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(Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places ([[Genesis 22:9]]; [[Ezekiel 6:3]]; [[2 Kings 23:12]]; [[2 Kings 2316:4|16:4]]; [[2 Kings 23:8|23:8]]; [[Acts 14:13]]). The word is used in [[Hebrews 13:10]] for the sacrifice offered upon it-the sacrifice [[Christ]] offered.
[[Paul]] found among the many altars erected in [[Athens]] one bearing the inscription, "To the unknown God" ([[Acts 17:23]]), or rather "to an [i.e., some] unknown God." The reason for this inscription cannot now be accurately determined. It afforded the apostle the occasion of proclaiming the gospel to the "men of Athens."
The first altar we read of is that erected by Noah ([[Genesis 8:20]]). Altars were erected by Abraham ([[Genesis 12:7]]; [[[[Genesis 13:4|13:4]]; [[[[Genesis 22:9|22:9]]), by Isaac ([[Genesis 26:25|Genesis 26:25]]), by Jacob ([[Genesis 33:20]]; [[[[Genesis 35:1]], [[[[Genesis 35:3|3]]), and by Moses ([[Exodus 17:15]], "Jehovah-nissi").
In the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple, two altars were erected.
In Solomon's temple the altar was similar in size, but was made of cedar-wood (1 Kings 6:20; 7:48) overlaid with gold. In Ezek. 41:22 it is called "the altar of wood." (Comp. Ex. 30:1-6.)
In the temple built after the Exile the altar was restored. Antiochus Epiphanes took it away, but it was afterwards restored by Judas Maccabaeus (1 Macc. 1:23; 4:49). Among the trophies carried away by Titus on the destruction of Jerusalem the altar of incense is not found, nor is any mention made of it in Heb. 9. It was at this altar Zacharias ministered when an angel appeared to him ([[Luke 1:11]]). It is the only altar which appears in the heavenly temple (Isa. [[Isaiah 6:6]]; Rev. 8:3,4). {{returnto}} [[Easton's Bible Dictionary]]
