Exodus 30:38 kjv

Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

Exodus 30:38 nkjv

Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people."

Exodus 30:38 niv

Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people."

Exodus 30:38 esv

Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people."

Exodus 30:38 nlt

Anyone who makes incense like this for personal use will be cut off from the community."

Exodus 30 verses

Exodus 30 38 Meaning

Exodus 30:38 is a divine prohibition against replicating the holy anointing oil for any personal or non-sacred use. This command ensures the distinct sacredness and exclusivity of the special incense prescribed by God, underscoring that anything specifically consecrated for divine service is to remain separate and cannot be treated as common or profane. The severe penalty of being "cut off from his people" highlights the grave nature of desecrating holy objects and defying God’s specific instructions regarding worship.

Exodus 30 38 Context

This verse is part of a detailed section (Exod 30:22-38) immediately following instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and the consecration of priests. Specifically, Exodus 30:34-38 provides the precise recipe for the sacred incense (ketoret) to be used exclusively on the Altar of Incense in the Tabernacle. It emphasizes that this incense, like the anointing oil (Exod 30:31-33), is set apart as "most holy" for the Lord. The severe prohibition in verse 38 highlights the importance of distinct boundaries between the sacred and the common, reinforcing the concept of God's sole proprietorship over holy objects and practices. This ensured reverence for Yahweh's worship and prevented the Israelites from adopting pagan customs of producing and using incense for common or illicit purposes.

Word Analysis

• Whoever makes (וְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂה - vĕ'îš 'ăšer ya‘ăśeh): Signifies any person, regardless of status, who dares to replicate the holy incense formula. The universality underscores the gravity of the command for all in the community.
• any like it (כָּמֹהוּ - kāmohu): Emphasizes duplication of the specific divinely given recipe (storax, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, in specific amounts, purified and salted, Exod 30:34-35). It prohibits both exact copying and producing something substantially similar with the intent of misuse. The holiness resided in its unique composition as prescribed by God.
• to use as perfume (לְהַקְטִיר בּוֹ - lĕhaqṭîr bo): The Hebrew lĕhaqṭîr (from qaṭar) means "to cause to smoke" or "to burn incense." While often translated "perfume" in this context, it specifically refers to burning the substance to create an aromatic smoke. The prohibition is not against merely creating an object that smells pleasant, but against burning this sacred substance for personal gratification, for mundane purposes, or for unsanctioned religious rituals, thereby profaning its consecrated nature. Its sacred purpose was only for the Lord in the Tabernacle.
• shall be cut off (וְנִכְרְתָה - vĕnikrĕtâ): From the root kārat (כרת), literally meaning "to cut, cut off." This is a severe, recurring penalty in the Torah, indicating exclusion from the covenant community. It could imply:
  • Excommunication: Banishment from Israelite society, losing rights and protections.
  • Spiritual Isolation: Separation from the divine presence and covenant blessings.
  • Untimely Death: Direct divine judgment leading to a premature demise (as seen with Nadab and Abihu in Lev 10). It signifies a complete severance from the people of God, implying loss of inheritance, lineage, and connection to the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. It underscores that membership in God's covenant community carried serious responsibilities concerning holiness.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Whoever makes any like it, to use as perfume": This phrase captures the specific act of transgression: creating a replica of the sacred incense and then applying it to a use that defies its consecrated status. It highlights illicit appropriation and misuse of holy things, moving them from the realm of divine purpose to human desire or unsanctioned ritual. This was an attempt to co-opt divine revelation for common ends, thus blurring the essential distinction between holy and profane established by God.
• "shall be cut off from his people": This phrase details the ultimate, dire consequence. It signifies the removal of the individual from their identity, belonging, and participation in the chosen nation of Israel. This punishment served as a strong deterrent, protecting the purity of Israel’s worship and reinforcing God's supreme authority over all that pertains to His sanctuary and His holy name. It served as a community-level purification.

Exodus 30 38 Commentary

Exodus 30:38 encapsulates a profound theological truth about divine holiness and human boundaries. The meticulously detailed recipes for the anointing oil and the sacred incense were not mere preferences; they were divine commandments meant to signify absolute uniqueness and distinction. These consecrated substances represented God's presence, purity, and the mediation of His grace. To replicate them for common "perfume" (personal, non-cultic use) was an act of profound disrespect and desecration. It was an attempt to take what God declared as uniquely His and incorporate it into the common realm, violating the sacred/profane distinction fundamental to Israelite worship. The penalty, "cut off from his people," demonstrates the seriousness of this offense. It wasn't merely a civil punishment but a theological one: the individual was alienated from the covenant community and, by extension, from God's covenant blessings and protection. This underscores God's demand for explicit obedience regarding worship and warns against human attempts to manipulate or diminish the sacredness of His chosen elements and rituals. This principle of setting apart holy things continues into the New Covenant in a spiritual sense, where believers are called to consecration, treating God’s spiritual gifts and the Lord’s Supper with reverence, recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).

Bonus Section

The exclusivity of the sacred incense and oil was a stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern practices, where various aromatics were commonly used in daily life and in cults of multiple gods. Yahweh's command distinguished Israel's worship, prohibiting syncretism and highlighting His singular, transcendent nature. The very scent, which ascended from the Tabernacle, was a unique aroma to God, distinct from any other earthly fragrance. This particular command, along with others detailing ritual elements, helped solidify Israel’s identity as a holy nation, separated from the surrounding peoples for God's purposes. The theological significance of "cut off" (Hebrew: kārat) is deep. While often implying excommunication, some scholars suggest it could also signify a premature, unnatural death directly from God, indicating His immediate judgment on those who dared to profane His holy institutions. It also implies the loss of any posterity or "seed," thus erasing their presence from Israel’s future.