Exodus 40:27 kjv
And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exodus 40:27 nkjv
and he burned sweet incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Exodus 40:27 niv
and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD commanded him.
Exodus 40:27 esv
and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Exodus 40:27 nlt
On it he burned the fragrant incense, just as the LORD had commanded him.
Exodus 40 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:6 | ...spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense; | Incense components instructed by God. |
| Ex 30:1 | "You shall make an altar to burn incense upon... of acacia wood." | Command for the altar's construction. |
| Ex 30:7 | "Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it every morning..." | Command for daily morning incense. |
| Ex 30:8 | "...and when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall burn it..." | Command for daily evening incense. |
| Ex 30:9 | "You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it..." | Prohibition of profane incense. |
| Ex 30:10 | "Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year..." | Atoning significance of the incense altar. |
| Ex 30:34-38 | Command for holy incense, distinct composition, for sacred use only. | Unique, sacred recipe and prohibition for others. |
| Ex 40:1 | "On the first day of the first month, you shall set up the tabernacle..." | Divine command to erect the Tabernacle. |
| Ex 40:16 | "Thus did Moses; according to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did." | General statement of Moses' obedience. |
| Ex 40:25 | He lit the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. | Another act of obedience, lighting lamps. |
| Ex 40:34 | "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD..." | God's presence filling the fully obedient setup. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Nadab and Abihu... offered strange fire before the LORD... | Consequences of offering unauthorized incense. |
| Lev 16:12-13 | (High Priest) shall take a censer... with burning coals... and fragrant incense. | Incense for Day of Atonement. |
| Num 4:16 | "The responsibility of Eleazar... is the anointing oil and the fragrant incense..." | Priestly duty for maintaining incense. |
| Num 16:35 | Fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering incense. | Divine judgment on unauthorized incense. |
| Deut 6:25 | "It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this..." | Obedience to commands leads to righteousness. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "To obey is better than sacrifice..." | Emphasis on obedience over ritual alone. |
| Ps 141:2 | "Let my prayer be counted as incense before You..." | Incense as a metaphor for prayer. |
| Prov 15:8 | "...but the prayer of the upright is His delight." | Connection between righteous prayer and divine pleasure. |
| Mal 1:11 | "From the rising of the sun to its setting, My name will be great... and in every place incense will be offered to My name..." | Prophecy of pure, global worship as incense. |
| Lk 1:9-10 | Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense... | Temple priestly duty involving incense. |
| Heb 5:8-9 | "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered..." | Christ's obedience as a model and for salvation. |
| Heb 9:4 | (In the holy place)...the golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant. | Heavenly pattern including the incense altar. |
| Rev 5:8 | ...golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. | Prayers depicted as incense in heaven. |
| Rev 8:3-4 | Another angel came and stood at the altar... much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints. | Angelic ministry of intercession with incense. |
Exodus 40 verses
Exodus 40 27 Meaning
Exodus 40:27 details Moses' obedient act of burning the prescribed sweet incense upon the golden altar of incense, completing the setup of the Tabernacle's inner furnishings exactly as God had commanded. This act marked the ritual preparation of the dwelling place for the divine presence, symbolizing the continuous worship and intercession before the LORD.
Exodus 40 27 Context
Exodus 40 concludes the book of Exodus, narrating the exact execution of the Tabernacle's construction and setup as commanded by God. The preceding chapters (Exodus 25-39) detailed God's intricate instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings, followed by Moses and the Israelites' diligent crafting of each piece. Chapter 40 sees the actual erection and the placement of every item within the sacred space, culminating in Moses consecrating them and carrying out the specific liturgical acts, such as lighting the lampstand (v. 25) and burning incense (v. 27). This entire sequence underscores the pivotal theme of perfect obedience to divine blueprints. The final act of burning incense prepared the Tabernacle for its ultimate purpose: to be the dwelling place of God's glory among His people, as signified by the cloud filling the tent in the subsequent verses (Ex 40:34-38). The consistent repetition of "as the LORD commanded Moses" throughout chapter 40 reinforces the divine authority and the human faithfulness required in sacred worship and service.
Exodus 40 27 Word analysis
- and he burnt: (וַיַּקְטֵר - vayyaqṭēr from the root קטר, qāṭar). This Hebrew verb literally means "to cause to smoke," or "to send up in smoke." It specifically refers to the act of burning incense or sacrifice so that the fumes ascend, signifying an offering made to God. This isn't a mere act of burning, but a ritualistic act of making a pleasant aroma (or sometimes unpleasant, in judgments) ascend.
- sweet incense: (קְטֹרֶת סַמִּים - qeṭōret sammîm).
- qeṭōret: This is "incense," derived from the same root as qāṭar. It refers to the aromatic smoke itself, as well as the mixture of spices used to produce it.
- sammîm: Means "spices" or "fragrant ingredients." This compound phrase denotes a specially prepared, fragrant mixture, not just any burning substance. It implies the unique and holy blend described in Ex 30:34-38, distinct from any common or profane incense.
- thereon: (עָלָיו - ʿālāyw). Literally "upon it." This refers back to "the altar of incense" mentioned in verse 26. This altar was specifically designated for burning this holy incense, differentiating it from the bronze altar of burnt offering outside the Holy Place.
- as the LORD commanded Moses: (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה - kaʾăšer ṣiwwâ YHWH ʾeṯ-Mōšeh). This phrase is central to Exodus 40 and the entire Tabernacle narrative.
- kaʾăšer: "Just as," "according to what," emphasizing exact adherence.
- ṣiwwâ: "He commanded," "he instructed." Signifies a direct and authoritative divine instruction.
- YHWH: The covenant name of God, indicating that the command comes from the specific God of Israel who makes and keeps covenants.
- Mōšeh: Moses, the chosen mediator between God and Israel, responsible for receiving and implementing God's directives.This repeated phrase is a literary device highlighting perfect obedience to divine revelation, serving as a template for all Israelite worship and demonstrating God's sovereign initiative in establishing His dwelling and worship. It also indirectly counters any contemporary pagan worship practices where human ingenuity often determined cultic rites, affirming that Israel's worship was divinely ordained.
Exodus 40 27 Bonus section
The burning of sweet incense on the golden altar was intrinsically linked to the presence of God's glory in the Most Holy Place. While the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place only once a year on the Day of Atonement, the incense burned daily created a continuous sweet savor that filled the Holy Place, symbolically preparing and maintaining the space before the divine presence. The act ensured a perpetual covering and symbolic propitiation, crucial for maintaining the holiness required to stand before a Holy God. This continuous nature foreshadows the never-ceasing intercession of Christ as our High Priest, who continuously makes our prayers acceptable before the Father (Heb 7:25; Rom 8:34).
Exodus 40 27 Commentary
Exodus 40:27 is a succinct yet profoundly significant verse, marking the completion of the Tabernacle's furnishing with one of its most critical liturgical actions: the offering of holy incense. This act was not merely functional but symbolic. The ascending smoke of the incense, daily offered by the priests, represented the prayers of the people rising to God (Ps 141:2; Rev 5:8, 8:3-4), as well as serving an atoning purpose, covering sin and making reconciliation (Ex 30:10; Lev 16:12-13).
The precise adherence to "as the LORD commanded Moses" encapsulates the entire message of the Tabernacle narrative. This constant refrain establishes the divine origin and authority behind every aspect of Israel's worship. It conveys that true worship is not about human invention or preference, but about faithfully executing God's revealed will. Moses, in meticulously fulfilling each instruction, sets the ultimate example of priestly and prophetic obedience. This unwavering fidelity was crucial for the sanctity and effectiveness of the Tabernacle, as only in perfect conformity to the divine pattern could the Holy God dwell among an imperfect people (Ex 40:34-35). Any deviation, as seen in the accounts of Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10) or Korah (Num 16), led to severe judgment, reinforcing the absolute necessity of God-ordained worship. The composition of the incense was itself sacred and unique (Ex 30:34-38), not to be replicated for profane use, further underlining the distinct holiness and exclusive worship of YHWH. This specificity contrasted sharply with pagan religions that often employed common materials and practices.
Practically, this verse reminds believers today of the importance of divine revelation in guiding worship and life. Obedience to God's word (whether His commands for corporate worship or for personal holiness) is paramount. Just as the Tabernacle was ready for God's indwelling after every command was fulfilled, so too are individuals and communities prepared for His presence when they submit to His ways. The "sweet incense" points to prayer and worship that is pleasing to God—not according to our own devising, but aligned with His heart and will.