θυσιαστήριον
thusiastērion
altar
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word θυσιαστήριον (thusiastērion) is defined as an "altar." It occurs 23 times in the Bible, indicating its importance in the ancient Jewish and early Christian contexts. As an altar, this word typically refers to a structure where sacrifices, offerings, or prayers are made to God. The range of usage for θυσιαστήριον is broad, encompassing various settings and contexts. It is used to describe altars in the Temple in Jerusalem (e.g., Matthew 5:23-24), as well as in other locations where worship takes place (e.g., Revelation 6:9). The word may also imply a sense of reverence, as in the case of the altar of incense in the Temple (e.g., Luke 1:11). The significance of θυσιαστήριον lies in its association with worship, sacrifice, and prayer. As an altar, it represents a place where individuals or communities seek to connect with God, offering themselves, their possessions, or their prayers in a gesture of devotion and reverence.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
23 total occurrences across the text
“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
Matthew 5:24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 23:18‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?’
Matthew 23:19You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
Matthew 23:20He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it.
Matthew 23:35that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.
Luke 1:11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Luke 11:51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.
Romans 11:3“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life.”
1 Corinthians 9:13Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
1 Corinthians 9:13Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
1 Corinthians 10:18Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?
Hebrews 7:13For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
Hebrews 13:10We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat.
James 2:21Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
Revelation 6:9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
Revelation 8:3Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
Revelation 8:3Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
Revelation 8:5The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed.
Revelation 9:13The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Revelation 11:1A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, “Rise, and measure God’s temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it.
Revelation 14:18Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Send your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth’s grapes are fully ripe!”
Revelation 16:7I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”