Exodus 30:35 kjv

And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:

Exodus 30:35 nkjv

You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.

Exodus 30:35 niv

and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred.

Exodus 30:35 esv

and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.

Exodus 30:35 nlt

Using the usual techniques of the incense maker, blend the spices together and sprinkle them with salt to produce a pure and holy incense.

Exodus 30 verses

Exodus 30 35 Meaning

Exodus 30:35 describes the precise components and characteristics of the holy incense, specifying its divine preparation as "a perfume, a concoction, after the art of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy." This sacred blend was exclusively for YHWH, consecrated for use on the Tabernacle's golden altar of incense, never for common or personal purposes, underscoring its unique and set-apart nature for divine worship. It symbolizes prayer and represents purity, preservation, and the perpetual ascent of offerings before God.

Exodus 30 35 Context

Exodus chapter 30 continues the detailed instructions for constructing the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the procedures for priestly service, following chapters that described the Tabernacle structure, Ark of the Covenant, and Tent of Meeting. This particular section (Ex 30:22-38) focuses on two specific sacred preparations: the anointing oil and the holy incense. Verse 35 gives the composition of the latter, an intricate mixture derived from four specific fragrant gums or spices: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense (Ex 30:34). These components, along with the requirement for precise craftsmanship ("after the art of a perfumer"), and the qualities "salted, pure, and holy," underscore the meticulous nature demanded for anything intended for divine service. The preceding verse details the ingredients, and the subsequent verses (30:37-38) prohibit anyone from replicating it for common use, making it exclusively for YHWH. Historically, incense was used in many cultures for worship, magic, or embalming, but Israel's sacred incense was unique in its divine command, specific composition, and strict, holy exclusivity to YHWH.

Exodus 30 35 Word analysis

• And you shall make (W-ʿāsitā - וְעָשִׂיתָ): This is a command, a direct instruction to Moses, highlighting divine authorship and authority over its creation. The precise formulation is not left to human invention but revealed divine will.

• of these ('ōtām - אֹתָם): Refers specifically to the four ingredients listed in the previous verse (Ex 30:34): stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. Their distinct qualities are integral to the whole.

• a perfume (qeṭōreṯ - קְטֹרֶת): This Hebrew word commonly refers to incense, something that produces smoke and a fragrant aroma when burned, particularly in the context of cultic or sacrificial offering. It is directly linked to divine presence and communication, ascending before God.

• a concoction (mirqaḥat - מִרְקַחַת): This noun emphasizes the prepared mixture or compound. It speaks to the careful, skilled blending and formulation of the components, not merely raw ingredients thrown together.

• after the art of a perfumer (maʿăśēh rōqēaḥ - מַעֲשֵׂה רֹקֵחַ): Literally "work of a compounder" or "work of an ointment maker." This specifies the craftsmanship required. The perfumer was a skilled artisan, possessing expertise in selecting, preparing, and combining aromatic substances. It signifies that its creation was to be done with utmost care and precision, a sacred art.

• salted (məmuālāḥ - מְמֻלָּח): This means "seasoned with salt." In the biblical context, salt symbolized preservation, purification, permanence, and covenant. Lev 2:13 mandates salt with grain offerings, explicitly calling it "the salt of the covenant." Its inclusion here implies the perpetual and incorruptible nature of the incense as an offering, binding it to YHWH's enduring covenant and its purifying function. It was likely a small amount to act as a preservative and perhaps ensure it burned evenly.

• pure (zāḵ - זָךְ): This means clean, unstained, unadulterated. It speaks to the integrity of the ingredients and the finished product, ensuring no foreign or impure elements defile it. This quality is essential for an offering presented before a holy God.

• and holy (qōdeš - קֹדֶשׁ): This is the culminating and most significant characteristic. "Holy" means set apart, consecrated exclusively for God's purposes, and dedicated entirely to Him. This declaration emphasizes its distinctiveness from all common perfumes and its singular purpose in divine worship, forbidding any other use.

Exodus 30 35 Bonus section

The strict prohibition on common use (Ex 30:37-38) highlights the concept of kadosh (holy) as being "set apart." Any unauthorized duplication or use of this incense for personal gratification or non-sacred purposes would be a desecration, as tragically demonstrated by Nadab and Abihu offering "unauthorized fire" (Lev 10:1-2) which often involved illicit incense. The detailed composition and precise instructions underscore that true worship is not arbitrary but according to God's revealed will, and deviation carries severe consequences. This serves as a shadow for the New Testament call to be a "holy priesthood" (1 Pet 2:5), offering "spiritual sacrifices" (Rom 12:1) that are pure and pleasing to God, which also must be presented according to His divine design through Christ.

Exodus 30 35 Commentary

Exodus 30:35 provides critical instructions for the sacred incense, revealing God's demand for meticulous care and profound reverence in worship. The four ingredients from verse 34 (stacte, onycha, galbanum, pure frankincense), when combined "after the art of a perfumer," indicate that worship requires skilled, intentional preparation, not haphazard actions. The specific proportions and craftsmanship elevate the act of making it to a sacred duty.

The "salted" characteristic links the incense to the covenant. Just as salt preserves and ensures permanence, the incense symbolizes an enduring, perpetual offering, reminiscent of the "covenant of salt" (Lev 2:13; Num 18:19) which signifies an unbreakable agreement. This aspect also points to the purifying nature required for approaching God. "Pure" reinforces this by stressing unblemished quality and authenticity. The final, overarching attribute, "holy," declares its absolute separation for YHWH. This incense was not for human enjoyment or common anointing; it was a uniquely divine preparation, emphasizing God's transcendence and His exclusive claim on true worship. This stringent separation highlights the seriousness of approaching a holy God and stands in polemic opposition to pagan practices where various incenses might be used casually or for idolatrous purposes.

Theologically, this incense, through its rising smoke and sweet aroma, prefigures prayer and Christ's own sacrificial work. As Psalms 141:2 and Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4 portray prayers as incense ascending to God, the Old Testament ritual prefigures the reality that sincere, holy, and fervent prayers ascend acceptably to God, mediated by Christ. Christ's own sacrifice is described as a "fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God" (Eph 5:2), embodying the ultimate fulfillment of holiness and acceptability required in all divine encounters. The precise details of the incense's preparation serve as a timeless reminder that approaching God requires reverence, intentionality, and a recognition of His ultimate holiness and sovereign distinction.