Exodus 30:1 kjv
And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
Exodus 30:1 nkjv
"You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood.
Exodus 30:1 niv
"Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense.
Exodus 30:1 esv
"You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.
Exodus 30:1 nlt
"Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense.
Exodus 30 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 30:2-6 | "...A cubit long and a cubit wide...two cubits high...overlay it with pure gold...put it before the veil..." | Details dimensions and placement of the altar. |
| Ex 30:7-8 | "Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it every morning...in the evening..." | Describes the daily ritual of burning incense. |
| Ex 37:25-28 | "He made the altar of incense of acacia wood...overlaid it with pure gold..." | Records the actual construction by Bezalel. |
| Lev 4:7 | "...put some of the blood...on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense..." | Links the altar to atonement rites (purification). |
| Num 4:11 | "...over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth..." | Instructions for transport of the holy items. |
| 1 Ki 6:20-22 | "...He overlaid the altar of cedar with gold." | Describes the golden altar in Solomon's Temple. |
| 1 Ki 7:48 | "...the golden altar and the table on which was the bread of the Presence..." | Lists the golden altar among Temple furnishings. |
| Luke 1:8-11 | "Zechariah...chosen by lot...to burn incense when he went into the temple..." | A priest ministering at the incense altar in the NT. |
| Rev 5:8 | "...golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." | Heavenly representation, directly connecting incense to prayers. |
| Rev 8:3-4 | "...another angel came...given much incense to offer...on the golden altar before the throne..." | Angelic ministry at the golden altar, ascending prayers. |
| Heb 9:3-4 | "...behind the second veil the part of the tabernacle called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense..." | Mentions the golden altar in relation to the tabernacle parts, though placing it behind the veil might refer to its proximity. |
| Psa 141:2 | "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!" | Old Testament poetic link between prayer and incense. |
| Jer 6:20 | "To what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba...?" | God's rejection of ritual without righteous hearts. |
| Ex 27:1-8 | "...You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long..." | Distinction from the large bronze altar of burnt offering. |
| Psa 51:17 | "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart..." | Emphasizes internal spiritual worship over mere ritual. |
| Ex 40:26 | "He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil..." | Fulfillment of God's command regarding placement. |
| Psa 66:19-20 | "But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer." | Emphasis on God hearing prayer. |
| Prov 15:8 | "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight." | Value of righteous prayer over mere sacrifice. |
| Rom 12:1 | "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." | New Testament call to spiritual offering. |
| Eph 5:2 | "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." | Christ as the ultimate fragrant offering. |
| Col 3:16 | "...teaching and admonishing one another with psalms...singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." | Spiritual "incense" of worship from believers. |
Exodus 30 verses
Exodus 30 1 Meaning
Exodus 30:1 introduces the divine instruction to construct the altar of incense, distinct from the altar of burnt offering. This golden altar, crafted from acacia wood, was to be placed in the Holy Place of the tabernacle, specifically for the burning of sacred incense. It represents a continuous offering of prayer and intercession, symbolizing devotion and access to God's presence, rather than atonement for sin.
Exodus 30 1 Context
Exodus 30:1 appears within a detailed section of instructions given by God to Moses concerning the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 25-31). Following directives for the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, and the bronze altar of burnt offering, this verse introduces the altar of incense. Its placement in the text, after the instructions for the Tabernacle's outer court elements (like the bronze altar) and just before the washing basin and anointing oil, highlights its significance as an essential inner piece of furniture, crucial for the priests' daily ministry within the Holy Place, before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place where the Ark resided.
Exodus 30 1 Word analysis
- "You": Refers to Moses, emphasizing God's direct command through him. This underscores divine initiative and revelation as the basis for all worship.
- "shall make": From the Hebrew verb "עָשָׂה" (ʿāśāh), meaning "to do, make, create, build." It signifies a precise, commanded act of construction according to God's detailed blueprints, not human invention.
- "an altar": Hebrew "מִזְבֵּחַ" (mizbēaḥ), derived from "זָבַח" (zābaḥ) meaning "to slaughter" or "to sacrifice." While its primary use was for incense, its designation as "altar" links it intrinsically to sacred offering and communion with God. This distinguishes it conceptually from the brazen altar outside, though both are places of sacrifice in a broad sense – one of blood, the other of fragrance.
- "to burn incense": Hebrew "לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת" (lehakṭîr qeṭōret). "להקטיר" (lehakṭîr) is to "burn (an offering of) smoke," often applied to sweet-smelling substances. "קְטֹרֶת" (qeṭōret) specifically refers to the sacred incense compound (see Ex 30:34-38 for its components), not ordinary incense. This specific action symbolizes continuous prayer, worship, and the rising supplications of God's people before Him.
- "upon it": Specifies the sole purpose and sacred space for this act. No other use was permitted for this altar.
- "of acacia wood": Hebrew "עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים" (ʿaṣēy šiṭṭîm). Acacia (shittim wood) was durable, resistant to decay, and readily available in the desert, symbolizing God's provision and the enduring nature of the tabernacle's components. Its use implies the importance of the physical materials in the spiritual design.
- "you shall make it": Repetition for emphasis, confirming the divine mandate and ensuring precise execution of the command. It's a foundational instruction before details follow.
Words-group analysis
- "You shall make an altar to burn incense upon it": This phrase clearly identifies the object, its maker (under divine direction), and its precise, singular function. It establishes its sacred character and the commanded ritual. It emphasizes that this is not a general altar but one uniquely dedicated to "burning incense," which carried significant spiritual weight.
- "of acacia wood you shall make it": This emphasizes both the specific material for construction and reiterates the divine command for its creation. The chosen material, common in the desert but sturdy, highlights God's design utilizing available resources for sacred purposes. The repetition of "you shall make it" stresses the exactness required in obedience to God's blueprint.
Exodus 30 1 Bonus section
The altar of incense, along with the Menorah (lampstand) and Table of Showbread, formed the furnishings of the Holy Place. Its continuous burning was crucial, symbolizing uninterrupted communion and reliance on God. Unlike the Bronze Altar which addressed sin, the Golden Altar provided access and fellowship. The very specific recipe for the sacred incense, detailed in Exodus 30:34-38, ensured its uniqueness and prohibited its use for common purposes, underscoring the holiness of worship. This reflects a key biblical truth: only what God designates as holy is acceptable for His presence. The imagery of incense ascending before God is later found in Revelation, powerfully linking it to the prayers of the saints (Rev 5:8; 8:3-4), portraying Christian prayer as a perpetual, acceptable offering before God's throne, facilitated by Christ, our great High Priest.
Exodus 30 1 Commentary
Exodus 30:1 introduces the "golden altar," often referred to as the altar of incense, setting it apart from the larger "bronze altar" of burnt offering. Its placement inside the Holy Place, before the veil, signified its role in mediating a direct, sensory pathway for the aroma of incense into the Most Holy Place, thus reaching the presence of God. This altar was not for animal sacrifice, but for the daily, continuous offering of specially prepared aromatic incense, morning and evening, symbolizing ceaseless prayer, intercession, and the fragrant worship ascending from the priests (and by extension, the people) to God. Its being made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold underscored both its divine origin and its sacred, incorruptible nature. Spiritually, it foreshadows the sweet savor of Christ's perfect life and atoning work, and the acceptable prayers of believers, made potent by His intercession, continuously ascending to God. It highlights the principle that worship is a deliberate, consecrated act, performed in holiness and purity.