# altar, altars

## Definition:

An altar was a raised structure on which the Israelites burned animals and grains as offerings to God.

* During Bible times, simple altars were often made by forming a mound of packed-down dirt or by carefully placing large stones to form a stable pile.
* Some special box-shaped altars were made of wood overlaid with metals such as gold, brass, or bronze.
* Other people groups living near the Israelites also built altars to offer sacrifices to their gods.

(See also: [altar of incense](../other/altarofincense.md), [false god](../kt/falsegod.md), [grain offering](../other/grainoffering.md), [sacrifice](../other/sacrifice.md))

## Bible References:

* [Genesis 08:20](rc://en/tn/help/gen/08/20)
* [Genesis 22:09](rc://en/tn/help/gen/22/09)
* [James 02:21](rc://en/tn/help/jas/02/21)
* [Luke 11:49-51](rc://en/tn/help/luk/11/49)
* [Matthew 05:23](rc://en/tn/help/mat/05/23)
* [Matthew 23:19](rc://en/tn/help/mat/23/19)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[03:14](rc://en/tn/help/obs/03/14)__ After Noah got off the boat, he built an __altar__  and sacrificed some of each kind of animal which could be used for a sacrifice.
* __[05:08](rc://en/tn/help/obs/05/08)__ When they reached the place of sacrifice, Abraham tied up his son Isaac and laid him on an __altar__.
* __[13:09](rc://en/tn/help/obs/13/09)__ A priest would kill the animal and burn it on the __altar__.
* __[16:06](rc://en/tn/help/obs/16/06)__ He (Gideon) built a new altar dedicated to God near where the __altar__  to the idol used to be and made a sacrifice to God on it.

## Word Data:

* Strong's: H741, H2025, H4056, H4196, G1041, G2379

