[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/altar.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / altar [← A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/A/) # altar «altar» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **a holy table at the front of a church where the priest or…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech noun (an altar, altars) ### meaning for a pupil 1) (church) An altar is a holy table at the front of a church where the priest or minister prepares communion (the bread and wine). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#m1) 2) (religion, history) An altar is a table or stone where people in old religions offered gifts or sacrifices to God or gods. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#m2) 3) (idiom) To sacrifice something on the altar of something is to give it up for that thing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#m3) ### sense in the lessons In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah an altar is a raised place of stone or earth, or the bronze and gold furnishings in the Tabernacle, where offerings were burned for God. In the Prophets and Writings it is the same place of sacrifice in the Temple, and the prophets scold priests who offer bad gifts on it. Interpretation: The Torah commands uncut stones for the altar, and the rabbis say iron, which makes weapons, must not touch a place that brings peace. After the Temple fell, tradition says the table at home takes the place of the altar. The prophets' words about polluted bread on the altar are read as a warning that offerings mean nothing without honest hearts. In the primary lessons: In RE and church life the altar is the focus of the church, often with a cloth, candles and a cross; couples stand before the altar at a wedding. In Bible stories Abraham, Noah and Elijah built altars. Phrases: «at the altar», «altar boy», «altar server», «lead someone to the altar» (marry them). ### examples - And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (Torah GEN.33.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x1) - And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Adonai-nissi. (Torah EXO.17.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x2) - This was the dedication-offering of the altar, after that it was anointed. (Torah NUM.7.88, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x3) - Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar. (Prophets MAL.1.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x4) - And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. (Writings 2CH.29.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x5) - And they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar. (Prophets EZK.9.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x6) - The priest stood at the altar and blessed the bread and wine. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x7) - The bride and groom walked up to the altar. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x8) - Candles and flowers were placed on the altar. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x9) - In the Bible, Noah built an altar after the flood. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x10) - My brother is an altar server at Sunday Mass. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x11) - The ancient Greeks made offerings at altars to their gods. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x12) - The moujik hid himself behind the altar. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/#x13) ### note Homophone trap: «altar» (holy table) and «alter» (to change) sound the same. Remember: an altAr is a tAble. Countable: altars. Use «an altar» because it begins with a vowel sound. ### In the corpora - [And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.1054/) - [And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Adonai-nissi.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/EXO.499/) - [Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto Mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/EXO.579/) - [And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he dashed against the altar.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/EXO.688/) - [And thou shalt put it under the ledge round the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/EXO.782/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «altar» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/altar/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.