Exodus 30:34-38

The Incense

34 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each.

35 "With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.

36 "You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting ¹where * I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you.

37 "The incense which you shall make, ²you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the LORD.

38 "³Whoever * shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people."

Exodus 30:34-38 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 30

This chapter treats of the altar of incense, its form and use, Ex 30:1-10 of the ransom of the Israelites, with the half shekel when numbered, Ex 30:11-16 of the laver for the priests to wash their hands and feet at before service, Ex 30:17-21 of the anointing oil, the ingredients of it, and what was to be done with it, Ex 30:22-33, and of the perfume, the composition and use of it, Ex 30:34-38.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 29:42
• 2. Exodus 30:32
• 3. Exodus 30:33

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "its proportion"
• [b] Lit "smell of it"
• [c] Lit "even he shall"