According to the author of the Book of Exodus, this verse tells us about how God's special place for burning offerings was made from a type of strong wood and had a specific size and shape. This was important so people could properly give gifts and say sorry to God in the way He wanted.
Exodus 38:1: And he made the altar of burnt offering [of] shittim wood: five cubits [was] the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; [it was] foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.
This verse prohibits the making of any graven images or likenesses, which can be seen as conflicting with the detailed construction descriptions of religious artifacts like the altar in Exodus 38:1.
Exodus 20:4: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: