Exodus 30:31 kjv

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.

Exodus 30:31 nkjv

"And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations.

Exodus 30:31 niv

Say to the Israelites, 'This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come.

Exodus 30:31 esv

And you shall say to the people of Israel, 'This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations.

Exodus 30:31 nlt

And say to the people of Israel, 'This holy anointing oil is reserved for me from generation to generation.

Exodus 30 verses

Exodus 30 31 Meaning

Exodus 30:31 declares that the specifically prepared anointing oil is profoundly holy and belongs exclusively to the Lord God, instructing the children of Israel to acknowledge and maintain its sacred status perpetually throughout their generations. This verse emphasizes the oil's unique consecrated nature and its divine ownership, marking it as utterly distinct from any common use.

Exodus 30 31 Context

Exodus chapter 30 continues the detailed divine instructions for the construction and use of the Tabernacle and its sacred furnishings, outlining precise specifications for instruments, their functions, and the rituals associated with them. Just prior to this verse, the Lord provided Moses with the exact recipe for the holy anointing oil, detailing the specific precious spices—myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, and aromatic cane—blended with olive oil. This immediate context underscores the deliberate, divine craftsmanship required for items used in His service. The broader context includes the consecration of the priests and the Tabernacle itself, marking their separation for holy purposes. The directive "unto me" highlights that this oil, like everything related to the Tabernacle and its service, is primarily for God's glory and distinct from pagan practices or common applications. This commandment serves to reinforce the absolute holiness and set-apart nature of Israel's worship in contrast to surrounding nations.

Exodus 30 31 Word analysis

• And thou shalt speak (וְאַתָּה֙ תְּדַבֵּ֔ר - ve'attah t'dabber): This imperative carries divine authority, signaling a direct command from God through Moses to the Israelites. It emphasizes the active transmission and declaration of these vital instructions.
• unto the children of Israel (אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - el-bnei Yisrael): Designates the specific covenant community as the direct recipients of this enduring law. It highlights their unique responsibility in maintaining this sacred instruction.
• saying (לֵאמֹ֑ר - lemor): Introduces the exact words or substance of the command that follows, giving it the weight of direct divine speech.
• This (זֶ֗ה - zeh): Points specifically to the anointing oil whose composition was detailed immediately preceding this verse (Exo 30:23-25). It grounds the sanctity in the precise divine prescription.
• shall be (יִֽהְיֶ֞ה - yihyeh): A strong declaration of an established, unchangeable reality or status. It is a divine decree.
• an holy (קֹ֣דֶשׁ - qodesh): This is a critical term, meaning "set apart," "sacred," "consecrated," "holy." It denotes something reserved exclusively for God and removed from all common, profane, or ordinary use. Its holiness derives directly from God's own nature.
• anointing oil (שֶׁ֤מֶן מִשְׁחַת֙ - shemen mishchat): Literally, "oil of anointing." Shemen (oil) signifies a source of light, anointing, and blessing. Mishchah (anointing) implies setting apart, consecration, or inauguration for a special office or divine purpose. The combination identifies its ritual use in dedicating persons and objects to God.
• unto me (קֹ֔דֶשׁ לִ֖י - qodesh li): Literally "holiness for me" or "holy belonging to Me." This emphasizes divine ownership and ultimate purpose. The oil is holy because it is consecrated to God and used in His service. It is not merely sacred in itself but sacred in its exclusive relation to Yahweh.
• throughout your generations (לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם - ledoroteychem): This phrase signifies perpetuity, an everlasting statute or custom that transcends time and is binding on all successive generations of Israel. It means this commandment is not temporary but is an enduring aspect of their covenant relationship with God.

Exodus 30 31 Bonus section

• Typological Significance: The physical anointing oil in the Old Testament powerfully prefigures the spiritual anointing of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant. Jesus, as "the Christ" (Gk. Christos, meaning "Anointed One"), embodies the ultimate fulfillment of divine anointing, having been fully endowed with the Holy Spirit for His messianic mission. Believers too receive an "anointing" (1 John 2:20, 27) which is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, setting them apart as God's own, equipping them, and giving them spiritual understanding.
• Polemics against Idolatry: In a world where pagan deities were worshiped with various rituals and concoctions, the strict and unique formula for Israel's holy anointing oil, coupled with its exclusive "unto Me" dedication and severe penalties for misuse, served as a strong polemic. It demonstrated that Yahweh's holiness and worship practices were entirely distinct, divinely revealed, and not to be mingled or confused with common, unholy, or idolatrous customs of surrounding nations.
• Corporate Responsibility: The command is given to "the children of Israel," signifying a collective responsibility to uphold this sacred tradition and teaching it to future generations. This ensures the purity of worship and the recognition of God's holiness within the entire community.

Exodus 30 31 Commentary

Exodus 30:31 serves as a foundational declaration of the holy anointing oil's perpetual and exclusive dedication to Yahweh. This isn't merely a rule but a theological statement about God's nature and the nature of His worship. The oil, meticulously compounded by divine instruction, symbolizes the spiritual setting apart and empowerment for service to God. Its holiness "unto me" means it belongs to God and reflects His purity, making anything or anyone anointed with it exclusively devoted to Him. The prohibition against common use (stated in subsequent verses) powerfully communicated the unbridgeable chasm between the sacred and the profane, a lesson Israel repeatedly needed to learn. This foreshadows the New Testament concept of the "anointing" of the Holy Spirit (e.g., in Christ's ministry and believers), which likewise sets apart individuals for divine purpose and belongs entirely to God, empowering them for spiritual service. Its lasting command, "throughout your generations," ensures the enduring truth that true worship requires holiness and consecration across all ages.