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Deuteronomy 27:5

3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to coat them with plaster.

Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them.

6 You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God.

7 There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.

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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
Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them.
KJV
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.
WEB
There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them.
ASV
And there shalt thou build an altar unto Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt lift up no iron [tool] upon them.
DARBY
And there shalt thou build an altar to Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones; thou shalt not lift up an iron [tool] upon them;
BLB
And you shall build there an altar to YHWH your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wave over them iron.
ÅB
Og du skal bygge Herren din Gud et alter der, et alter av steiner; du skal ikke bruke jern på dem.
OTB
Bygg et alter for Herren deres Gud der, laget av steiner, og unngå å bruke noe jernverktøy på dem.
B1930
Og du skal bygge Herren din Gud et alter der, et alter av stener; du skal ikke bruke jern på dem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 20:25

    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.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 24:4

    And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

    Read in context

  • 1 Kings 18:31–32

    And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.”

    Read in context

  • Joshua 8:30–31

    At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of Israel,

    Read in context