Exodus 20:25
King James Version
25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone,
thou shalt not build it of hewn stone:
for if thou lift up thy tool upon it,
thou hast polluted it.
That was the LORD's command in the Old Testament.
That Moses and the Israelites not use hewn stone to build an altar for GOD.
What do other Bible versions say about "hewn stone"?
Exodus 20:25
Amplified Bible
25 If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you use a chisel on it, you will [a]profane it.
Exodus 20:25
Common English Bible
25 But if you do make for me an altar from stones, don’t build it with chiseled stone since using your chisel on the stone will make it impure.
Exodus 20:25
Easy-to-Read Version
25 But if you use stones to make an altar, then don’t use stones that were cut with an iron tool.[a] If you do that, it will make the altar unacceptable.
Exodus 20:25
Expanded Bible
25 If you use stones to make an altar for me, don’t use ·stones that you have shaped with tools [hewn/cut stones]. When you use any ·tools [chisel] on them, you ·make them unsuitable for use in worship [profane them].
Exodus 20:25
GOD’S WORD Translation
25 If you build an altar for me made out of stones, never make it with cut stone blocks. If you use a chisel on it, you will make it unacceptable to me.
Exodus 20:25
International Children’s Bible
25 You may use stones to make an altar for me. But don’t use stones that you have made smooth with tools. You must not use any tools on the stones. If you do, you make them unsuitable for use in worship.
Exodus 20:25
Living Bible
25 You may also build altars from stone, but if you do, then use only uncut stones and boulders. Don’t chip or shape the stones with a tool, for that would make them unfit for my altar.
Exodus 20:25
The Message
If you use stones to make my Altar, don’t use dressed stones. If you use a chisel on the stones you’ll profane the Altar
Exodus 20:25
New English Translation
25 If you make me an altar of stone, you must not build it[a] of stones shaped with tools,[b] for if you use your tool on it you have defiled it.
Exodus 20:25
New Living Translation
25 If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use.
Exodus 20:25
The Voice
25 But if you decide to build an altar out of stones for Me, use only natural stones, not hand-cut stones, because any attempt to shape them with your tools will desecrate the altar.
In SUMMARY, "hewn stone" refers to:
cut stones
chiseled stone
stones that were cut with an iron tool
stones that you have shaped with tools [hewn/cut stones]
cut stone blocks
stones that you have made smooth with tools
dressed stones
stones shaped with tools
Instead, the Bible says:
use only uncut stones and boulders
use only natural, uncut stones
use only natural stones, not hand-cut stones
GOD also mentioned the altar He wanted built:
Exodus 20:24
King James Version
24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me,
and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings,
and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen:
in all places where I record my name
I will come unto thee,
and I will bless thee.
Related link:
Prehistoric Construction Techniques
Image: Wallpaper Flare
