Altars were important in the Old Testament. The first altar that is mentioned in the Bible is that of Adam, in Genesis 2:4. In Exodus 25, we read about how God commanded the Israelites to build altars and how he instructed them on what substances must be used to construct them. Altars (Hebrew: מִזְבֵּחַ, mīzbēaḥ, “a place of slaughter or sacrifice”) in the Hebrew Bible were typically made of earth (Exodus 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25). Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Genesis 22:9; Ezekiel 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8).
There are many other passages in the Bible that mention altars, including but not limited to the following: Exodus 30 and 40; 1 Kings 6; Daniel 3; Ezekiel 43; and more.
Altars (Hebrew: מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeaḥ, “a place of slaughter or sacrifice”) in the Hebrew Bible were typically made of earth (Exodus 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25). Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Genesis 22:9; Ezekiel 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8).
What Are the Altars in The Old Testament?
1. Altar of Burnt Offering
– This altar was located in the courtyard of the tabernacle and later in the temple. It was used for sacrificing animals as an atonement for sin.
2. Altar of Incense
– This altar was located in the Holy Place of the tabernacle and later in the temple. It was used for burning incense as a symbol of prayers ascending to God.
3. Altar of Elijah
– This altar was constructed by the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel for the contest with the prophets of Baal.
4. Altar of Gideon
– This altar was constructed by Gideon as a symbol of his faith in God before going into battle against the Midianites.
5. Altar of Jethro
– This altar was constructed by Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, as a place of sacrifice and worship.
6. Altar of the Golden Calf
– This altar was constructed by the Israelites in the wilderness as they worshiped the golden calf instead of the true God.
| Altar Name | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Altar of Burnt Offering | Courtyard of the tabernacle/temple | Sacrifice for sin |
| Altar of Incense | Holy Place of the tabernacle/temple | Burning incense for prayers |
| Altar of Elijah | Mount Carmel | Contest with prophets of Baal |
| Altar of Gideon | Near Ophrah | Symbol of faith before battle |
| Altar of Jethro | Unknown | Place of sacrifice and worship |
| Altar of the Golden Calf | Wilderness | Idolatrous worship |
7 Altars Mentioned in the Bible
1. Altar of Noah (Genesis 8:20)
After the flood, Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings to God as an act of gratitude. This was the first mention of an altar in the Bible, symbolizing the restoration and renewal of the relationship between humanity and God.
2. Altar of Abraham (Genesis 12:7-8)
When God made a covenant with Abraham, he built altars in different locations as a sign of worship and consecration. The altar in Shechem, for example, symbolized Abraham’s commitment to God’s promises and his acknowledgment of God’s presence in his life.
3. Altar of Isaac (Genesis 26:25)
Isaac followed in his father Abraham’s footsteps and built an altar in Beersheba. This act of worship demonstrated Isaac’s faith and trust in God’s guidance and provision.
4. Altar of Jacob (Genesis 35:1-3)
After his encounter with God at Bethel, Jacob built an altar as an expression of his commitment to God and the transformation he experienced. This altar marked a turning point in Jacob’s life, symbolizing his surrender and consecration to God’s plan.
5. Altar of Moses (Exodus 17:15)
Following their victory over the Amalekites, Moses built an altar and called it “The LORD is my Banner.” This altar served as a testament to God’s faithfulness and strength in battle.
6. Altar of Elijah (1 Kings 18:30-32)
During the showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord that had been neglected. This act of restoration and worship set the stage for God’s miraculous display of power, proving that He is the one true God.
7. Altar of Solomon (2 Chronicles 3:1)
Solomon built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem, which included a new altar for sacrifices. This altar reflected the splendor of God’s presence and the grandeur of Solomon’s reign.
Altars in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the concept of altars shifts from physical structures to a spiritual understanding. With the coming of Jesus Christ, the need for animal sacrifices and physical altars was fulfilled through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
Nevertheless, the New Testament still mentions altars, but in a metaphorical sense. For example, the author of Hebrews refers to Jesus as the High Priest who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the heavenly altar, ensuring forgiveness and salvation for all who believe.
Additionally, the Apostle Paul encourages believers to present themselves as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1), implying that our whole lives should be offered to God as a spiritual act of worship.
While the physical altars of the Old Testament have become obsolete, the concept of offering our lives to God and seeking His presence remains a fundamental aspect of our faith.
Altars In The New Testament
For a variety of reasons, many of God’s people built altars. The primary reason, of course, was for animal sacrifices. In fact, the Hebrew word for “altar” is “misbeach,” which is generally translated as “to slaughter” (Gr: “thusiasterion” = “a place of sacrifice”). However, altars were also made for such things as: worship (Gen 8:20), to commemorate an encounter with God (Judge 6:22–24) (Gen 12:7), a memorial (Ex 17:14–15) (Josh 22:26–27, 34), to make a covenant (Ex 24:1-8), to find refuge (1 Kin 1:50–51) (1 Kin 2:28) (Ex 21:13–14).
Individuals created the first altars, with Noah’s being the first (Gen 8:20).. Nearly every prominent person after him in the Old Testament made an altar at some point. God gave rules for how an altar was to be made. It was to be made from earth (Ex 20:24) or rocks (Deut 27:5-6)(Josh 8:31)(sometimes a single rock: Judg 6:20-21, Judg 13:19) which were uncut (no tool used to shape them) (Ex 20:25)(Deut 27:5)(Josh 8:31). They were not to be made of brick (Isa 65:3). (Most believe this was primarily to prevent the altar from becoming an idol and to prevent pride over workmanship.) The altar was to have no steps leading to it (Ex 20:25-26). There were to be no trees around it (Deut 16:21).
Individual altars were eventually replaced by two separate altars, first at the Tabernacle and then at the Temple. The first, larger one was called “The Brasen Altar” or “Altar Of Burnt Offerings.” It was located outdoors in the courtyard outside of the “Holy Place” or “Tent Of Meeting.” This was where the sacrifices were burned. At the Tabernacle, this altar was made of wood, overlaid with bronze (Ex 27:1-2)(Ex 38:1-2,29-30). At the Temple, this altar was made of stone or earth, overlaid with bronze (2 Chr 4:1)(1 Kin 8:64)(2 Chr 7:7). (Likely different because the altar at the Tabernacle had to be moved while the altar at the Temple was permanent.) A perpetual fire was to be kept going on this altar (Lev 6:9,13).
The second, smaller altar, called “The Altar Of Incense” or “Golden Altar” was located in the “Holy Place” or “Tent Of Meeting” just in front of the veil that led to the place where the Ark Of The Covenant was kept (the “Holy Of Holies”) (Ex 30:6)(Ex 40:5). At this altar, incense was burned daily (with coals taken from the “Brasen Altar”) in the morning and the evening (Ex 30:7-8). This incense had to be made a certain way (Ex 30:34-38), and no other incense was permitted (Ex 30:9)(Lev 10:1-2). In both the Tabernacle and Temple, this altar was made of wood overlaid with pure gold (Ex 30:1-3)(Ex 37:25-26)(1 Kin 6:20-22)(1 Kin 7:48)(2 Chr 4:19).
On the four corners of both “The Brasen Altar” and “The Altar Of Incense” were 4 horns (Ex 27:2)(Ex 38:2)(Ex 30:2-3)(Ps 118:27)(often symbolic of power in the Bible). This was the most sacred part of the altar.
No Christian altars are found in the New Testament because they were no longer needed. As with most of the Old Testament, the symbolic meaning of the altars and everything associated with them pointed forward to Jesus. Jesus is now our living “altar” (Heb 13:10).
What Is The Spiritual Significance of Altars
In the old testament, altars were built to be places of sacrifice. They were often made out of stone, but could also be made out of wood.
In ancient times, people would make sacrifices at altars in order to appease their gods. This meant that they would offer something valuable to their god in exchange for a favor or blessing.
Altars are a common feature in the Old Testament, particularly in the early books. The first occurrence of an altar is in Genesis where Abraham builds one to sacrifice his son Isaac.
The altars serve as places of worship and sacrifice, as well as physical representations of God’s presence on earth. They are used to offer sacrifices to God, who accepts them and blesses those who offer them.
The altars are also associated with other religious practices, including purification rituals and offerings made by priests and kings.
The Bible contains a lot of references to altars, but the most notable ones are probably the portable altars that were used by the Israelites during their wanderings in the desert. These altars were made from unhewn stone and were used to offer sacrifices. There are also many references to the temple in Jerusalem, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, where people would go to make offerings.
In the Old Testament, altars are objects used to offer sacrifices to God. The Hebrew word for altar is mizbeach (מִזְבֵּח).
The first sacrifice performed on an altar by a man was that of Cain and Abel. God rejected Cain’s sacrifice and accepted Abel’s, who offered a lamb. The first altar built was made by Noah after he left the ark. The altar of burnt offering or “table of showbread” was built by Moses when he led the Israelites out of Egypt. This stone table contained bread (or “showbread”) which was placed on it every Sabbath day. Later, Solomon built a more permanent structure for this table called “the house of the LORD.”
In Leviticus 1:1-17, all sacrifices must be brought before an altar where they will be slaughtered by the priest with a knife that has been ritually purified beforehand in order to remove any impurities from it so that no blood flows onto the ground below where it might defile holy things like food or drink.
In the Old Testament, altars were typically only used for sacrifices. The majority of the time, the purpose of an altar was to make atonement for sin.
According to Leviticus 4:6-7, one could not offer a sacrifice at an altar without first making atonement. The sacrifice would be considered unacceptable if it was not accompanied by an act of atonement.