Exodus 35:15 kjv
And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
Exodus 35:15 nkjv
the incense altar, its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the screen for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle;
Exodus 35:15 niv
the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;
Exodus 35:15 esv
and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;
Exodus 35:15 nlt
the incense altar and its carrying poles;
the anointing oil and fragrant incense;
the curtain for the entrance of the Tabernacle;
Exodus 35 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Incense Altar & Incense (Prayer & Worship) | ||
| Ex 30:1-10 | "You shall make an altar to burn incense... Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it every morning..." | God's command for the incense altar's design and daily use. |
| Ex 30:34-38 | "Take sweet spices, stacte, onycha... This shall be for you most holy to the LORD." | Divine prescription for the holy incense recipe and its exclusive use. |
| Lev 16:18 | "Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it..." | Altar's role in the Day of Atonement purification. |
| Ps 141:2 | "Let my prayer be counted as incense before You..." | Poetic imagery linking prayer to the sweet incense. |
| Lk 1:9-10 | "the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense." | People's prayers correlating with temple incense offering. |
| Rev 5:8 | "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 of the saints." | Prayers of saints symbolized as incense in heavenly worship. |
| Rev 8:3-5 | "And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer... the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God." | Heavenly altar of incense receives and offers the prayers of saints. |
| Anointing Oil (Consecration & Spirit) | ||
| Ex 30:22-33 | "Moreover, the LORD said to Moses, 'Take the finest spices... and make of them a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend..." | God's detailed recipe and purpose for the holy anointing oil. |
| Lev 8:10-12 | "Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the Tabernacle... and poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him..." | Use of the oil for consecrating the Tabernacle and priests. |
| 1 Sam 10:1 | "Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, 'Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince...'" | Oil used to consecrate kings, signifying divine appointment. |
| Ps 23:5 | "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." | Metaphorical anointing representing divine favor and blessing. |
| Is 61:1 | "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me..." | Prophecy of Christ's anointing by the Spirit for His ministry. |
| Acts 10:38 | "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power..." | Fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' anointing for ministry. |
| 2 Cor 1:21-22 | "And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us..." | Believers are anointed by God through the Spirit. |
| 1 Jn 2:20 | "But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge." | Believers receiving spiritual discernment through the Spirit. |
| 1 Jn 2:27 | "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you..." | The Holy Spirit indwells and teaches believers. |
| Curtain/Veil (Access & Separation) | ||
| Ex 26:36-37 | "You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework." | Detailed instructions for the design of the outer curtain. |
| Ex 40:33 | "And he erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen for the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work." | Completion of the Tabernacle assembly, including the screen. |
| Mt 27:51 | "And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom..." | Symbolic tearing of the Temple curtain signifying open access to God. |
| Heb 10:19-20 | "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body," | Christ's body as the "new curtain" providing direct access to God. |
| General (Offerings & Divine Instruction) | ||
| Ex 25:1-9 | "Tell the people of Israel to bring me an offering... Make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." | Initial command for offerings and building the Tabernacle. |
| Ex 35:4-9 | "Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, 'This is the thing that the LORD has commanded: Take from among you a contribution to the LORD..." | Immediate context, repeating the call for offerings. |
Exodus 35 verses
Exodus 35 15 Meaning
Exodus 35:15 lists several sacred articles essential for the Tabernacle's worship system, specifically the altar of incense, its carrying poles, the holy anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance of the Tabernacle. This verse is part of Moses' reiteration of the materials required for the Tabernacle's construction, following God's precise commands given on Mount Sinai, emphasizing the Israelites' voluntary contribution towards building the dwelling place for God's presence.
Exodus 35 15 Context
Exodus chapter 35 details Moses' reiteration of God's instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, alongside the strict observance of the Sabbath. This follows Moses' second forty-day stay on Mount Sinai to receive new tablets of the law after the Golden Calf incident. Verses 4-19 outline a list of required materials and articles, intended as voluntary offerings from the Israelites. Exodus 35:15 specifically itemizes key components associated with worship and the Holy Place, emphasizing the meticulous nature of God's requirements for the sacred space. Historically, this phase marks the restoration of the covenant and the practical steps for God's continued presence among His people after their significant transgression.
Exodus 35 15 Word analysis
- The incense altar: (Hebrew: מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת, mizbaḥ haqqetoret) This refers to the golden altar of incense, located in the Holy Place, just before the veil separating it from the Most Holy Place (Ex 30:1). Unlike the bronze altar for burnt offerings in the outer court, this altar was solely for burning the sacred incense twice daily (Ex 30:7-8). It symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to Him (Ps 141:2, Rev 8:3-4). Its golden nature underscored the preciousness and sanctity of approaching God through prayer.
- with its poles: (Hebrew: בַּדָּיו, baddāw) The term "poles" specifically refers to the carrying poles attached to the incense altar. These poles allowed the altar to be transported by the Levites without being touched directly by human hands, highlighting the holiness and untouchability of sacred objects. This emphasis on portability was crucial for the Tabernacle's function as a movable sanctuary during Israel's wilderness wanderings.
- the anointing oil: (Hebrew: שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, shemen hammishchah) This was a uniquely compounded, holy oil prescribed by God for consecrating the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests (Ex 30:22-33). It was strictly forbidden for common use or imitation. The anointing oil signified sanctification, setting apart for divine service, and often represented the presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit (1 Jn 2:20, Acts 10:38). Its use underscored the concept that everything connected to divine worship must be consecrated and empowered by God.
- and the fragrant incense: (Hebrew: קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים, qetoret hassamim) This refers to the specific, divinely prescribed blend of spices to be burned on the incense altar (Ex 30:34-38). Like the anointing oil, it was "most holy to the LORD" and forbidden for any common purpose. The aromatic smoke symbolized acceptable worship, the sweet savor of offerings, and the prayers of the saints rising to God's presence. Its particular fragrance and divine recipe served as a polemic against pagan practices which might use similar aromatic resins but for idolatrous or common purposes; God's incense was holy and exclusively for Him.
- and the curtain for the doorway of the tabernacle: (Hebrew: מָסָךְ פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, masak petaḥ ha’ohel) This specifies the outer curtain or screen at the very entrance of the tent of meeting (Ex 26:36). This curtain marked the threshold between the secular camp and the sacred dwelling place, acting as a visible boundary. It was distinct from the inner "veil" (parokhet) which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. While the inner veil indicated a barrier to God's immediate presence until Christ, this outer curtain represented an entrance point for priests into the Tabernacle's Holy Place, after purification, emphasizing regulated and specific access to God's dwelling.
Exodus 35 15 Bonus section
The careful distinction between the different altars and curtains within the Tabernacle structure, as implied by this verse, is critical. The incense altar, positioned centrally in the Holy Place, served as the point of communion and prayer, representing intimacy with God (within the limitations of the Old Covenant). The emphasis on "poles" for the items points to God's guidance and provision during their wilderness journey, implying His presence was mobile and adaptable. The stringent prohibition on recreating the anointing oil and fragrant incense for personal use (Ex 30:32-33, 37-38) underscored the profound holiness of these substances and warned against trivializing or mimicking divine practices. This served as a constant reminder that God is set apart and dictates the terms of His worship, contrasting sharply with any syncretistic or common approach to the divine found in surrounding pagan cultures. These regulations maintained the purity and distinctiveness of Israel's worship, pointing forward to the ultimate, pure worship in Spirit and truth offered through Jesus Christ.
Exodus 35 15 Commentary
Exodus 35:15, by listing the incense altar, anointing oil, fragrant incense, and outer tabernacle curtain, highlights crucial elements for authorized worship within the Mosaic covenant. The items are not merely structural components but convey profound theological truths: the incense altar and fragrant incense symbolize the ascending prayers and worship of the saints, acceptable to God; the anointing oil signifies consecration, divine appointment, and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit; and the outer curtain represents the necessary, yet prescribed, entrance into God's presence, signifying that access is according to God's terms. Together, these elements underscore the holiness, precision, and order required for approaching a holy God, all ultimately finding their fulfillment and full spiritual access through Christ.