Altar

Biblical Text

An altar is a structure built for offering sacrifices to God or for worship. The first biblical record of an altar being built is Genesis 8:20, where Noah built an altar to the LORD after the Flood and offered burnt offerings. Abraham built altars wherever he moved (Genesis 12:7-8; 13:18), and he also built one on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:9). Isaac and Jacob likewise built altars at the places where they encountered God (Genesis 26:25; 35:1-7).

Some altars were given names. Moses called an altar "Jehovah-nissi" (Exodus 17:15), and Gideon called one "Jehovah-shalom" (Judges 6:24).

The Law stipulates that an altar be made of earth or of unhewn stone and that it have no steps (Exodus 20:24-26). The tabernacle contained a bronze-overlaid altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1-8) and a gold-overlaid altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-10). This arrangement carried over into the Temple in Jerusalem. On Mount Carmel, Elijah rebuilt a ruined altar with twelve stones (1 Kings 18:30-32).

Background and Terminology

The Hebrew word mizbeach derives from a verb meaning "to slaughter (an offering), to sacrifice," and signifies "a place of sacrifice." Many peoples of the ancient Near East also built altars to their gods. The Old Testament distinguishes Israel's altars from pagan altars through the command to tear down the altars of Baal (Judges 6:25-26) and the regulation requiring worship at a single designated place (Deuteronomy 12).

Significance Across Scripture

In the Old Testament, the altar was the place where God and humanity met and where sacrifices of atonement were offered. Jesus taught that before offering a gift at the altar, one should first be reconciled with one's brother (Matthew 5:23-24).

The Epistle to the Hebrews holds that Christ offered himself once for all, bringing repeated sacrifices to an end. It then declares, "We have an altar" (Hebrews 13:10), and goes on to present praise and good works as sacrifices with which God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:15-16). The Book of Revelation depicts the heavenly altar together with the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:3-4).

Interpretation and Points of Debate

Traditions differ on how to understand the "altar" of Hebrews 13:10.

• The Catholic Church reads this verse in connection with the Eucharist and understands the altar as the place where the sacrifice of the Mass is offered.
• Protestants generally interpret this altar as the cross of Christ or as Christ himself. Because they do not regard the Lord's Supper as a repeated sacrifice, they often call the table on which it is set the "Communion table."

The account of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 mentions only that offerings were brought; it says nothing about building an altar.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, devoting oneself to prayer and worship is commonly described as "building an altar." The expression "dawn altar" refers to the early morning prayer meeting, and "family altar" refers to family worship. The pulpit area at the front of the sanctuary is also sometimes called the altar. These usages are understood as figurative applications of the teaching on the "living sacrifice" in Romans 12:1. Some, however, caution that in light of the teaching that Christ's sacrifice was accomplished once for all, expressions that transfer the Old Testament concept of the altar directly to the pulpit should be used with care.