The Meaning of Exodus 20:24 Explained

Exodus 20:24

KJV: An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

YLT: 'An altar of earth thou dost make for Me, and thou hast sacrificed on it thy burnt-offerings and thy peace-offerings, thy flock and thy herd; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered I come in unto thee, and have blessed thee.

Darby: An altar of earth shalt thou make unto me, and shalt sacrifice on it thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep and thine oxen: in all places where I shall make my name to be remembered, I will come unto thee, and bless thee.

ASV: An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

An altar  of earth  thou shalt make  unto me, and shalt sacrifice  thereon thy burnt offerings,  and thy peace offerings,  thy sheep,  and thine oxen:  in all places  where I record  my name  I will come  unto thee, and I will bless  thee. 

What does Exodus 20:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 20:18-26 - The People Fear Idols And Altars
When our Lord was on earth He was so attractive and winsome that the publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him, penitents wept at His feet, children nestled to His heart. But even then there were some who desired Him to depart out of their coasts. So here, while Moses drew near, the people stood afar off. Let us not be among those who avoid the near presence of God, but of those who are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Let us exercise our right to draw near to the throne of grace, and stand in the very presence of our Father-God, because we have a great High Priest, who is passed through the heavens.
At Exodus 20:22, we begin the Book of the Covenant, which extends to Exodus 23:33, containing a series of wholesome laws, and the first enactment deals with the worship of the Most High. Note that in all places He will record His Name. Everywhere we may worship Him. The altar had to be of earth, teaching us the lessons of humility, simplicity and self-abasement. See Hebrews 13:10. But always the adjustment with God precedes rightness toward man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 20

1  The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah
18  The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them
21  Idolatry is forbidden
23  Of what sort the altar should be

What do the individual words in Exodus 20:24 mean?

An altar of earth you shall make for Me and you shall sacrifice on it - your burnt offerings and your peace offerings your sheep your oxen in every place where I record My name I will come to you and I will bless you
מִזְבַּ֣ח אֲדָמָה֮ תַּעֲשֶׂה־ לִּי֒ וְזָבַחְתָּ֣ עָלָ֗יו אֶת־ עֹלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ וְאֶת־ שְׁלָמֶ֔יךָ צֹֽאנְךָ֖ בְּקָרֶ֑ךָ בְּכָל־ הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַזְכִּ֣יר שְׁמִ֔י אָב֥וֹא אֵלֶ֖יךָ וּבֵרַכְתִּֽיךָ

מִזְבַּ֣ח  An  altar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
אֲדָמָה֮  of  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
תַּעֲשֶׂה־  you  shall  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לִּי֒  for  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וְזָבַחְתָּ֣  and  you  shall  sacrifice 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: זָבַח  
Sense: to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice.
עָלָ֗יו  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֹלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙  your  burnt  offerings 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹלָה  
Sense: whole burnt offering.
שְׁלָמֶ֔יךָ  your  peace  offerings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֶׁלֶם  
Sense: peace offering, requital, sacrifice for alliance or friendship.
צֹֽאנְךָ֖  your  sheep 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
בְּקָרֶ֑ךָ  your  oxen 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּקָר  
Sense: cattle, herd, oxen, ox.
בְּכָל־  in  every 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַמָּקוֹם֙  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  where 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אַזְכִּ֣יר  I  record 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
שְׁמִ֔י  My  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
אָב֥וֹא  I  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵלֶ֖יךָ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וּבֵרַכְתִּֽיךָ  and  I  will  bless  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.