Focused Passage

Exodus 30:1-10

Incense, Atonement Money, Washing, Anointing Oil, and Holy Incense

The chapter moves from the altar of incense and its regular priestly service, to atonement money given during a census, to the bronze basin for priestly washing, to the sacred anointing oil used to consecrate the tabernacle and priests, and finally to the holy incense that must be made and used only for the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 “You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.

2 It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece.

3 Overlay with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns, and make a molding of gold around it.

4 And make two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it.

5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

6 Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you.

7 And Aaron is to burn fragrant incense on it every morning when he tends the lamps.

8 When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he must burn the incense perpetually before the LORD for the generations to come.

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.

10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

You are also to make וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular an altar מִזְבֵּ֖חַ H4196 Noun - masculine singular - תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֹתֽוֹ׃ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular of acacia שִׁטִּ֖ים H7848 Noun - feminine plural wood עֲצֵ֥י H6086 Noun - masculine plural construct for the burning מִקְטַ֣ר H4729 Noun - masculine singular construct of incense קְטֹ֑רֶת H7004 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 2

Original words

It is to be יִהְיֶ֔ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular square רָב֣וּעַ H7251 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular a cubit אַמָּ֨ה H520 Noun - feminine singular long אָרְכּ֜וֹ H753 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular a cubit וְאַמָּ֤ה H520 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular wide רָחְבּוֹ֙ H7341 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and two cubits וְאַמָּתַ֖יִם H520 Conjunctive waw | Noun - fd high קֹמָת֑וֹ H6967 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Its horns קַרְנֹתָֽיו׃ H7161 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular must be of one piece מִמֶּ֖נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • The altar was approximately 1.5 feet in length and width, and 3 feet high (45.7 centimeters in length and width, and 91.4 centimeters high).
Verse 3

Original words

Overlay וְצִפִּיתָ֨ H6823 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular - אֹת֜וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular with pure טָה֗וֹר H2889 Adjective - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker gold זָהָ֣ב H2091 Noun - masculine singular the top גַּגּ֧וֹ H1406 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and all סָבִ֖יב H5439 Adverb - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the sides קִירֹתָ֛יו H7023 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular and horns קַרְנֹתָ֑יו H7161 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular and make וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular a molding זֵ֥ר H2213 Noun - masculine singular of gold זָהָ֖ב H2091 Noun - masculine singular around it סָבִֽיב׃ H5439 Adverb
Verse 4

Original words

And make תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - לּ֣וֹ׀ Preposition | third person masculine singular two וּשְׁתֵּי֩ H8147 Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine dual construct gold זָהָ֜ב H2091 Noun - masculine singular rings טַבְּעֹ֨ת H2885 Noun - feminine plural construct below מִתַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition-m the molding לְזֵר֗וֹ H2213 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular - עַ֚ל H5921 Preposition - שְׁתֵּ֣י H8147 Number - feminine dual construct - צַלְעֹתָ֔יו H6763 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular - תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . שְׁנֵ֣י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct opposite sides צִדָּ֑יו H6654 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular to וְהָיָה֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular hold לְבָתִּ֣ים H1004 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural the poles לְבַדִּ֔ים H905 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural used to carry it לָשֵׂ֥את H5375 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֹת֖וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular - בָּהֵֽמָּה׃ Preposition-b | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

Make וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the poles הַבַּדִּ֖ים H905 Article | Noun - masculine plural of acacia שִׁטִּ֑ים H7848 Noun - feminine plural wood עֲצֵ֣י H6086 Noun - masculine plural construct and overlay וְצִפִּיתָ֥ H6823 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular them אֹתָ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural with gold זָהָֽב׃ H2091 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

Place וְנָתַתָּ֤ה H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular [the altar] אֹתוֹ֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular in front לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct of the veil הַפָּרֹ֔כֶת H6532 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative is before עַל־ H5921 Preposition the ark אֲרֹ֣ן H727 Noun - common singular construct of the Testimony הָעֵדֻ֑ת H5715 Article | Noun - feminine singular before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the mercy seat הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר֙ H834 Pronoun - relative is over עַל־ H5921 Preposition the Testimony הָ֣עֵדֻ֔ת H5715 Article | Noun - feminine singular where אֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Pronoun - relative I will meet אִוָּעֵ֥ד H3259 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular with you לְךָ֖ Preposition | second person masculine singular . . . שָֽׁמָּה׃ H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • That is, the ark of the covenant; also in verse 26
Verse 7

Original words

And Aaron אַהֲרֹ֖ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular is to burn וְהִקְטִ֥יר H6999 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular fragrant סַמִּ֑ים H5561 Noun - masculine plural incense קְטֹ֣רֶת H7004 Noun - feminine singular construct on it עָלָ֛יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular - יַקְטִירֶֽנָּה׃ H6999 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular every morning בַּבֹּ֣קֶר H1242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . בַּבֹּ֗קֶר H1242 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular when he tends בְּהֵיטִיב֛וֹ H3190 Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the lamps הַנֵּרֹ֖ת H5216 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 8

Original words

When Aaron אַהֲרֹ֧ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker sets up וּבְהַעֲלֹ֨ת H5927 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct the lamps הַנֵּרֹ֛ת H5216 Article | Noun - masculine plural at בֵּ֥ין H996 Preposition twilight הָעֲרְבַּ֖יִם H6153 Article | Noun - md he must burn יַקְטִירֶ֑נָּה H6999 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular the incense קְטֹ֧רֶת H7004 Noun - feminine singular construct perpetually תָּמִ֛יד H8548 Adverb before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular for the generations to come לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ H1755 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Hebrew between the two evenings
Verse 9

Original words

On [this altar] עָלָ֛יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular you must not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle offer תַעֲל֥וּ H5927 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural unauthorized זָרָ֖ה H2114 Adjective - feminine singular incense קְטֹ֥רֶת H7004 Noun - feminine singular or a burnt offering וְעֹלָ֣ה H5930 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular or grain offering וּמִנְחָ֑ה H4503 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular nor are you לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle to pour תִסְּכ֖וּ H5258 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural a drink offering וְנֵ֕סֶךְ H5262 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular on it עָלָֽיו׃ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or strange
Verse 10

Original words

Once אַחַ֖ת H259 Number - feminine singular a year בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה H8141 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Aaron אַהֲרֹן֙ H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular shall make atonement וְכִפֶּ֤ר H3722 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the horns [of the altar] קַרְנֹתָ֔יו H7161 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular Throughout your generations לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם H1755 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural he shall make atonement יְכַפֵּ֤ר H3722 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular on it עָלָיו֙ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular annually אַחַ֤ת H259 Number - feminine singular . . . בַּשָּׁנָה֙ H8141 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular with the blood מִדַּ֞ם H1818 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of the sin offering חַטַּ֣את H2403 Noun - feminine singular construct of atonement הַכִּפֻּרִ֗ים H3725 Article | Noun - masculine plural The altar [is] ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular most קֹֽדֶשׁ־ H6944 Noun - masculine singular construct holy קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים H6944 Noun - masculine plural to the LORD לַיהוָֽה׃פ H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or purification offering

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.