Exodus 30 10

Exodus 30:10 kjv

And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.

Exodus 30:10 nkjv

And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD."

Exodus 30:10 niv

Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD."

Exodus 30:10 esv

Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD."

Exodus 30:10 nlt

"Once a year Aaron must purify the altar by smearing its horns with blood from the offering made to purify the people from their sin. This will be a regular, annual event from generation to generation, for this is the LORD's most holy altar."

Exodus 30 verses

Exodus 30 10 Meaning

Exodus 30:10 describes the annual atonement ritual for the Altar of Incense. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, Aaron, as the high priest, was commanded to apply the blood from the sin offering onto the horns of this altar. This act of atonement served to cleanse the altar from the cumulative defilement caused by the sins and impurities of the Israelites throughout the year, ensuring the altar remained supremely holy and that God's presence could continue to dwell among His people. This practice was to be observed perpetually by future generations, highlighting its vital importance in maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

Exodus 30 10 Context

Exodus 30:10 is part of God's detailed instructions for the construction and ritual practices of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Specifically, it concludes the description of the Altar of Incense (Exo 30:1-10). This golden altar stood in the Holy Place, directly before the veil separating it from the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant resided. While its daily function was to burn fragrant incense (Exo 30:7-8), this verse sets it apart for a distinct, annual ritual. The ritual connects the altar not to daily intercession but to the comprehensive national atonement performed on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), described more fully in Leviticus 16. It ensures that even the holy objects that serve God must be purged of the defilement that accrues from sinful human interaction and proximity.

Exodus 30 10 Word analysis

• Aaron: The designated high priest, representative of the people before God. His unique role as the one to perform this high ritual underscores the seriousness and divine appointment of the act.
• shall make atonement: The Hebrew verb is kaphar (כָּפַר), meaning "to cover," "to purge," "to expiate," or "to make reconciliation." It implies a removal or covering of sin and impurity to restore a right relationship or state of holiness.
• upon the horns of it: The "horns" (קֶרֶן, qeren) are projections at the four corners of the altar, often symbolizing power, strength, or salvation (e.g., Ps 18:2; Lk 1:69). Applying blood to the horns of the altar of incense specifically points to cleansing and purification reaching the highest point and essence of its function. They were points of contact for atonement or for seeking refuge.
• once in a year: This phrase, achath ba-shanah (אַחַת בַּשָּׁנָה), emphasizes the unique and solemn nature of this annual ritual. It sharply contrasts with the daily burning of incense and highlights its connection to the Day of Atonement, an annual comprehensive cleansing for the nation.
• with the blood: Dam (דָּם). Blood is central to the concept of atonement in the Old Testament. As the symbol of life, it signifies the offering of a life for a life, a payment for sin (Lev 17:11; Heb 9:22). It purifies by representing substitutionary life.
• of the sin offering of atonements: The Hebrew phrase is chattat ha-kippurim (חַטָּאת הַכִּפֻּרִים). A "sin offering" (chatta't) was for unintentional sins and purification. "Of atonements" signifies that this particular offering is the one used specifically for the comprehensive Day of Atonement rituals (Leviticus 16), making this application exceptionally sacred.
• throughout your generations: This emphasizes the perpetual command for this ritual under the Old Covenant, ensuring its ongoing observance by the priestly line. It signifies an enduring, foundational aspect of their relationship with God.
• it is most holy: The phrase qodesh qadashim (קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים), "holy of holies" or "most holy thing," denotes an extreme degree of sacredness, set apart entirely for God and not to be profaned. This designation indicates the altar's profound sanctity and its intimate connection to God's dwelling presence, necessitating annual purification.

Exodus 30 10 Bonus section

The Altar of Incense, by its location directly before the Most Holy Place, acted as a primary point of spiritual communion and intercession between God and His people. Its daily smoke symbolized the prayers of the saints ascending to God (Psa 141:2; Rev 8:3-4). The annual purification described in Exo 30:10 underscores that even the channels of communion need to be consecrated due to human sinfulness. This also typologically prefigures Christ's ongoing intercession as our Great High Priest. Just as the altar allowed for continuous prayer, now Christ perpetually intercedes for believers, ensuring an unhindered path to God (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25). The blood applied to its horns ensures that even prayers offered through the altar could be acceptable to a holy God, prefiguring how access to God for sinful humanity is only through the shed blood of Christ.

Exodus 30 10 Commentary

Exodus 30:10 provides a crucial detail about the sanctity and maintenance of the Altar of Incense. Beyond its daily use for fragrant worship, it required an annual blood atonement, emphasizing that even holy objects within God's sanctuary needed to be ritually cleansed from the accumulating defilement caused by the sins of the people. This highlights a foundational truth: sin impacts not just individuals but also communal space and objects connected to God's presence. The repetitive nature of this annual ritual, "once in a year," underscored the temporary and preparatory nature of the Old Covenant's system. It pointed to an inherent inability for these rituals to offer perfect or final cleansing, continuously reminding Israel of their ongoing sinfulness and the need for a truly definitive atonement. This foreshadowed the once-for-all, perfect sacrifice of Christ, whose blood perfectly and eternally cleanses not only people but also provides access to the true heavenly sanctuary, making the repeated purification of earthly elements obsolete (Heb 9-10).