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Exodus 20:25

23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

24 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.

And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.
KJV
And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
WEB
If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it.
ASV
And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
DARBY
And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone; for if thou lift up thy sharp tool upon it, thou hast profaned it.
BLB
And if you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build them of cut stone, for if you wave your tool on it, then you have profaned it.
ÅB
Men dersom du vil bygge meg et alter av stein skal du ikke bygge det av hugget stein; for dersom du bruker meiselet ditt på steinene så vanhelliger du dem.
OTB
Hvis dere lager et alter av stein for meg, må dere ikke bygge det med tilhugget stein, for hvis dere bruker et verktøy på det, vil dere vanhellige det.
B1930
Men dersom du vil gjøre mig et alter av sten, da skal du ikke bygge det av huggen sten; for bruker du ditt huggjern på stenene, da vanhelliger du dem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 8:31

    As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 27:5–6

    And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.

    Read in context