And do not approach my altar by going up steps. If you do, someone might look up under your clothing and see your nakedness.
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed to it.’
- KJV Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
- BSB And you must not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’
- NKJV Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’
- NASB And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Worshipers were not to ascend the altar by steps, to avoid indecent exposure. God requires reverence and modesty in His worship.
Overview
This provision guards the dignity and purity of worship, ensuring nothing shameful attends approach to God. It reflects God's concern that He be worshiped with reverence and decency. Such care points to the holiness fitting for those who draw near to God, fully provided in Christ who clothes us in righteousness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Pet 1:16because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”
- Eccl 5:1Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil.
- Lev 10:3Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, ‘I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” Aaron held his peace.
- Ps 89:7a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?
- Heb 12:28–29Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 20:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.