Exodus 30 8

Exodus 30:8 kjv

And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

Exodus 30:8 nkjv

And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

Exodus 30:8 niv

He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come.

Exodus 30:8 esv

and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations.

Exodus 30:8 nlt

And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the LORD's presence. This must be done from generation to generation.

Exodus 30 verses

Exodus 30 8 Meaning

Exodus 30:8 commands Aaron, the high priest, to burn holy incense on the Golden Altar every evening when he prepares the lamps of the Tabernacle's Menorah. This act was to be a continuous, unbroken ritual before the Lord for all generations of Israel, symbolizing unceasing prayer, worship, and fellowship in God's presence.

Exodus 30 8 Context

Exodus 30 specifies the construction and use of the Altar of Incense (vv. 1-10), an essential piece of Tabernacle furniture placed directly before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. This altar was to be used solely for the sacred incense, distinct from the Altar of Burnt Offering outside the Tabernacle. Verses 7 and 8 detail the two daily incense offerings: one in the morning when the lamps were tended, and another in the evening during the lamps' lighting. This verse thus establishes a fixed, sacred rhythm for the Tabernacle worship, intertwining the symbolic light of God's presence with the ascending prayers represented by the incense, ensuring constant communion with God through the mediation of the High Priest. The ritual highlighted God's demand for precise worship and His desire for an uninterrupted presence with His people.

Exodus 30 8 Word analysis

• And when Aaron
  • "Aaron" (אַהֲרֹן - Aharon): Designated High Priest, emphasizing his unique mediatorial role in drawing near to God on behalf of the people. This highlights the foundational priestly office in Israelite worship.
• lighteth the lamps
  • "lighteth" (בְּהַעֲלֹת - bəhaʿălōṯ): Literally "when causing to go up" or "when setting up." Refers to preparing, trimming, and filling the lamps of the Menorah so they would give continuous light. This daily task ensured God's light in the Tabernacle.
  • "lamps" (הַנֵּרֹת - hannērōṯ): Specifically the seven lamps of the Menorah (golden lampstand). These symbolized the light of God's presence, wisdom, and the testimony of His covenant within the holy place.
• at even
  • "at even" (בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם - bên hāʿarbāyim): Literally "between the two evenings," signifying the twilight period from sunset to nightfall. This fixed time coincided with the evening sacrifice, underscoring the interconnectedness of daily Tabernacle rituals.
• he shall burn it, a perpetual incense
  • "he shall burn it" (יַקְטִירֶנָּה - yaqṭîrennāh): From קָטַר (qāṭar), "to cause to smoke," specifically for incense offering. This denotes a distinct, holy offering, set apart from burning meat.
  • "perpetual" (תָּמִיד - tāmîḏ): Meaning "continual," "regular," or "enduring." This stresses the unceasing and permanent nature of the commandment and the presence of the offering. It was not sporadic but a foundational element of daily worship.
  • "incense" (קְטֹרֶת - qəṭōreṯ): The specific holy mixture of spices (Exod 30:34-35) designed solely for God. It represents prayer, worship, and the fragrant presence of God's people before Him.
• before the Lord
  • "before the Lord" (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifnê Yahweh): Implies direct access and worship in God's manifest presence. The incense altar's position, immediately before the veil to the Most Holy Place, emphasized this nearness.
• throughout your generations
  • "throughout your generations" (לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם - ləḏōrōṯêḵem): A common biblical phrase signifying an enduring, everlasting commandment for all future descendants. It emphasizes the perpetual obligation and the covenantal nature of this worship.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "When Aaron lighteth the lamps at even": This phrase ties together two essential daily priestly duties – maintaining God's light and offering incense. It signifies that the physical upkeep of God's sanctuary was inextricably linked to spiritual devotion and intercession, forming a comprehensive pattern of daily worship.
• "He shall burn it, a perpetual incense": This combination highlights the divine command for a constant offering of prayer and worship. The "perpetual" nature indicates that worship should not be an occasional event but a consistent, integral part of the covenant relationship. It speaks to the enduring commitment required in the priestly service and in the spiritual life of God's people.
• "Perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations": This phrase underscores the enduring and deeply spiritual nature of the ritual. The constant burning symbolizes uninterrupted communion, atonement, and ascending prayers, an enduring command binding God's people across all time to His sacred presence and their priestly service. It sets a pattern for ongoing spiritual vigilance and intercession.

Exodus 30 8 Bonus section

• The strict instructions regarding the sacred incense (Exod 30:34-38) underscore its exclusivity for God's worship, prohibiting its use for personal fragrance. This maintained its sacred distinction and prevented pagan associations with common scents, highlighting God's demand for holiness and uniqueness in worship.
• The Menorah's light, often symbolizing divine wisdom or revelation, was to remain burning continually (Lev 24:1-4). This meant Aaron's task was less about igniting from darkness each day and more about trimming wicks and adding oil to sustain an existing flame, ensuring unbroken divine illumination.
• The placement of the Altar of Incense just before the veil into the Most Holy Place signified that true communion with God, and access to His presence, was always mediated through the High Priest and the "sweet savour" of this holy offering, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate mediatorial role.

Exodus 30 8 Commentary

Exodus 30:8 delineates a precise divine mandate for Aaron's evening priestly duties: the preparation of the Menorah's lamps paired with the burning of holy incense. This ritual, like its morning counterpart (v. 7), was not merely ceremonial but deeply symbolic. The lamps represented God's illuminating presence, wisdom, and covenant testimony within the Tabernacle, requiring continuous maintenance to ensure uninterrupted light. Concurrently, the rising smoke of the "perpetual incense" signified the unceasing prayers, worship, and spiritual access of God's people, ascending continually "before the Lord." Its fixed time "at even," "between the two evenings," paralleled the daily evening burnt offering, demonstrating a comprehensive schedule of dedicated communion with God. This commandment, given "throughout your generations," emphasized the enduring nature of this covenantal practice, underscoring God's desire for consistent and holy communion with His people.

Typologically, this points to Christ's unending intercession as our Great High Priest (Heb 7:25), who eternally brings our prayers before God. His one, perfect sacrifice allows believers, now a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9), to offer "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Pet 2:5) – including the "incense" of constant prayer and thanksgiving (Phil 4:6, 1 Thess 5:17). The perpetual incense serves as a constant reminder that communion with God through prayer should be a persistent, vital aspect of the spiritual life for believers across all generations.