Exodus 30:37

You are never to use this formula to make incense for yourselves; you shall regard it as holy to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses Moses and the Israelites on the Sinai mountain while giving detailed tabernacle worship regulations. The command specifically governs the preparation and handling of the sacred incense.

The words — קֹדֶשׁ (Ko.desh) means a holy thing or set-apart status, and בְּמַתְכֻנְתָּהּ (be./Mat.kun.Ta/h) denotes its exact proportions or formula. These terms establish a fixed ritual boundary that cannot be altered.

The thread — The pattern of exclusive sacred reservation runs through Exodus 29:37 regarding the consecrated altar, Exodus 30:32 regarding anointing oil, and Leviticus 2:3 regarding the holy portion of grain offerings. Each passage marks specific items as strictly reserved for divine service.

Why it lands — The text requires that the prescribed incense formula be used only for temple worship and never replicated for personal fragrance. Readers must apply exact obedience to sacred instructions and reject the privatization of worship elements.

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

וְהַקְּטֹ֙רֶת֙ve./ha./ke.To.retand/ the/ incense אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich תַּעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.Sehyou will make בְּמַ֨תְכֻּנְתָּ֔הּbe./Mat.kun.Ta/hin/ proportion[s]/ its לֹ֥אlo'not תַעֲשׂ֖וּta.'a.Suyou must makeלָכֶ֑םla./Khemfor <the>/ yourselvesקֹ֛דֶשׁKo.desha holy thing תִּהְיֶ֥הtih.Yehit will beלְךָ֖le./Khato <the>/ youלַיהוָֽה׃la./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh

King James Version

And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.

Cross-references

Exodus 29:37 For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will become most holy; whatever touches the altar will be holy.
Exodus 30:32 It must not be used to anoint an ordinary man, and you must not make anything like it with the same formula. It is holy, and it must be holy to you.
Leviticus 2:3 The remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.