What is the significance of the "altar hearth" in Ezekiel 43:15? Reading the Verse “The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and four horns shall project upward from the hearth.” (Ezekiel 43:15) What the Altar Hearth Is • The flat top of the altar—the place where the sacrificial animal was laid and consumed by fire. • Hebrew word “ariel,” also rendered “altar hearth,” literally means “lion of God,” carrying ideas of fiery strength and holiness (cf. Isaiah 29:1). • In Ezekiel’s vision of the future temple, it occupies the very center of worship, underscoring God’s priority on atonement. Why the Four-Cubit Height Matters • Four cubits (about 6 ft/1.8 m) sets the hearth distinctly above ground level, visually elevating the sacrifice toward heaven. • The number four often symbolizes completeness related to the earth (four corners, winds, directions). A four-cubit hearth hints that God’s provision of atonement is adequate for the whole world (cf. Genesis 13:14; Revelation 7:1). • Height also protected the holy fire from common contamination, reinforcing separation between God’s holiness and human sinfulness (Leviticus 10:1-3). The Four Horns • Horns were extensions on each corner (Exodus 27:1-2). • Biblical imagery of horns: power (1 Samuel 2:10), refuge (1 Kings 1:50), and proclamation of mercy (Psalm 18:2). • Sacrificial blood was smeared on these horns for purification (Leviticus 4:7), showing sin dealt with at the very points symbolizing divine strength. Theological Significance • God Himself lights the altar fire (cf. Leviticus 9:24) and keeps it burning perpetually (Leviticus 6:12-13); Ezekiel’s altar hearth points to God-initiated, never-ending atonement. • The vision anticipates Messiah’s once-for-all sacrifice. Hebrews 13:10-12 connects believers to an altar “outside the camp,” fulfilled in Jesus’ cross, yet promised here in temple imagery that Israel could understand. • “Ariel” (lion-hearth) echoes the “Lion of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). Christ embodies both altar and sacrifice—He is the hearth where judgment fell and the lamb consumed for our redemption. Practical Takeaways • Worship centers on sacrifice. Our gatherings must keep Christ’s atoning work visibly “at the hearth.” • God’s provision is elevated, sufficient, and accessible; we never outgrow the cross. • The horns invite us to lay hold of mercy and strength every day (Psalm 118:27). • Holiness matters: just as the hearth was lifted and separate, believers are called to live set-apart lives while remaining “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). |
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