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מִזְבֵּחַ

𐤌𐤆𐤁𐤇

mizbêach

H4196 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A structure or raised place designated for making offerings or sacrifices, especially animal offerings, to a deity. The term מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbêach) refers to both simple earthen altars and elaborate constructed altars found in sanctuaries. Its usage encompasses private, clan, or national cultic contexts, and it often implies a site for ritual slaughter or burnt offerings in the service of YHWH or other deities.

Semantic Range

altar for sacrifice, place for burnt offering, place of ritual slaughter, sanctuary site, place of cultic offering

Root / Etymology

From the root זבח (z-b-ḥ), meaning 'to slaughter, sacrifice (especially an animal)' for ritual or religious purposes. The noun מִזְבֵּחַ is formed with the prefix מִ- (indicating 'place of') and the base root, essentially meaning 'place of sacrifice/slaughter.' The actual lexical meaning developed to mean 'altar,' a specific site for these ritual actions.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, מִזְבֵּחַ commonly denotes altars built for the sacrificial worship of YHWH, such as those erected by patriarchs (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) in the book of Genesis and the altar in the Jerusalem temple. The term is also used for illicit (non-authorized) shrines called 'high places' (בָּמוֹת, bamot). In earlier periods, altars could be simple mounds of earth or stone; in later periods, especially in the temple context, altars were highly regulated in form, materials (e.g., bronze, stone), and ritual usage. מִזְבֵּחַ is not restricted to the Israelite religion; it also describes Canaanite or other regional cultic structures. English 'altar' accurately conveys the central sense, although it sometimes fails to reflect the range of forms and non-centralized cultic practices. In post-exilic and Second Temple periods, the altar took on strict centrality in Jerusalem; earlier, altars appeared in numerous locations. Greek Septuagint usually translates as θυσιαστήριον (thysiastērion), later central to Judean and Greek-speaking communities. The later term 'Jewish altar' reflects Hellenistic and Roman period usage, not earlier Israelite practice.

Translation Consistency

primary "altar" 368 occurrences

The noun מִזְבֵּחַ overwhelmingly corresponds to the English word 'altar' in natural usage and standard translations (207 of 403 P2 occurrences). 'Altar' covers the full semantic range—earthen or built structures used for offerings, burnt offerings, and ritual slaughter—better than less natural compounds like 'sacrifice-place.' Using 'altar' ensures consistent, idiomatic rendering across all forms.

Alternatives (35 occurrences):
"sacrifice-altar" (22x) "altar-places" (8x) "sacrifice-place" (3x) "sacrifice-altars" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from זָבַח; an altar; altar.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זבח (z-b-ḥ) — to slaughter, to sacrifice, to offer

Root זבח to slaughter, to sacrifice, to offer
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2076 זָבַח I will sacrificially slaughter
H2077 זֶבַח in the slaughter-sacrifice
H2078 זֶבַח and like Sacrifice

Word Forms

29 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4196-03 הַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ hamizebecha HTd/Ncmsa the altar the sacrifice-place the altar 156
H4196-10 מִזְבַּ֣ח mizebach HNcmsc altar sacrifice-place altar of 69
H4196-13 מִזְבֵּ֖חַ mizebecha HNcmsa an altar sacrifice-place altar 45
H4196-04 הַ/מִּזְבֵּֽחָ/ה hamizebechah HTd/Ncmsa/Sd the altar to the sacrifice-altar to the sacrifice-altar 32
H4196-17 מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת mizebechot HNcmpa altars sacrifice-places altars 17
H4196-06 לַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ lamizebecha HRd/Ncmsa for the altar to the sacrifice-place to the altar 12
H4196-05 הַֽ/מִּזְבְּחֹת֙ hamizebechot HTd/Ncmpa the altars the sacrifice-places the altars 11
H4196-15 מִזְבְּחִ֑/י mizebechi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my altar my sacrifice-altar my altar 8
H4196-01 בַּ/מִּזְבֵּֽחַ bamizebecha HRd/Ncmsa on the altar on the sacrifice-altar on the altar 6
H4196-18 מִזְבְּחֹתָ/ם֙ mizebechotam HNcmpc/Sp3mp their altars their sacrifice-places their altars 6

Occurrences in Scripture

403 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4196-13 Genesis 8:20 מִזְבֵּ֖חַ mizebecha HNcmsa an altar sacrifice-place altar
H4196-01 Genesis 8:20 בַּ/מִּזְבֵּֽחַ bamizebecha HRd/Ncmsa on the altar on the sacrifice-altar on the altar
H4196-13 Genesis 12:7 מִזְבֵּ֔חַ mizebecha HNcmsa an altar sacrifice-place altar
H4196-13 Genesis 12:8 מִזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ mizebecha HNcmsa an altar sacrifice-place altar
H4196-03 Genesis 13:4 הַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ hamizebecha HTd/Ncmsa of the altar the sacrifice-place the altar
H4196-13 Genesis 13:18 מִזְבֵּ֖חַ mizebecha HNcmsa an altar sacrifice-place altar
H4196-03 Genesis 22:9 הַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ hamizebecha HTd/Ncmsa the altar the sacrifice-place the altar
H4196-03 Genesis 22:9 הַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ hamizebecha-2 HTd/Ncmsa the altar the sacrifice-place the altar
H4196-13 Genesis 26:25 מִזְבֵּ֗חַ mizebecha HNcmsa an altar sacrifice-place altar
H4196-13 Genesis 33:20 מִזְבֵּ֑חַ mizebecha HNcmsa an altar sacrifice-place altar
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