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Exodus 35:28 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְאֶת־ הַבֹּ֖שֶׂם וְאֶת־ הַשָּׁ֑מֶן לְמָא֕וֹר וּלְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃

BSAas well as spicesbesem [sweet perfumes, fragrant aromas] and olive oilshemen [ointment] for the lightmâʼôwr [happiness, cheerfulness] for the anointingmishchâh [consecrated, holy] oilshemen and for the fragrantçam [sweet, pleasing] incenseqᵉṭôreth [a pleasing aroma to God]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 35
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ha.sa.Mim) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 35:28quick helps
In a sentenceThis verse lists the materials brought for the Tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of spices and oil.
What is being providedSpices and olive oil are specified for various sacred purposes.
Where we areThis verse is part of instructions for the Israelites regarding offerings for the Tabernacle.
The hard wordבֶּשֶׂם
Take awayThe offerings are meant to enhance the worship experience with pleasing aromas.
3 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 35:28

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 — Materials for the Tabernaclegenerated

27The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece,
28as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.
29So all the men and women of the Israelites whose hearts prompted them brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.
30Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

Exodus 35:28 is part of a larger narrative where the Israelites are commanded to contribute materials for the construction of the Tabernacle. This includes precious stones, metals, and various oils and spices, which were essential for rituals and worship practices. The context highlights the communal effort in building a dwelling place for God, as seen in the preceding and following verses.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 35:8olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
2Exodus 30:23–38“Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half that amount (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.Exodus 35:8 Exodus 30:23–38

The Key Word בֶּשֶׂם, ha.Bo.semgenerated

The word בֶּשֶׂם (besem) refers specifically to spice, particularly those with fragrant qualities like balsam. It is derived from a root associated with scent, indicating its use in perfumes and offerings. In this verse, it emphasizes the aromatic aspect of the materials for the Tabernacle, enhancing the worship experience.

This word appears in contexts that discuss pleasant aromas, linking it to the sensory experience of worship. Its use here signifies not only the physical offerings but also the spiritual atmosphere they were meant to create.


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 main verb is implied in the context, with a series of noun phrases detailing the offerings: הַבֹּ֖שֶׂם, הַשָּׁ֑מֶן, לְמָא֕וֹר, וּלְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙, הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה, וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת, and הַסַּמִּֽים. This structure highlights the various components of the offerings.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the spices and oil as integral to the worship practices, reflecting their importance in the ritual context.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, בֶּשֶׂם is rendered as συνθέσεις, which conveys a sense of composition or gathering. This choice may reflect a broader interpretation of the offerings as a collective contribution to the worship experience.

The translation choices in the Septuagint indicate an understanding of these materials as not merely physical items but as integral to the spiritual practices of the community.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 35:28 lists the materials brought by the Israelites for the Tabernacle, specifically mentioning spices and olive oil. These items were important for the light, anointing oil, and incense, enhancing the worship experience with their pleasant aromas.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the spices and oil mentioned in this verse?

The spices and oil were used in worship practices, symbolizing joy and consecration, and enhancing the sensory experience of the rituals.

Why were these materials specifically chosen?

These materials were valued for their aromatic qualities and were essential for the rituals conducted in the Tabernacle, reflecting the importance of sensory elements in worship.

How do these offerings relate to the overall construction of the Tabernacle?

The offerings represent the communal effort of the Israelites to create a sacred space for God, emphasizing their commitment to worship and service.

What role does the anointing oil play in the rituals?

The anointing oil was used to consecrate objects and individuals for sacred purposes, marking them as holy and set apart for God's service.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I incorporate the idea of offering my best to God in my own life?
  2. What are some ways I can create a pleasing atmosphere for worship in my community?
  3. How do the materials mentioned in this verse reflect the importance of sensory experiences in worship?
  4. In what ways can I contribute to the communal efforts of my faith community?

Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 35:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And spice and oil,.... Such excellent spices and precious oil, pure oil olive, as the common people had not, and which they brought out of Egypt; the one was for the light: for the light of the

Read John Gill on Exodus 35 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 35 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) Spice.-See Exodus 30:23-24; Exodus 30:34.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 35 →

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

NETBNew English Translation2006

and spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and the spice, and the oil; for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

RVARevised Version, American1894

and the spice, and the oil; for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Also spice, and oyle for light, and for the anoynting oyle, and for the sweete perfume.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and the spice, and the oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the incense of fragrant drugs.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and the spices, and the oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the spice perfume;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and the spices, and the oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the spice-incense;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the spice and the oil, for lighting, and for the anointing oil, and for the incense of spices.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

they brought spices and oil for the lamps, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And spices and oil for the lights, and for the preparing of ointment, and to make the incense of most sweet savour.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

as well as spices and olive oil for lighting, for the anointing oil, and for the aromatic incense.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the spice and the oil for the light, and the holy oil and the sweet perfumes.

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.

וְandclausenoun phrase · objectnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseהַtheבֹּ֖שֶׂםspiceוְandnoun phraseאֶת(et)noun phraseהַtheשָּׁ֑מֶןoilprepositional phrase · prepositionalprepositional phraseלְforמָא֕וֹרlightוּandprepositional phraseלְfornoun phraseשֶׁ֨מֶן֙the.oilnoun phraseהַof.(the)מִּשְׁחָ֔הanointingוְandprepositional phraseלִfornoun phraseקְטֹ֖רֶתthe.incensenoun phraseהַofסַּמִּֽיםthe.perfume(s)

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which matches six of the nine words in this verse. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly by using בשׂמים (balsam-tree) instead of בֶּשֶׂם, indicating a specific type of spice.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְאֶת־ הַבֹּ֖שֶׂם וְאֶת־ הַשָּׁ֑מֶן לְמָא֕וֹר וּלְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאֶת־καὶהַבֹּ֖שֶׂםσυνθέσειςוּלְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙ἔλαιονהַמִּשְׁחָ֔הξρίσεωςוְלִקְטֹ֖רֶתσύνθεσινהַסַּמִּֽים׃θυμιάματος

6 of the 9 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.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ואת הבשׂמים ואת שׁמן המאור לשׁמן המשׁחה ולקטרת הסמים

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: בשׂמים (balsam-tree)

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.

Exodus 35:28אֵתand the objand the object אֵתבֹּ֫שֶׂםthe spicethe spiceבֹּ֫שֶׂםאֵתand the objand the object אֵתשֶׁ֫מֶןthe oilthe oilשֶׁ֫מֶןמָאוֹרfor lightfor lightמָאוֹרשֶׁ֫מֶןand for [thand for [the] oשֶׁ֫מֶןמִשְׁחָהanointinganointingמִשְׁחָהקְטֹ֫רֶתand for [thand for [the] iקְטֹ֫רֶתסַםthe perfumethe perfumeסַםאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתשָׁמֵןto grow fato grow fatשָׁמֵןאוֹרto lightto lightאוֹרמָשַׁחto anointto anointמָשַׁחקָטַרto offer: to offer: burnקָטַרבֹּ֫שֶׂםspicespiceבֹּ֫שֶׂםמִשְׁחָהanointinganointingמִשְׁחָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁבָּלַלto mixto mixבָּלַלסַםspicespiceסַםקְטֹ֫רֶתincenseincenseקְטֹ֫רֶתיָקָרpreciouspreciousיָקָרגַּןgardengardenגַּןמֶמְשָׁלָהdominiondominionמֶמְשָׁלָהמָלֵאfullfullמָלֵא
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Exodus 35:28

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.

and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
הַבֹּ֖שֶׂםha.Bo.sem the spice H1314 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a pleasant smell, like a sweet perfume or fragrance. It can also refer to the balsam plant or tree, which was known for its sweet odor.
Amplified meaning
sweet perfumes, fragrant aromas
Tyndale gloss
spice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֹּ֫שֶׂם (besem) refers to spice, specifically balsam and the balsam tree, with connotations of fragrance and sweet odor. The word is built from a root related to scent and encompasses meanings like perfume and spicery. It appears in contexts discussing pleasant aromas.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֹּ֫שֶׂם n.m. spice, balsam, balsam-tree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1314 בֹּ֫שֶׂם spice, balsam, balsam-tree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1314 besem beh'-sem

or bosem {bo'-sem}; from the same as 1313; fragrance; by

implication, spicery; also the balsam plant:--smell, spice,

sweet (odour).

see HEBREW for 01313

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֶּ֫שֶׂם (be.sem) — spice.

1) spice, balsam, balsam tree, perfume

2) (TWOT) sweet, sweet smell, sweet odour

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
וְאֶת־ve.'Et and the object marker H853 Conjunction · particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HC/To — Conjunction · particle
HC/To
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
הַשָּׁ֑מֶןha.Sha.men the oil H8081 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for oil, often referring to olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient times. It symbolizes richness, anointing, and healing, and is used in various biblical contexts, including rituals and medicinal practices.
Amplified meaning
ointment
Tyndale gloss
oil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8081 shemen sheh'-men

from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,

often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat

(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.

see HEBREW for 08080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.

1) fat, oil

1a) fat, fatness

1b) oil, olive oil

1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent

1b2) for anointing

1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

oil (shemen; elaion):

1. Terms

2. Production and Storage

3. Uses

(1) As a Commodity of Exchange

(2) As a Cosmetic

(3) As a Medicine

(4) As a Food

(5) As an Illuminant

(6) In Religious Rites

(a) Consecration

(b) Offerings

(c) Burials

4. Figurative Uses

Shemen, literally, "fat," corresponds to the common Arabic senin of similar meaning, although now applied to boiled butter fat.

1. Terms:

Another Hebrew word, zayith (zeth), "olive," occurs with shemen in several passages (Ex 27:20; 30:24; Le 24:2). The corresponding Arabic zeit, a contraction of zeitun, which is the name for the olive tree as well as the fruit, is now applied to oils in general, to distinguish them from solid fats. Zeit usually means olive oil, unless some qualifying name indicates another oil. A corresponding use was made of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Oil

Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (

Was employed from the earliest periods in the east, not only for the purpose of consecration, but to anoint the head, the beard, and the whole person in daily life, Ge 28:18. See ANOINTING. It was also universally used for food, Eze 16:13. Fresh and sweet olive oil was greatly preferred to butter and animal fat as a seasoning for food, and to this day in Syria almost every kind of food is cooked with oil. It had a place also among the meat-offerings in the temple, being usually mixed with the meal of the oblation, Le 5:11 6:21. For lamps, also, pure olive oil was regarded as the best, and was used in illuminating the tabernacle. These many uses for oil made the culture of the olive-tree an extensive and lucrative business,

and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
לְמָא֕וֹרle.ma.'or for light H3974 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
19× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means light, like the sun or a lamp, and also happiness or cheerfulness. It's used in the Bible to describe God's presence and joy. The KJV translates it as 'light' or 'bright'.
Amplified meaning
happiness, cheerfulness
Tyndale gloss
light
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָאוֹר (ma'owr) refers to a luminary or luminous body, encompassing concepts of light and brightness. It can also denote cheerfulness and specifically refers to a chandelier. The word is derived from a root meaning 'light' and is connected to the idea of illumination.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָאוֹר n.m. luminary

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3974 מָאוֹר luminary

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3974 ma'owr maw-ore'

or maor {maw-ore'}; also (in plural) feminine mpowrah

{meh-o-raw'}; or morah {meh-o-raw'}; from 215; properly, a

luminous body or luminary, i.e. (abstractly) light (as an

element): figuratively, brightness, i.e.cheerfulness;

specifically, a chandelier:--bright, light.

see HEBREW for 0215

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָאוֹר (ma.or) — light.

light, luminary

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lit ('or, ma'or; phos; many other words):

1. Origin of Light

2. A Comprehensive Term

(1) Natural Light

(2) Artificial Light

(3) Miraculous Light

(4) Mental, Moral, Spiritual Light

3. An Attribute of Holiness

(1) God

(2) Christ

(3) Christians

(4) The Church

4. Symbolism

5. Expressive Terms

1. Origin of Light:

The creation of light was the initial step in the creation of life. "Let there be light" (Ge 1:3) was the first word of God spoken after His creative Spirit "moved" upon the primary material out of which He created the heavens and the earth, and which lay, until the utterance of that word, in the chaos of darkness and desolation. Something akin, possibly, to the all-pervasive electro-magnetic activity of the aurora borealis penetrated the chaotic night of the world. The ultimate focusing of light (on the 4th day of creation,

Light

The offspring of the divine command (Gen. 1:3). “All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light” (1 Kings 11:36; Isa. 58:8; Esther 8:16; Ps. 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps. 119:105; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the most wonderful, cheering, and useful of all the works of God; called into being on the first of the six days of creation, by his voice: "Let there be light;" and there was light. No object better illustrates whatever is pure, glorious, spiritual, joyful, and beneficent. Hence the beauty and force of the expressions, "God is light," 1Jo 1:5, and "the Father of lights," Jas 1:17; Christ is the "Sun of righteousness," and "the light of the world," Joh 1:9 8:12. So also the word of God is "a light," Ps 119:105; truth and Christians are lights, Joh 3:19 12:36; prosperity is "light," Es 8:16; and heaven is full of…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Created Ge 1:3-5; Isa 45:7; 2Co 4:6

→ Miraculous Mt 17:2; Ac 9:3

→ FIGURATIVE AND SYMBOLICAL 1Ki 11:36; Ps 27:1; 119:105,130; Pr 6:23; Ec 2:13; Isa 8:20; 49:6; 58:8; 60:19,20; Mt 4:16; 5:14,16; Lu 2:32; 11:34; 16:8;

and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
וּלְשֶׁ֙מֶן֙u.le.She.men and for [the] oil of H8081 Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
193× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for oil, often referring to olive oil, which was highly valued in ancient times. It symbolizes richness, anointing, and healing, and is used in various biblical contexts, including rituals and medicinal practices.
Tyndale gloss
oil
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8081 shemen sheh'-men

from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,

often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat

(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.

see HEBREW for 08080

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.

1) fat, oil

1a) fat, fatness

1b) oil, olive oil

1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent

1b2) for anointing

1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-ms — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/R/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
הַמִּשְׁחָ֔הha.mish.Chah anointing H4888 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A consecrated portion refers to something set apart as special or holy, like the anointing oil used in Exodus 30:23-33. It's a gift or substance used for a specific, sacred purpose.
Amplified meaning
consecrated, holy
Tyndale gloss
anointing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִשְׁחָה (mishchah) refers to an ointment or an anointing, often associated with consecration. It can denote both the act of anointing and a consecrated portion, as seen in Numbers 18:8. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to anoint' and encompasses the idea of a gift given during consecration.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁחָה n.f.

ointment

consecrated portion

base

מָשְׁחָה n.f. consecrated portion;—Nu 18:8 (P).

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4888a מִשְׁחָה . ointment

. consecrated portion

H4888b מָשְׁחָה consecrated portion

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4888 mishchah meesh-khaw'

or moshchah {mosh-khaw'}; from 4886; unction (the act); by

implication, a consecratory gift:--(to be) anointed(-ing),

ointment.

see HEBREW for 04886

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁחָה (mish.chah) — anointing.

1) ointment (used to consecrate by anointing)

2) anointing portion

מָשְׁחָה (mash.chah) — consecrated portion.

consecrated portion, portion

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-noint'-ing: A distinction was made by the ancient Hebrews between anointing with oil in private use, as in making one's toilet (cukh), and anointing as a religious rite (mashach).

1. Ordinary Use:

(1) As regards its secular or ordinary use, the native olive oil, alone or mixed with perfumes, was commonly used for toilet purposes, the very poor naturally reserving it for special occasions only (Ru 3:3). The fierce protracted heat and biting lime dust of Palestine made the oil very soothing to the skin, and it was applied freely to exposed parts of the body, especially to the face (Ps 104:15).

(2) The practice was in vogue before David's time, and traces of it may be found throughout the Old Testament (see De 28:40;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

in Holy Scripture, is either, I. Material--with oil--or II. Spiritual--with the Holy Ghost. I. MATERIAL.-- Ordinary . Anointing the body or head with oil was a common practice with the Jews, as with other Oriental nations. (28:40; Ruth 3:3; Micah 6:15) Anointing the head with oil or ointment seems also to have been a mark of respect sometimes paid by a host to his guests. (Luke 7:46) and Psal 23:5 Official . It was a rite of inauguration into each of the three typical offices of the Jewish commonwealth. a. Prophets were occasionally anointed to their office, (1 Kings 19:16) and were called messiahs, or anointed. (

Was a custom in general use among the Hebrews and other oriental nations, and its omission was one sign of mourning, Isa 61:3. They anointed the hair, head, and beard, Ps 104:15 133:2. At their feasts and rejoicings they anointed the whole body; but sometimes only the head or feet, Ps 23:5 Mt 6:17 Joh 12:3. It was a customary mark of respect to guests, Lu 7:38,46. The use of oil upon the skin was thought to be conducive to health. Anointing was then used, and is still, medicinally, Mr 6:13

and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶתve.lik.To.ret and for [the] incense of H7004 Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
60× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Incense refers to a sweet smoke from burning sacrifices, used in worship and perfume. It symbolizes a pleasing aroma to God, found in Leviticus and other books.
Amplified meaning
a pleasing aroma to God
Tyndale gloss
incense
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קְטֹ֫רֶת 60 n.f. smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice, incense

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7004 קְטֹ֫רֶת smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice, incense

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7004 qtoreth ket-o'-reth

from 6999; a fumigation:--(sweet) incense, perfume.

see HEBREW for 06999

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קְטֹ֫רֶת (qe.to.ret) — incense.

1) incense, smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice

1a) sweet smoke of sacrifice

1b) incense

1c) perfume

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Prep | N-fs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular construct
HC/R/Ncfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

and the object marker the spice and the object marker the oil for light and for [the] oil of anointing and for [the] incense of the perfume
הַסַּמִּֽים׃ha.sa.Mim the perfume H5561 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a spice or aroma, used in incense and perfumes. It is translated as 'sweet spice' in the KJV Bible, and is mentioned in books like Exodus and Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
sweet, pleasing
Tyndale gloss
spice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סַם (sam) refers to a spice, specifically one used in incense. The word is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of a sweet aroma. It is consistently defined across entries, focusing on its aromatic qualities.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[סַם] 16 n.m. spice, used in incense

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5561 [סַם] spice, used in incense

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5561 cam sam

from an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma:--

sweet (spice).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סַם (sam) — spice.

1) spice

1a) a spice used in incense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ General scriptures concerning Pr 27:9; So 3:6; Isa 57:9

→ Used in the tabernacle Ex 30:7; 35:28

→ Beds perfumed with myrrh Pr 7:17

→ Smelling bottles, translated “tablets” in A. V Isa 3:20

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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