Exodus 30:23

“Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half that amount (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD issues this command to Moses as part of the instructions for preparing sacred anointing oil. The words — The text specifies taking the finest spices, highlighting the Hebrew terms רֹאשׁ (roSh, "the best") and דְּרוֹר (de.rOr, "flowing") to describe the quality and consistency of the myrrh. The thread — The specific spices listed appear elsewhere in Scripture as traded commodities in Ezekiel 27:19 and Ezekiel 27:22, and as poetic imagery in Song of Solomon 4:14. Why it lands — The verse demands precise obedience to divine proportions, establishing a standard for sacred preparation that separates holy use from common application.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאַתָּ֣הve./'a.Tahand/ you קַח־kach-takeלְךָ֮le./Khafor <the>/ yourselfבְּשָׂמִ֣יםbe.sa.Mimspices רֹאשׁ֒roSh[the] best מָר־mor-myrrh of דְּרוֹר֙de.rOrflowing חֲמֵ֣שׁcha.Meshfive מֵא֔וֹתme.'othundred<s>וְקִנְּמָן־ve./ki.ne.mon-and/ cinnamon of בֶּ֥שֶׂםBe.semspice מַחֲצִית֖וֹma.cha.tzi.T/ohalf/ its חֲמִשִּׁ֣יםcha.mi.Shimfifty וּמָאתָ֑יִםu./ma.Ta.yimand/ two hundred וּקְנֵה־u./ke.neh-and/ cane of בֹ֖שֶׂםVo.semspice חֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.Shimfifty וּמָאתָֽיִם׃u./ma.Ta.yimand/ two hundred

King James Version

Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,

Cross-references

Song of Solomon 4:14 with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.
Ezekiel 27:19 and casks of wine from Izal for your wares. Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were exchanged for your merchandise.
Ezekiel 27:22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones.
Jeremiah 6:20 What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”
Exodus 37:29 He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.
Psalms 45:8 All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces of ivory the harps make you glad.
Proverbs 7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.
Song of Solomon 1:3 The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
Song of Solomon 1:13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.