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.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from זָבַח; an altar; altar.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זבח (z-b-ḥ) — 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 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4196-03 |
הַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ | hamizebecha | HTd/Ncmsa |
the altar | the sacrifice-place | 156 |
H4196-10 |
מִזְבַּ֣ח | mizebach | HNcmsc |
altar | sacrifice-place | 69 |
H4196-13 |
מִזְבֵּ֖חַ | mizebecha | HNcmsa |
an altar | sacrifice-place | 45 |
H4196-04 |
הַ/מִּזְבֵּֽחָ/ה | hamizebechah | HTd/Ncmsa/Sd |
the altar | to the sacrifice-altar | 32 |
H4196-17 |
מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת | mizebechot | HNcmpa |
altars | sacrifice-places | 17 |
H4196-06 |
לַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ | lamizebecha | HRd/Ncmsa |
for the altar | to the sacrifice-place | 12 |
H4196-05 |
הַֽ/מִּזְבְּחֹת֙ | hamizebechot | HTd/Ncmpa |
the altars | the sacrifice-places | 11 |
H4196-15 |
מִזְבְּחִ֑/י | mizebechi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my altar | my sacrifice-altar | 8 |
H4196-01 |
בַּ/מִּזְבֵּֽחַ | bamizebecha | HRd/Ncmsa |
on the altar | on the sacrifice-altar | 6 |
H4196-18 |
מִזְבְּחֹתָ/ם֙ | mizebechotam | HNcmpc/Sp3mp |
their altars | their sacrifice-places | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
403 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4196-13 |
Genesis 8:20 | מִזְבֵּ֖חַ | mizebecha | HNcmsa |
an altar | sacrifice-place |
H4196-01 |
Genesis 8:20 | בַּ/מִּזְבֵּֽחַ | bamizebecha | HRd/Ncmsa |
on the altar | on the sacrifice-altar |
H4196-13 |
Genesis 12:7 | מִזְבֵּ֔חַ | mizebecha | HNcmsa |
an altar | sacrifice-place |
H4196-13 |
Genesis 12:8 | מִזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ | mizebecha | HNcmsa |
an altar | sacrifice-place |
H4196-03 |
Genesis 13:4 | הַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ | hamizebecha | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the altar | the sacrifice-place |
H4196-13 |
Genesis 13:18 | מִזְבֵּ֖חַ | mizebecha | HNcmsa |
an altar | sacrifice-place |
H4196-03 |
Genesis 22:9 | הַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ | hamizebecha | HTd/Ncmsa |
the altar | the sacrifice-place |
H4196-03 |
Genesis 22:9 | הַ/מִּזְבֵּ֔חַ | hamizebecha-2 | HTd/Ncmsa |
the altar | the sacrifice-place |
H4196-13 |
Genesis 26:25 | מִזְבֵּ֗חַ | mizebecha | HNcmsa |
an altar | sacrifice-place |
H4196-13 |
Genesis 33:20 | מִזְבֵּ֑חַ | mizebecha | HNcmsa |
an altar | sacrifice-place |