Exodus 30:28-38

28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand;
29 you shall consecrate them, so that they may be most holy; whatever touches them will become holy.
30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, in order that they may serve me as priests.
31 You shall say to the Israelites, "This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations.
32 It shall not be used in any ordinary anointing of the body, and you shall make no other like it in composition; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.
33 Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an unqualified person shall be cut off from the people."
34 The Lord said to Moses: Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (an equal part of each),
35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy;
36 and you shall beat some of it into powder, and put part of it before the covenant in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall be for you most holy.
37 When you make incense according to this composition, you shall not make it for yourselves; it shall be regarded by you as holy to the Lord.
38 Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from the people.

Exodus 30:28-38 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.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or [treaty], or [testimony]; Heb [eduth]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.