Altar
מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach)
A place of sacrifice and encounter — where offerings are made and God meets His people.
Mizbeach is the Hebrew word for altar, meaning 'a place of slaughter.' Altars were the designated locations for sacrifice, worship, and divine encounter — the meeting point between human need and God's provision.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God." — Romans 12:1 (KJV)
Key Verses
Romans 12:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.”Read in context
Genesis 22:9
“And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order.”Read in context
1 Kings 18:38
“Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust.”Read in context
Strong's Concordance
Strong's H4196 — Altar (מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach))
Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) appears.
Open Strong's H4196Etymology and Original Meaning
Mizbeach comes from the verb zabach, meaning 'to slaughter' or 'to sacrifice.' An altar is literally 'a place of slaughter' — where animals were killed and offered to God. This etymology reminds us that worship in the biblical world was costly, bloody, and visceral. The altar was not decorative but functional — the place where life was given in response to God.
Altars of Encounter
The patriarchs built altars to mark divine encounters: Noah after the flood (Genesis 8:20), Abraham at Shechem, Bethel, and Moriah (Genesis 12:7; 13:4; 22:9), Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 35:7). Each altar said, 'God met me here.' Altars were not merely religious furniture but personal monuments to divine-human encounter — stakes driven into the ground declaring God's reality.
The Tabernacle Altar
The tabernacle had two altars: the bronze altar of burnt offering in the outer court (Exodus 27:1-8) and the golden altar of incense before the veil (Exodus 30:1-10). The bronze altar was the first thing encountered — reminding worshipers that approach to God begins with sacrifice. The incense altar represented prayer ascending to God. Both altars taught essential worship truths.
Living Sacrifices
Paul transforms the altar concept: 'Present your bodies a living sacrifice' (Romans 12:1). The altar is no longer a physical structure but the believer's life. The sacrifice is no longer an animal but a self-offering — living, holy, and acceptable. Every day is an opportunity to place oneself on God's altar — not dying but living fully for His purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an altar in the Bible?
An altar (mizbeach) is a 'place of slaughter' — the designated location for sacrifice, worship, and divine encounter. Altars marked where God met His people and where offerings were made in response to His presence.
Do Christians need an altar?
Not a physical one. Paul teaches that the believer's body is the altar where living sacrifice is offered (Romans 12:1). The Christian altar is a life given to God — every day, every choice placed on the altar of devotion.
Which Bible verse uses the word "Altar"?
Romans 12:1 — "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God" (KJV). It also appears in Genesis 22:9, 1 Kings 18:38.
Why does the Hebrew word behind "Altar" matter?
Mizbeach comes from the verb zabach, meaning 'to slaughter' or 'to sacrifice.' An altar is literally 'a place of slaughter' — where animals were killed and offered to God. English uses one word, "Altar", where the Hebrew מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) carries the fuller sense: a place of sacrifice and encounter — where offerings are made and god meets his people.
Related Words
Related Reading
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Altar (מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach))
A place of sacrifice and encounter — where offerings are made and God meets His people.
Strong's H4196 — Altar
מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) • A place of sacrifice and encounter — where offerings are made and God meets His people.
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