Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Exodus 27
Exodus 27:1-2“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.
This altar, made of wood and overlaid with bronze to withstand fire, was where sacrifices for sin were made. Its placement at the very entrance of the courtyard emphasized that forgiveness is the first step in approaching a holy God.Exodus 27:9You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side.
The instruction to build a courtyard with high linen fences established a clear, visible separation between God's dwelling place and the rest of the camp. This taught the people about God's holiness and the reverence required to enter His presence.Exodus 27:20-21"You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.
The command for a constantly burning lamp symbolized God's unending presence and faithfulness to His people. It also represented the priests' duty to perpetually serve and maintain the connection between God and Israel.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Altar: The Starting Point of Worship
After receiving the plans for the most sacred items inside the Tabernacle tent in the previous chapters, the focus now shifts outward. God gives Moses the instructions for the first piece of furniture the people would encounter: the bronze altar. This piece was central to the entire system of worship, as it was the place where sacrifices were made to atone for sin, making it the gateway to fellowship with God.
The Courtyard: A Boundary for Holiness
Once the design for the altar is established, God details the creation of a large, enclosed courtyard to surround the Tabernacle. Using a series of pillars, silver hooks, and fine linen hangings, this enclosure would form a physical barrier. This boundary served as a powerful visual lesson, separating the sacred space of God's presence from the ordinary world of the Israelite camp and reinforcing the theme of His holiness.
Blueprints for Worship: The Altar and Courtyard
Exodus 27 provides the divine blueprints for the outer areas of the Tabernacle, the space where the community would come to worship. The chapter begins with the most crucial piece of outdoor furniture, the bronze altar for burnt offerings, which stood at the entrance to the sacred space. It then outlines the construction of the surrounding courtyard that enclosed the Tabernacle, and concludes with instructions for perpetually maintaining the light within the holy tent. These details reveal God's intentional design for how His people were to draw near to Him.
The Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 27:1-8)
1 “You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.
2 And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.
3 Five cubits shall be the length of the one curtain, and five cubits the breadth of the one curtain for the first set of curtains, and five cubits the length of the one curtain, and five cubits the breadth of the one curtain for the second set of curtains.
4 You shall make for it a grating of network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.
5 You shall put it under the ledge of the altar so that the net shall extend halfway down the altar.
6 You shall make poles for the altar, a net of bronze network, to be set halfway up the altar.
7 And you shall put it under the ledge of the altar so that the net shall extend halfway down the altar.
8 It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
Commentary:
God commands the building of a bronze-covered altar for sacrifices, placing it at the entrance to show that atonement for sin is the first step in worship.
The Courtyard Enclosure (Exodus 27:9-19)
9 You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side.
10 And the length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty, and the height five cubits, with hangings of fine twined linen and bases of bronze.
11 In the same way you shall do with his donkey or with his garment, and with any lost thing of your brother's, which he loses and you find; you may not ignore it.
12 And for the breadth of the court on the west side there shall be hangings for fifty cubits, with ten pillars and ten bases.
13 And the breadth of the court on the front of the house was fifty cubits, and the height, and its gates were on the front of the house.
14 You shall also make for the gate of the court a screen of twenty cubits, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.
15 On the one side it shall be two cubits high and a cubit and a half wide, and on the other side it shall be two cubits high and a cubit and a half wide.
16 For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework. It shall have four pillars and with them four bases.
17 All the pillars around the court shall be filleted with silver. Their hooks shall be of silver, and their bases of bronze.
18 The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, the breadth fifty, and the height five cubits, with hangings of fine twined linen and bases of bronze.
19 All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, and all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.
Commentary:
Detailed instructions are given for a large courtyard made of linen curtains and pillars, creating a sacred boundary with a single gate to mark the holy ground.
The Oil for the Lamp (Exodus 27:20-21)
20 "You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn.
21 In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.
Commentary:
God commands the Israelites to provide pure olive oil for the lamp inside the Tabernacle, which the priests must keep burning continually as a symbol of His constant presence.
Sacrifice, Separation, and Sustaining Presence
The Necessity of Atonement
The bronze altar is the first object one encounters in the Tabernacle complex. Its primary function for burnt offerings establishes a core spiritual principle: sin creates a barrier with a holy God that must be addressed through sacrifice. This concept of atonement - making things right with God - is foundational to the entire system of worship.
The Holiness of God
The carefully measured courtyard, with its high linen walls, creates a distinct and visible separation between the sacred and the ordinary. This physical boundary teaches that God is holy, meaning He is set apart, pure, and different from His creation. He must be approached with reverence and on the terms He establishes.
God's Enduring Presence
The command for the lamp to burn 'from evening to morning' continually signifies that God's presence is not temporary or conditional. It is a constant, guiding light for His people, and it requires their faithful participation (providing the oil) to maintain the visible symbol of their covenant relationship.
Applying the Tabernacle's Blueprint to Your Life
The altar's placement at the very beginning (Exodus 27:1-2) shows that sacrifice is the only way to approach God. For you as a Christian, this points directly to Jesus's sacrifice on the cross as the complete and final atonement for sin. An Israelite began at the altar. Your relationship with God also begins by accepting the sacrifice He provided for you.
The courtyard walls (Exodus 27:9) created a clear separation between the holy and the common, reminding the people to approach God with reverence. This encourages you to cultivate holiness by setting healthy boundaries in your life. It's about intentionally setting apart your time, thoughts, and actions for God, protecting your relationship with Him from worldly distractions.
The ever-burning lamp (Exodus 27:20-21) symbolizes God's constant presence and our need for ongoing spiritual attentiveness. This challenges you to see your faith not as a weekend activity but as a daily, moment-by-moment relationship. It's a call to 'tend the lamp' of your heart through consistent prayer and engagement with Scripture, staying connected to the light of His presence.
God's Intentional Design for Relationship
Exodus 27 reveals that God has a specific and orderly plan for how sinful people can approach Him. The journey begins at the bronze altar, establishing that sin must be dealt with through sacrifice. The entire structure, from the separating walls of the court to the constant light within, shows God's desire to dwell among His people in a holy way. The message is that God Himself makes the way for relationship, but it must be on His sacred and righteous terms.
What This Means for Us Today
The detailed blueprints of the Tabernacle's court are ultimately an invitation into God's presence. They show us that God cares about the details and has provided a clear path - through sacrifice - for us to draw near. This ancient design points forward to a greater reality where Jesus becomes the ultimate sacrifice, the true light, and the only gate through which we can enter into relationship with God.
- In what areas of my life do I need to remember that approaching God starts with acknowledging my need for the sacrifice of Christ?
- How can I create 'sacred space' in my daily routine to honor God's holiness?
- What daily practices can help me 'tend the lamp' of my faith and remain aware of God's constant presence?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
This passage provides the specific instructions for the burnt offerings that were to be made on the bronze altar designed in Exodus 27.
This New Testament passage explains how the Tabernacle's altar and sacrifices were a foreshadowing of Christ's perfect, once-for-all sacrifice.
Jesus declares, 'I am the light of the world,' fulfilling the symbolism of the perpetually burning lamp in the Tabernacle.
Historical and Cultural Context
Studying the design of other ancient temples helps highlight what made Israel's Tabernacle unique, particularly its portability and its focus on God's holy presence rather than a physical idol.
Discussion Questions
- The bronze altar was made of wood but covered in bronze to withstand fire. What does this combination of a natural, perishable material and a strong, resilient one suggest about sacrifice?
- The courtyard had only one gate for entry. How does this architectural detail influence your understanding of how we are to approach God today?
- The people were commanded to provide the oil, while the priests were commanded to tend the lamp. What does this shared responsibility teach us about the roles of community and leadership in worship?