What Does Exodus 39:39 Mean in the King James?
The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word for “altar” is built from the act of slaughter, so the object still carries its action inside its name.
THE MEANING
Before you is a whole arrangement: altar, grate, poles, vessels, basin, and its stand. The verse keeps the place of offering joined to its tools and to the support beneath the basin.
THE ROOT
מִזְבֵּחַ
mizbeach
GROWS FROM
זבח
z-b-ḥ
to slaughter; to sacrifice
מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach, altar) grows from זבח (z-b-ḥ), the root of slaughtering or sacrificing. English presents a piece of equipment; Hebrew keeps the act of sacrifice audible in its name.
ALSO GROWS
zāvaḥ: to slaughter; to sacrifice
זָבַח
The verb names the action carried by the altar’s name.
zevaḥ: a sacrifice or slaughtered offering
זֶבַח
This noun makes the altar’s connection to the offering explicit.
כַּנּוֹ
kanno
GROWS FROM
כון
k-w-n
to be firm; to establish or set in place
“foot” in this verse is kanno. The basin’s base is named with the language of being set firm. Even the support beneath the vessel belongs to the complete arrangement.
ALSO GROWS
mekhonah: a base or stand
מְכוֹנָה
This related word names a support that holds something in place.
hekin: to prepare or establish
הֵכִין
The root links the base to the act of making something ready and firm.
THE PATTERN
An offering becomes concrete when something is brought forward and presented.
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.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.I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.THE THREAD
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.This verse pairs מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach, altar) with זָבַח (zāvaḥ, to sacrifice), words growing from זבח (z-b-ḥ), the root of slaughtering or sacrificing. The altar in Exodus 39:39 carries that action in its name.
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