Yehezkiel 43:13

The Altar

43:13 “And these are the measurements of the altar: ¹  Its base ²  is 1¾ feet ³  high, ⁴  and 1¾ feet ⁵  wide, and its border nine inches ⁶  on its edge. This is to be the height ⁷  of the altar.

Yehezkiel 40:43

40:43 There were hooks ⁸  three inches ⁹  long, fastened in the house all around, and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

[43:13]  ¹ tn Heb “the measurements of the altar by cubits, the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth.” The measuring units here and in the remainder of this section are the Hebrew “long” cubit, consisting of a cubit (about 18 inches or 45 cm) and a handbreadth (about 3 inches or 7.5 cm), for a total of 21 inches (52.5 cm). Because modern readers are not familiar with the cubit as a unit of measurement, and due to the additional complication of the “long” cubit as opposed to the regular cubit, all measurements have been converted to American standard feet and inches, with the Hebrew measurements and the metric equivalents given in the notes. On the altar see Ezek 40:47.

[43:13]  ² tn The Hebrew term normally means “bosom.” Here it refers to a hollow in the ground.

[43:13]  ³ tn Heb “one cubit” (i.e., 52.5 cm).

[43:13]  ⁴ tn The word “high” is not in the Hebrew text but is supplied in the translation for clarity.

[43:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “one cubit” (i.e., 52.5 cm).

[43:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “one span.” A span was three handbreadths, or about nine inches (i.e., 22.5 cm).

[43:13]  ⁷ tc Heb “bulge, protuberance, mound.” The translation follows the LXX.

[40:43]  ⁸ tc This reading is supported by the Aramaic Targum. The LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac read “shelves” or some type of projection.

[40:43]  ⁹ tn Heb “one handbreadth” (7.5 cm).