The English word “altar” in Hebrew is “mizbeach,” derived from the root word “zabach,” which means “to slaughter, kill, or slay an animal.” The altar served as the central place for sacrifices and the meeting point between God and humans.
Notice the following altars:
| Building of the Altar | Reference |
|---|---|
| Noah builds an altar after the flood | (Gen. 8:20) |
| Abram (Abraham) builds an altar near Bethel | (Gen. 12:7) |
| Abraham builds an altar on Mount Moriah and called it Jehovah-jireh | (Gen. 22:9, 14) |
| Isaac builds an altar Beer-sheba | (Gen. 26:25) |
| Jacob builds an altar at Shalem | (Gen. 33:20) |
| Moses builds an altar and called it Jehovah-nissi | (Exod. 17:15) |
| Joshua builds an altar on Mount Ebal | (Josh. 8:30) |
| Gideon builds an altar and called it Jehovah-shalom | (Jude 6:24) |
| Manoah builds an altar on a rock | (Judg. 13:19-20) |
| King Saul builds an altar to the Lord. | (1 Sam. 14:35) |
| King David builds an altar and stopped a plague | (2 Sam. 24:21, 25) |
Solomon built the First Temple to God in Jerusalem, placing a permanent altar in the outer court for daily sacrifices. Under the Old Covenant, three types of altars were made: one of natural stones (Joshua 8:30-32), a square brass altar (Exodus 27:1-2), and a golden altar in the holy place for burning daily incense (Exodus 30:1-3). These three altars symbolize three spiritual battles every believer will face.
- Stone Altar: Abraham uses the stone altar to offer Isaac to God on Mount Moriah, symbolizing personal sacrifice and the surrender of our own will to the will of the heavenly Father. Willing to give up his best to please the Almighty, Abraham sets aside his personal feelings to serve a greater divine purpose. To understand God’s will, we must first come to this altar and confront our own desires, emotions, and self-interest.
- Brass Altar: The second altar, known as the brass altar, is where the flesh of animals was offered in sacrifice. It symbolizes our willingness to take up our cross and follow Christ (Matt. 16:24) and to crucify our flesh (Gal. 5:24). Our bodies are “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1), with our carnal nature needing to be brought under control. Sacrifices here were bound to the four horns of the altar, representing believers standing firm in faith until God transforms them from within. The three fires constantly burning on the brass altar remind us of the Lord’s zeal that must keep burning in our hearts as we submit to God’s Spirit and bring our flesh into submission.
- Golden Altar: The golden altar is where incense is burned each day, carrying the prayers of the righteous to God. It’s the place where we grow in worship and prayer.
At the stone altar, we learn obedience to God’s will; at the brass altar, we find freedom from sin and train our flesh; and at the golden altar, we embrace and practice daily prayer and worship.
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[…] Understanding the Spiritual Significance of Altars: The content discusses the significance of altars in Hebrew tradition, detailing their symbolic meanings and functions in relation to sacrifice, obedience, and spiritual battles believers face. […]