Exodus 30:27 — Word Study
WLCוְאֶת־ הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ וְאֶת־ כָּל־ כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֶת־ הַמְּנֹרָ֖ה וְאֶת־ כֵּלֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֖ת מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃
BSAthe tableshulchân andʼêth allkôl its utensilskᵉlîy [articles or equipment] the lampstandmᵉnôwrâh [candlestick, a chandelier] andʼêth its utensilskᵉlîy [accessories or vessels] the altarmizbêach [a place of sacrifice] of incenseqᵉṭôreth [a sweet smoke, perfume]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ | the table | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| כָּל־ | all | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| כֵּלָ֔יו | articles its | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| הַמְּנֹרָ֖ה | the lampstand | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| כֵּלֶ֑יהָ | articles its | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְאֵ֖ת | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| מִזְבַּ֥ח | [the] altar of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃ | incense | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, |
| KJV | And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, |
| ASV | and the table and all the vessels thereof, and the candlestick and the vessels thereof, and the altar of incense, |
| YLT | and the table and all its vessels, and the candlestick and its vessels, and the altar of perfume, |
| WEB | the table and all its articles, the lamp stand and its accessories, the altar of incense, |
| BBE | And on the table and all its vessels, and on the support for the lights, with its vessels, and on the altar for burning spices, |
Where they part company is כֵּלָ֔יו — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by two subordinate noun phrases, listing the significant items in the Tabernacle.
2 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Exodus 30:27
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Instructions for the Tabernaclegenerated
Exodus 30:27 is part of a larger section detailing the anointing of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. This verse specifies the items that are to be consecrated, highlighting their importance in the worship of God. The surrounding verses (26-29) provide further context on the anointing process and the significance of these holy objects within the Israelite worship system.
Cross References
The Key Word — מִזְבַּח, miz.Bachgenerated
The word מִזְבַּח (mizbeach) means 'altar' and is derived from a root meaning 'to slay' or 'to kill,' indicating its function in sacrificial worship. In this verse, it refers specifically to the altar of incense, which plays a crucial role in the rituals of the Tabernacle.
The altar is a central element in the worship practices, serving as the place where offerings are made to God. Its mention alongside other sacred items emphasizes the importance of these objects in maintaining a relationship with the Divine.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of this verse is a series of noun phrases connected by the conjunction וְ (ve'), which serves as an object marker. The main components are the table, lampstand, and altar of incense, each with their respective utensils.
This construction highlights the importance of each item in the context of the Tabernacle, as they are all equally significant in the worship practices being established.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word מִזְבַּח is rendered as θυσιαστήριον (thusiastērion), which also means 'altar' and carries the same sacrificial connotation. This choice reflects the ongoing significance of the altar in both Jewish and early Christian worship contexts.
The Greek term emphasizes the function of the altar as a place of sacrifice, aligning with the Hebrew understanding while also adapting to the Greek-speaking audience.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 30:27 lists the items in the Tabernacle that are to be anointed, including the table, lampstand, and altar of incense, along with their utensils. This verse highlights the significance of these items in the worship of God, as they are set apart for holy use.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The altar is a place of sacrifice where offerings are made to God, playing a central role in the worship practices of the Israelites.
The utensils are important as they are used in the rituals associated with the altar and other sacred items, emphasizing the holiness of the worship environment.
This verse is part of a broader set of instructions regarding the consecration of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, highlighting the importance of these items in the worship of God.
Incense signifies a pleasing aroma to God, representing the prayers and worship of the people as they approach Him in the Tabernacle.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I recognize the sacred in my everyday life, similar to how these items were set apart for worship?
- What are some ways I can ensure that my actions reflect the holiness of God, as seen in the consecration of the Tabernacle's furnishings?
- In what ways can I incorporate elements of worship into my daily routine, just as the Israelites did with their sacred items?
- How does understanding the significance of these items enhance my appreciation for the worship practices in the Bible?
Commentators on this verse — 2 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 30:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd the table, and all his vessels,.... The shewbread table, with all things appertaining to it, rings, staves, dishes, spoons, bowls, c.
Read John Gill on Exodus 30 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 30 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense,
the table and all its articles, the lamp stand and its accessories, the altar of incense,
the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense,
the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense,
Tyndale line
And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,
and the table and all the vessels thereof, and the candlestick and the vessels thereof, and the altar of incense,
and the table and all the vessels thereof, and the candlestick and the vessels thereof, and the altar of incense,
And the table and all its vessels, and the candlestick and its vessels, and the altar of incense,
Also the Table, and al the instruments thereof, and the Candlesticke, with all the instruments thereof, and the altar of incense:
Strictly literal
and the table and all its utensils, and the lamp-stand and its utensils, and the altar of incense,
and the table and all its vessels, and the candlestick and its vessels, and the altar of perfume,
and the table and all its vessels, and the lampstand and its vessels, and the altar of incense,
And the table and all its vessels, and the candlestick and its vessels, and the altar of incense,
the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its equipment, the incense altar,
From the Latin
And the table with the vessels thereof, the candlestick and furniture thereof, the altars of incense,
Simplified
the table and all its equipment, the lampstand and its equipment, the altar of incense,
And on the table and all its vessels, and on the support for the lights, with its vessels, and on the altar for burning spices,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in this verse, with a word-for-word correspondence. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using the word מנורה for 'lampstand,' indicating a slight variation in terminology but not in meaning.
וְאֶת־ הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ וְאֶת־ כָּל־ כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֶת־ הַמְּנֹרָ֖ה וְאֶת־ כֵּלֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֖ת מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃
12 of the 12 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
את השׁלחן ואת כל כליו את המנורה ואת כל כליה
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: מנורה (lamp stand)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 30:27
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Conj | DirObjM — Conjunction · particleHC/To
The Hebrew word שֻׁלְחָן (shulchan) means 'table' and is derived from the root meaning to spread out. It can refer to various types of tables, including those used for kings, private use, or sacred purposes. The entries consistently emphasize its primary meaning as a table.
שֻׁלְחָן 71 n.m. table
base
H7979 שֻׁלְחָן table
7979 shulchan shool-khawn'
from 7971; a table (as spread out); by implication, a
meal:--table.
see HEBREW for 07971
שֻׁלְחָן (shul.chan) — table.
1) table
1a) table
1a1) of king's table, private use, sacred uses
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
"Table" is derived from the Latin tabula, meaning primarily "a board," but with a great variety of other significances, of which "writing-tablet" is the most important for the Biblical use of "table." So in English "table" meant at first "any surface" and, in particular, "a surface for writing," and further specialization was needed before "table" became the name of the familiar article of furniture ("object with a horizontal surface"), a meaning not possessed by tabula in Latin. After this specialization "table" in the sense of "a surface for writing" was replaced in later English by the diminutive form "tablet." But "surface for writing" was still a common meaning of "table," and in this sense it represents luach (Ex 24:12, etc.), a word of uncertain origin, plax, "something flat" (
See BREAD, and EATING.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Conj | DirObjM — Conjunction · particleHC/To
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.
(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.
(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).
כְּלִי (kliy) refers to an article or utensil, encompassing a wide range of objects such as vessels, tools, and implements used for various purposes, including music and warfare. It is derived from a root meaning 'to prepare' and can denote anything from furniture to weapons. The entries highlight its general use in the Old Testament without significant disagreement among lexicons.
כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel
base
H3627 כְּלִי article, utensil, vessel
3627 kliy kel-ee'
from 3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an
implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):--armour
((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture,
instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that
which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool,
vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.
see HEBREW for 03615
כְּלִי (ke.li) — article/utensil.
1) article, vessel, implement, utensil
1a) article, object (general)
1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel
1b1) implement (of hunting or war)
1b2) implement (of music)
1b3) implement, tool (of labour)
1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen)
1b5) utensils, furniture
1c) vessel, receptacle (general)
1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
מְנוֹרָה (mĕnôrâ) means 'lampstand' and refers specifically to a type of chandelier or candlestick. It is noted in the context of both private homes and the temple, particularly the seven-branched lampstand used in the tabernacle. The word is derived from a feminine form of another Hebrew word related to light.
מְנוֹרָה, מְנֹרָה 42 n.f. lampstand
in private house
ten lampstands in temple
seven-branched lampstand in tabern.
base
H4501 מְנוֹרָה, מְנֹרָה lampstand
4501 mnowrah men-o-raw'
or mnorah {men-o-raw'}; feminine of 4500 (in the original
sense of 5216); a chandelier:--candlestick.
see HEBREW for 04500
see HEBREW for 05216
מְנוֹרָה (me.no.rah) — lampstand.
lamp stand
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
כְּלִי (kliy) refers to an article or utensil, encompassing a wide range of objects such as vessels, tools, and implements used for various purposes, including music and warfare. It is derived from a root meaning 'to prepare' and can denote anything from furniture to weapons. The entries highlight its general use in the Old Testament without significant disagreement among lexicons.
כְּלִי 324 n.m. article, utensil, vessel
base
H3627 כְּלִי article, utensil, vessel
3627 kliy kel-ee'
from 3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an
implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):--armour
((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture,
instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that
which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool,
vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.
see HEBREW for 03615
כְּלִי (ke.li) — article/utensil.
1) article, vessel, implement, utensil
1a) article, object (general)
1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel
1b1) implement (of hunting or war)
1b2) implement (of music)
1b3) implement, tool (of labour)
1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen)
1b5) utensils, furniture
1c) vessel, receptacle (general)
1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3fs
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeach) means 'altar' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word meaning to slay or kill, indicating its use in sacrificial contexts. The term is consistently used throughout the Old Testament to refer to places of sacrifice and worship.
מִזְבֵּחַ 401 n.m. altar
base
H4196 מִזְבֵּחַ altar
4196 mizbeach miz-bay'-akh
from 2076; an altar:--altar.
see HEBREW for 02076
מִזְבֵּחַ (miz.be.ach) — altar.
altar
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
קְטֹ֫רֶת (qtoreth) refers to smoke or the odour of burning sacrifices, specifically incense or perfume. It is derived from the root word for fumigation. The term encompasses the sweet smoke associated with sacrifices and is used in contexts related to offerings.
קְטֹ֫רֶת 60 n.f. smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice, incense
base
H7004 קְטֹ֫רֶת smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice, incense
7004 qtoreth ket-o'-reth
from 6999; a fumigation:--(sweet) incense, perfume.
see HEBREW for 06999
קְטֹ֫רֶת (qe.to.ret) — incense.
1) incense, smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice
1a) sweet smoke of sacrifice
1b) incense
1c) perfume
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
in'-sens (qeTorah; in Jer 44:21, qiTTer; in Mal 1:11, qaTar, "In every place incense shall be offered unto my name"; the word lebhonah, translated "incense" in several passages in Isa and Jer in the King James Version, is properly "frankincense," and is so rendered in the Revised Version (British and American)): The offering of incense, or burning of aromatic substances, is common in the religious ceremonies of nearly all nations (Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, etc.), and it is natural to find it holding a prominent place in the tabernacle and temple-worship of Israel. The newer critical theory that incense was a late importation into the religion of Israel, and that the altar of incense described in Ex 30:1…
Incense
A fragrant composition prepared by the “art of the apothecary.” It consisted of four ingredients “beaten small” (Ex. 30:34-36). That which was not thus prepared was called “strange incense” (30:9). It was offered along with every meat-offering; and besides was daily offered on the golden altar in the holy place, and on the great day of atonement was burnt by the high priest in the holy of holies (30:7, 8). It was the symbol of prayer (Ps. 141:1,2; Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4).
from the Latin "to burn," "a mixture of gums or spices and the like, used for the purpose of producing a perfume when burned;" or the perfume itself of the spices, etc., burned in worship. The incense employed in the service of the tabernacle walls compounded of the perfumes stacte, onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense. All incense which was not made of these ingredients was forbidden to be offered. (Exodus 30:9) Aaron, as high priest, was originally appointed to offer incense each morning and evening. The times of offering incense were specified in the instructions first given to Moses. (Exodus 30:7,8) When the priest entered the holy place with the incense, all the people were removed from the temple, and from between the porch and the altar. Cf. (
A dry, aromatic gum, exuding from a tree which grows in Arabia and India. It is called also frankincense, from the freedom with which when burning it gives forth its odors. Other spices were mixed with it to make the sacred incense, the use of which for any other purpose was strictly forbidden, Ex 30:34-38. To offer incense, among the Hebrews, was an officer peculiar to the priests; for which purpose they entered into the holy apartment of the temple every morning and evening. On the great day of expiation, the high-priest burnt incense in his censer as he entered the Holy of Holies, and the smoke which arose from it prevented his looking with too much curiosity on the ark and mercy seat, Le 16:13. The Levites were not permitted to touch the censers; and Korah, Dathan, and…