And the altar hearth, four cubits: The altar hearth was the flat space at the top of the altar where the fire burned the sacrifices. Ezekiel does not say what it was made of. It was too big to have been a metal plate, so it was probably a floor of soil, stone or plaster that the fire would not burn away. From the higher ledge to the hearth was four cubits, that is, 2 meters (7 feet) high. This measurement refers to the third section of the altar that was 2 meters high, making the whole structure 5 or 6 meters high, depending on where the height of the lowest pedestal was measured from (see the previous verse). Some scholars think this measurement does not refer to a third section, but is simply a summary of the overall height of the altar (for example, “So the hearth was four cubits high”). Since this interpretation does not take into account the lowest pedestal and the figures do not add up, it is better to follow the first suggestion.

And from the altar hearth projecting upward, four horns, one cubit high: The four horns were “projections” (Good News Translation), “knobs” (Moffatt) or posts possibly shaped “like the horns of a bull” (Contemporary English Version), which were at the four corners of the top of the altar. From the altar hearth projecting upward means the horn-shaped corners extended above the level of the fire place, but we do not know by how far. Revised Standard Version says one cubit high, which follows the Septuagint, not the Hebrew text. We do not recommend adding this phrase (so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project).

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .