What Does 2 Chronicles 4:1 Mean in the King James?

Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.

2 Chronicles 4:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Hebrew name ⁨מִזְבֵּחַ⁩ (mizbēaḥ, “altar”) carries the root ⁨זבח⁩ (z-b-ḥ, “to sacrifice”), so the structure is named by the offering enacted there.

THE MEANING

Here, sacrifice has a defined place and scale: a square twenty cubits on each side and ten cubits high. The altar’s name holds the structure and the act it hosts together.

THE ROOT

מִזְבֵּחַ

mizbēaḥ

GROWS FROM

זבח

z-b-ḥ

To sacrifice or slaughter; the act of offering.

⁨מִזְבֵּחַ⁩ (mizbēaḥ, “altar”) grows from ⁨זבח⁩ (zāvaḥ, “to sacrifice”). The related noun ⁨זֶבַח⁩ (zebaḥ, “sacrifice”) keeps the act audible inside the structure’s name: the altar is the place defined by what is offered there.

ALSO GROWS

zāvaḥ: To sacrifice or slaughter.

זָבַח

The verb names the act carried out at the altar.

zebaḥ: Sacrifice; an offering.

זֶבַח

This noun shows the offering itself shares the altar’s root.

THE PATTERN

An altar is the bounded place where an offering is presented to God.

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 8:20 · KJVThe altar is where the offering is made.

An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

Exodus 20:24 · KJVThe verse names both the altar and the offerings presented there.

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Hebrews 13:10 · KJVThe altar remains the named place of relation to an offering in the New Testament.

THE THREAD

Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 51:19 · KJV

The Hebrew word ⁨מִזְבֵּחַ⁩ (mizbēaḥ, “altar”) appears in both verses. Psalm 51:19 places sacrifices and burnt offerings on that altar, making explicit the offering-act already carried in its root.

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