'that the LORD will choose' for sacrifices and eating offerings — engages the same theme of authorized places where God's name is present and where sacrifices occur.
- Leviticus 17:8-9 (allusion): Mandates bringing sacrifices to the tent/central place so that God may dwell among Israel — reflects a later legal development related to the locus of sacrifice and God's presence referenced in Exod 20:24.
Alternative generated candidates
- An altar of earth you shall make for me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.
- You shall make for me an altar of earth, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your flock and your herd; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.
Exo.20.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואם: CONJ
- מזבח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אבנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- תעשה: VERB,qal,imf,2,m,sg
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תבנה: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- אתהן: PART+PRON,3,f,pl
- גזית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- חרבך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2ms_suff
- הנפת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
- ותחללה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Deut.27.5-6 (verbal): Direct parallel command: build the altar of whole (unhewn) stones and do not use an iron tool on them — language and prohibition closely mirror Exodus 20:25.
- Josh.8.30-31 (quotation): Joshua builds an altar on Mount Ebal using unhewn stones 'as Moses commanded' (fulfillment/quotation of the instruction not to hew stones for the altar).
- 1 Kgs.6.7 (thematic): Solomon's temple construction: 'no hammer or iron tool was heard' in the house while it was being built — echoes the concern about iron/tools profaning sacred structures.
- Exod.20.24 (structural): Immediate legal context: instruction about making altars (of earth or stone) — Exodus 20:25 is a specific qualification within this altar-building law.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if you make for me an altar of stones, you shall not build it with hewn stones; for by wielding your sword upon it you profane it.
- And if you make for me an altar of stones, you shall not build it with hewn stones; for by wielding your blade upon it you profane it.
Exo.20.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ולא: CONJ
- תעלה: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- במעלת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- על: PREP
- מזבחי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- תגלה: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ערותך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exod.28:42 (verbal): Commands making linen undergarments for the priests 'to cover their naked flesh' when ministering—directly addresses the concern in Exod 20:26 about preventing exposure at the altar.
- Deut.23:13-14 (thematic): Orders removal of filth from the camp because 'the LORD walks in the midst of thy camp,' reflecting the same concern to prevent anything indecent or unclean in God's presence as the ban on ascending by steps that expose nakedness.
- 2 Sam.6:20-23 (thematic): Michal's rebuke of David for 'uncovering himself' before the ark highlights expectations of propriety and modesty before God's presence, paralleling the prohibition against exposing nakedness at the altar.
- Ps.24:3-4 (thematic): 'Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?' — the psalm's emphasis on purity and fitness to approach God parallels the law's concern that ascent to the altar not result in indecent exposure.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you shall not go up by steps upon my altar, so that your nakedness is not uncovered upon it.
- And you shall not go up by steps upon my altar, so that your nakedness not be exposed upon it.
Exo.21.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואלה: CONJ+DEM,pl,abs
- המשפטים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תשים: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- לפניהם: PREP,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Deut.4.1 (structural): An introductory summons to hear and observe a body of laws—like Exod 21:1, it functions as a transitional formula introducing legal material (statutes and judgments).
- Deut.5.1 (structural): Moses assembles Israel to present the commandments and then delivers the legal/ceremonial material—parallel in role to Exod 21:1’s presentation of judicial ordinances.
- Deut.6.1 (verbal): Uses a similar phrasing (’these are the statutes and judgments/commandments…’) and introduces a corpus of commandments to be kept, echoing the language and purpose of Exod 21:1.
- Lev.18.4 (verbal): Commands Israel to keep God’s statutes and judgments; shares the technical legal terminology (statutes/judgments) and the imperative to observe the laws introduced in Exod 21:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- And these are the ordinances that you shall set before them.
- And these are the ordinances that you shall set before them.
And the LORD said to Moses, Thus you shall say to the Israelites: You yourselves have seen that from the heavens I have spoken with you.
You shall not make alongside me gods of silver, and gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves.
An altar of earth you shall make for me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your flock and your herd; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. And if you make for me an altar of stones, you shall not build it of hewn stones; for by wielding your tool upon it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps upon my altar, so that your nakedness may not be uncovered upon it. And these are the ordinances that you shall set before them.