Exodus 30:9

On this altar you must not offer unauthorized incense or a burnt offering or grain offering; nor are you to pour a drink offering on it.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God issues a direct command to Aaron regarding the altar, positioned between instructions for perpetual evening incense and annual blood atonement.

The words — זָרָה (za.Rah) translates to "strange" or "unauthorized," paired with קְטֹרֶת (ke.To.ret) meaning "incense," establishing the precise nature of the prohibition.

The thread — This restriction echoes in Leviticus 10:1, where Nadab and Abihu face judgment for presenting unauthorized incense before the Lord.

Why it lands — The text demands strict compliance with prescribed worship boundaries, forbidding any unauthorized offerings on the altar regardless of intent.

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

לֹא־lo'-not תַעֲל֥וּta.'a.Luyou must offer up עָלָ֛יו'a.La/von/ it קְטֹ֥רֶתke.To.retincense זָרָ֖הza.Rahstrange וְעֹלָ֣הve./'o.Lahand/ a burnt offering וּמִנְחָ֑הu./min.Chahand/ a grain offering וְנֵ֕סֶךְve./Ne.sekhand/ a drink offering לֹ֥אlo'not תִסְּכ֖וּti.se.Khuyou must pour out עָלָֽיו׃'a.La/von/ it

King James Version

Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

Cross-references

Leviticus 10:1 Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.