Exodus 31 11

Exodus 31:11 kjv

And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

Exodus 31:11 nkjv

and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do."

Exodus 31:11 niv

and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you."

Exodus 31:11 esv

and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do."

Exodus 31:11 nlt

the anointing oil;
the fragrant incense for the Holy Place.
The craftsmen must make everything as I have commanded you."

Exodus 31 verses

Exodus 31 11 Meaning

Exodus 31:11 outlines specific sacred items, the anointing oil and the incense of fragrant spices, designated for use in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. The verse emphasizes the absolute necessity of constructing and preparing these items "according to all that I have commanded you," underscoring divine precision and strict obedience in all matters related to God's dwelling and worship. This highlights God's sovereignty over worship and the means by which He allows humanity to approach Him.

Exodus 31 11 Context

Exodus 31 falls within the broader section (Ex 25-31) where God gives Moses detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the ordination of the priesthood at Mount Sinai. This chapter specifically introduces Bezalel and Oholiab as divinely gifted artisans appointed by God to lead the construction. Verse 11, therefore, is a summary command, reiterating the essential sacred components that require precise preparation: the holy anointing oil for consecrating objects and people, and the specific, divinely prescribed incense for regular use in worship within the Tabernacle's Holy Place. The phrase "according to all that I have commanded you" serves as a concluding imperative for this entire segment of instructions, emphasizing God's demand for meticulous obedience and loyalty to His detailed plan for the sanctuary and its rituals, distinguishing it from pagan practices that lacked divine blueprint.

Exodus 31 11 Word analysis

• and the anointing oil

  • Original Hebrew: וְאֵת שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה (wəʾēt shemen hammishchāh)
  • Meaning: "Oil of anointing" or "unction oil." This was not ordinary oil but a specially concocted sacred oil (Ex 30:22-25) composed of pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, fragrant calamus, cassia, and olive oil.
  • Significance: Its primary purpose was for consecration – setting apart the Tabernacle, its furnishings (like the altar, the ark, the table, the lampstand), and the priests (Aaron and his sons) for holy service to God. It symbolized God's empowering presence and dedication for sacred use. Misuse or imitation was strictly forbidden, punishable by exclusion (Ex 30:31-33). Spiritually, it foreshadows the anointing of the Holy Spirit on believers and particularly on Christ (the "Anointed One").

• and the incense

  • Original Hebrew: וְאֶת קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים (wəʾet qəṭōret hassammîm)
  • Meaning: "Incense of spices" or "aromatic incense." Also a divinely prescribed compound (Ex 30:34-35) of stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, ground fine and salted.
  • Significance: This incense was to be burned perpetually on the Altar of Incense in the Holy Place. Its fragrant smoke was seen as ascending to God, symbolizing the prayers of the saints (Ps 141:2; Rev 5:8, 8:3-4) and possibly the intercession of Christ. Like the anointing oil, its composition and use were sacred and exclusive to the Tabernacle; common use or imitation was prohibited (Ex 30:37-38) under penalty. It speaks to the holiness required in approaching God.

• of fragrant spices for the Holy Place.

  • Original Hebrew: לַקֹּדֶשׁ (laqqōḏeš) – more specifically means "for the Holy [place/things]"
  • Meaning: Refers to the sacred compartment of the Tabernacle, before the veil that separated it from the Most Holy Place.
  • Significance: The "Holy Place" was the main chamber of the Tabernacle where priests performed daily service: tending the lampstand, offering showbread, and burning incense. This designation underscores the sanctity of the items – they were set apart exclusively for divine worship within this sacred space, not for ordinary use. The meticulous design and restricted access to this area emphasized God's holiness and His distinct presence among His people, dictating the only way He could be approached.

• According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.

  • Meaning: This phrase is a potent and recurring command throughout the Tabernacle instructions. It signifies God's insistence on absolute precision and strict obedience in every detail of the construction and ritual.
  • Significance: It reflects God's unchanging nature and His sovereignty over worship. It directly challenges any human tendency to deviate, innovate, or dilute divine instructions. This imperative forms a direct polemic against the arbitrary and often corrupt worship practices of surrounding pagan cultures. For Israel, it meant that their worship and their access to God were entirely dependent on adhering to His revealed will, not human ingenuity or convenience. This principle foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on obeying Christ's teachings and not adding to or subtracting from God's word (Deut 4:2, 12:32; Mt 28:20; Rev 22:18-19).

Exodus 31 11 Bonus section

The Tabernacle, and the specific items like the anointing oil and incense, served as powerful visual and experiential aids to teach Israel about God's holiness, His desire to dwell among His people, and the required sanctity for fellowship. The prohibition against replicating the anointing oil or incense for personal use (Ex 30:32-33, 37-38) was severe, reinforcing their exclusive sacred purpose and warning against reducing holy things to the common. This points to a New Covenant truth: the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of believers are unique and cannot be conjured or mimicked by human effort but flow from genuine faith and relationship with God.

Exodus 31 11 Commentary

Exodus 31:11 encapsulates two vital aspects of approaching a holy God: the divinely sanctioned means of consecration and communication, and the absolute requirement for meticulous obedience. The anointing oil signifies God's consecration, setting apart, and empowering for sacred service; it represents the pouring out of God's Spirit, as seen supremely in Christ (the Anointed One) and subsequently upon believers. The fragrant incense, ascending as sweet smoke, symbolizes the continuous prayers and intercession of God's people ascending to Him, purified and made acceptable through divine provision. Both elements were unique, exclusive, and strictly governed by divine decree, forbidding any human deviation or appropriation. This specific instruction emphasizes that human access to God and the performance of sacred worship must align perfectly with God's commands, not man's design or convenience. It highlights God's unassailable holiness and His rightful prerogative to dictate how He is to be approached and worshipped. The repeated command for strict adherence serves as a perpetual reminder that authentic faith involves not only acknowledging God's existence but also humbly obeying His explicit will.