Bible Strands
Exodus 30:34
The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks to Moses during the tabernacle instructions, commanding the preparation of the sacred incense blend. This directive immediately follows a warning against unauthorized use of the formula.
The words — קַח (kach) means take, and סַמִּים (samim) translates to fragrant spices. These terms introduce the specific ingredients required for the altar incense.
The thread — The command to gather spices for sacred use appears in Exodus 25:6, the anointing oil recipe in Exodus 30:23, and the fulfillment in Exodus 37:29. These passages collectively establish the incense as a standardized, consecrated object.
Why it lands — The text requires exact measurement and strict adherence to the prescribed formula. It demands obedience to divine specifications rather than personal preference in worship.
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
King James Version
And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
Cross-references
- Exodus 37:29 He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.
- Exodus 25:6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
- 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,
- Leviticus 2:15 And you are to put oil and frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.
- Leviticus 2:1 “When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it,
- Leviticus 5:11 But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.
- Leviticus 24:7 And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, a food offering to the LORD.
- Nehemiah 13:5 and had prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.
- Song of Solomon 3:6 Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?
- Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.