Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Matthew 23:18

θυσιαστηρίῳ, ‘altar of sacrifice.’ This word is an instance of the care taken to exclude certain heathen associations from Jewish and Christian religious thought. βωμὸς is used once only in N.T., Acts 17:22, and then of a pagan altar. In the LXX. θυσιαστήριον is used of the altar of Jehovah except Judges 6:25, where the altar of Baal is called θυσιαστήριον. The altar ‘Ed’ is called βωμός, this however being not a sacrificial altar but ‘a heap of witness.’ The two words are distinguished, 1Ma 1:54, ᾠκοδόμησαν βδέλυγμα ἐρημώσεως ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον· καὶ ἐν πόλεσιν Ἰούδα κύκλῳ ᾠκοδόμησαν βωμούς. Elsewhere βωμὸς is used of the ‘high places’ of paganism, ἀπολεῖται καὶ Δηβὼν οὗ ὁ βωμὸς ὑμῶν, Isaiah 15:2. Josephus does not observe the distinction; he uses βωμὸς of the altar in the temple.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Matthew 23:18

Old Testament

New Testament