Exodus 30:37 kjv
And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.
Exodus 30:37 nkjv
But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD.
Exodus 30:37 niv
Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the LORD.
Exodus 30:37 esv
And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the LORD.
Exodus 30:37 nlt
Never use this formula to make this incense for yourselves. It is reserved for the LORD, and you must treat it as holy.
Exodus 30 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 29:37 | ...whatever touches them will be holy. | Holiness imparted to objects set apart. |
| Ex 30:29 | You shall consecrate them so that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will be holy. | Consecration makes objects most holy. |
| Ex 30:31 | "And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations.’" | Sacred oil is exclusively for God's use. |
| Ex 30:32-33 | It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person...Whoever puts any of it on an outsider, or whoever puts any of it on himself, shall be cut off from his people. | Prohibition on profane use of holy oil, severe consequence. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Now Nadab and Abihu...offered unauthorized fire before the Lord...and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them. | Dire consequence of unauthorized worship. |
| Lev 10:10 | You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean. | God demands distinction between holy and common. |
| Lev 22:2-3 | Speak to Aaron and his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things...Whoever of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel.. | Proper reverence and handling of holy things. |
| Num 4:15 | And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects...after that the sons of Kohath shall come...but they shall not touch the holy things, lest they die. | Death penalty for touching holy objects without permission. |
| Num 16:6-7 | Do this: take censers, Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow. The man whom the Lord chooses will be the holy one. | Korah's unauthorized incense offering, challenging authority. |
| Num 16:35 | And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who offered the incense. | Divine judgment on unauthorized incense offerings. |
| Deut 4:2 | You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. | Warning against altering divine commands. |
| 1 Sam 6:19 | And he struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. | Death for irreverence toward sacred objects. |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it...and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him. | Death for inappropriate contact with holy ark. |
| Psa 141:2 | Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! | Prayer likened to holy incense, highlighting its sacred nature. |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | Human-devised ways contrasted with God's way. |
| Isa 1:13 | Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. | Right action must accompany ritual, or ritual is an abomination. |
| Mal 1:11 | For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name. | Prophecy of universal pure worship to God. |
| Matt 15:9 | In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. | Jesus condemns man-made doctrines in worship. |
| Heb 9:1-28 | A full chapter discussing the earthly Tabernacle and its elements as shadows of heavenly realities and Christ's superior sacrifice. | The old covenant rituals pointed to Christ. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him. | Believers are set apart for God's purposes. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Believers as consecrated "living sacrifices". |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you...You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. | Believers' bodies are sacred temples. |
| Rev 5:8 | And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers... | Incense symbolizing prayers of saints. |
| Rev 8:3-4 | And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. | Incense signifying prayers rising to God. |
Exodus 30 verses
Exodus 30 37 Meaning
Exodus 30:37 conveys a strict divine command regarding the sacred incense used in the Tabernacle worship. It prohibits the replication of this specific composition of incense for personal or common use, emphasizing that this sacred preparation is exclusively consecrated "to the Lord." The verse establishes a clear distinction between that which is holy and set apart for God, and that which is for common human purpose, reinforcing the unique and inviolable nature of God's prescribed worship.
Exodus 30 37 Context
Exodus chapter 30 concludes a detailed section (Exodus 25-31) of divine instructions for building the Tabernacle and its associated sacred articles, as well as the ordination of the priesthood. Following instructions for the anointing oil (verses 22-33) and the composition of the sacred incense (verses 34-36), verse 37, along with verse 38, serves as a crucial boundary and warning. The verse emphasizes that these divinely ordained elements of worship are not to be trivialized, commercialized, or repurposed for personal gain or idolatrous practices. The prohibition underscores the absolute holiness and exclusive nature of all items, rituals, and substances explicitly set apart by God for His worship, establishing a strict separation between the sacred (kadosh) and the common (chol) within ancient Israelite life and worship.
Exodus 30 37 Word analysis
- And as for the incense:
- Original Hebrew: וְהַקְּטֹרֶת (vehaqəṭōreṯ). "Ha" is the definite article "the." "Qəṭōreṯ" refers specifically to the aromatic smoke, the fragrant substance burned for its smell, distinct from "mibḥôr" (perfume). Its use was entirely sacred, solely for the worship prescribed by God, underscoring its unique status.
- Significance: This phrase connects directly to the preceding description of the incense's composition (vv. 34-36). It emphasizes the exactness of the formula given by God, indicating no room for human improvisation.
- which you shall make:
- Original Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה (ʾăše̱r taʿăśeh). "Taʿăśeh" means "you shall do" or "you shall make."
- Significance: This highlights human responsibility and obedience in replicating the divine instruction precisely. While God provided the recipe, His people were commanded to carry out the preparation, making their faithfulness paramount.
- you shall not make for yourselves:
- Original Hebrew: לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם (loʾ taʿăśû lāḵem). "Loʾ" is the negative particle "not." "Taʿăśû" is the plural "you shall do/make." "Lāḵem" means "for yourselves," "for your own use," or "for your personal benefit."
- Significance: This is the core prohibition. The phrase "for yourselves" strongly condemns any personal appropriation or domestication of what belongs to God. It prevents misuse, commercialization, and the blending of sacred and common, guarding against profanity.
- Polemic: This was a direct polemic against pagan practices common in the ancient Near East, where people often made various incenses and perfumes for personal use, magic, or dedication to their multitude of idols or household gods. God's command makes it clear that His holy objects and substances are exclusively His and cannot be co-opted or diluted by human will or desires.
- according to its composition:
- Original Hebrew: בְּמַתְכֹּנֶת (bəmaṯkōneṯ). "Bə" means "in" or "according to." "Maṯkōneṯ" refers to the precise design, composition, proportion, or standard.
- Significance: This reiterates the strict adherence required. Not only is the sacred incense forbidden for personal use, but even creating something similar to its divine formula is prohibited if intended for common purposes. This leaves no loophole for human innovation or modification of divine prescriptions for worship.
- it shall be to you holy:
- Original Hebrew: קֹדֶשׁ (qōḏeš). "Qōḏeš" means "holiness," "sacred," "set apart," "consecrated."
- Significance: This declarative statement emphasizes the inherent nature of the incense as kadosh, "set apart" from the ordinary world for God's exclusive purposes. Its holiness is not merely functional but intrinsic, by divine decree.
- to the Lord:
- Original Hebrew: לַיהוָה (laYHWH). "La" means "to" or "for." "YHWH" is the sacred name of God.
- Significance: This clearly defines the ownership and recipient of the holiness. The incense's sacredness is entirely derivative of its dedication to God alone. This reaffirms God's sovereignty over all aspects of worship and warns against human attempts to manipulate divine blessings or holy things for self-serving ends.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "you shall not make for yourselves according to its composition": This phrase underlines the core principle of divine ownership and exclusivity. It strictly forbids human agency in determining the application of God's holy elements, especially if that application is for personal gain, private rituals, or imitation. It’s a protection against both sacrilege and syncretism, ensuring the distinctiveness of Yahweh worship from paganism. The exact composition emphasizes that even minor deviations for common purposes are unacceptable.
- "it shall be to you holy to the Lord": This phrase defines the status and purpose of the incense. It signifies that its holiness is permanent and non-transferable to common usage. Its designation as "holy to the Lord" means it belongs to God and reflects His character of utter separateness and purity. This sacredness demands reverence and restricts its use to God's ordained purposes, fostering an awe of His presence and commands.
Exodus 30 37 Bonus section
The concept of qōḏeš (holiness) is central to understanding this verse. It implies "set apart," "distinct," and "unique." When something is designated "holy to the Lord," it moves from the sphere of common accessibility into the exclusive realm of God's presence and purpose. This isn't merely ceremonial but reflects God's own intrinsic character of separateness and majesty. Therefore, anything profaning or misusing that which is qōḏeš is a direct affront to God's character. This principle extends into the New Testament where believers, "a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Pet 2:9), are likewise set apart for God's purposes, with their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). The emphasis on exact "composition" and "making it for yourselves" implicitly critiques human self-sufficiency and the temptation to blend sacred forms with profane intentions, a practice seen in various pagan cults that mixed personal gain or ritualistic magic with deity veneration.
Exodus 30 37 Commentary
Exodus 30:37, like its companion verse regarding the anointing oil (v. 32-33), establishes a fundamental principle of biblical worship: God alone defines what is holy and how it is to be used. The prohibition against replicating the sacred incense's composition for personal use is not arbitrary; it reinforces the concept of divine ownership and exclusivity in matters of worship. This holy incense, divinely formulated, was specifically designed for the Tabernacle's most sacred ritual—the burning on the golden altar before the veil, symbolizing the ascending prayers of God's people (Psa 141:2, Rev 8:3-4). Its unique composition, imparted directly by God, ensures its distinctiveness from any other fragrance or perfume. The consequence of violating this command, as seen in instances like Nadab and Abihu offering "unauthorized fire" (Lev 10:1-2), was severe, demonstrating God's zealous guardianship of His holiness and the integrity of His worship. The verse reminds believers of the imperative to approach God only on His terms, with reverence, purity, and strict obedience to His revealed will, honoring the distinction between the sacred and the common.