Back to Exodus 30

Exodus 30:1-10

“You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood. Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit. It shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding around it. You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and they shall be for places for poles with which to bear it. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, where I will meet with you. Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it. When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations. You shall offer no strange incense on it, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering; and you shall pour no drink offering on it. Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to Yahweh.”

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood.

    Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit. It shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits. Its horns shall be of one piece with it.

    You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding around it.

    You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides you shall make them; and they shall be for places for poles with which to bear it.

    You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.

    You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, where I will meet with you.

    Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it.

    When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations.

    You shall offer no strange incense on it, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering; and you shall pour no drink offering on it.

    Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to Yahweh.”

  • KJV King James Version

    And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

    A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.

    And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.

    And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.

    And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

    And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

    And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

    And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

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

    And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon; of acacia-wood shalt thou make it.

    A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be; and two cubits shall be the height thereof; the horns thereof shall be of one piece with it.

    And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.

    And two golden rings shalt thou make for it under the crown thereof, upon the two ribs thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make them; and they shall be for places for staves wherewith to bear it.

    And thou shalt make the staves of acacia-wood, and overlay them with gold.

    And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the ark-cover that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

    And Aaron shall burn thereon incense of sweet spices; every morning, when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn it.

    And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at dusk, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

    Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt-offering, nor meal-offering; and ye shall pour no drink-offering thereon.

    And Aaron shall make atonement upon the horns of it once in the year; with the blood of the sin-offering of atonement once in the year shall he make atonement for it throughout your generations; it is most holy unto the LORD.'

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Commandments (2)

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Cross-references (55)

  • Leviticus 16:18 (v10) “He shall go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the…
  • Leviticus 10:1 (v9) Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before…
  • Hebrews 9:22-23 (v10) According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. It was necessary…
  • Hebrews 9:24 (v8) For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in…
  • Revelation 8:3 (v1) Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of…
Show all 53 cross-references
  • Exodus 25:21-22 (v6) You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I will give you. There I will meet with you,…
  • Exodus 27:2 (v2) You shall make its horns on its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with bronze.
  • Exodus 29:36-37 (v10) Every day you shall offer the bull of sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar when you make atonement for it. You shall…
  • Exodus 37:25-28 (v1) He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its…
  • Leviticus 16:5-6 (v10) He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. “Aaron…
  • Leviticus 16:29-30 (v10) “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no…
  • Leviticus 23:27 (v10) “However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall afflict…
  • 1 Samuel 2:28 (v7) Didn’t I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me?…
  • Hebrews 9:25 (v10) nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own,
  • Exodus 25:27 (vv4–5) the rings shall be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table.
  • Exodus 40:5 (vv1, 6) You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the covenant, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
  • Exodus 27:20-21 (v7) “You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.…
  • Leviticus 4:7 (v1) The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before Yahweh, which is in the Tent of Meeting; and he…
  • 1 Chronicles 23:13 (v7) The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, forever, to…
  • Luke 1:9 (v7) according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
  • Hebrews 1:3 (v10) His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had…
  • Hebrews 9:7 (v10) but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the…
  • Exodus 12:6 (v8) You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening.
  • Exodus 25:11 (v3) You shall overlay it with pure gold. You shall overlay it inside and outside, and you shall make a gold molding around it.
  • Exodus 25:12 (v4) You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the…
  • Exodus 25:13 (v5) You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.
  • Exodus 25:14 (v4) You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.
  • Exodus 25:24 (v3) You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.
  • Exodus 26:29 (v4) You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold.
  • Exodus 26:31-35 (v6) “You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. It shall be the work of a skillful workman.…
  • Exodus 27:4 (v4) You shall make a grating for it of network of bronze. On the net you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners.
  • Exodus 27:7 (v4) Its poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when carrying it.
  • Exodus 29:42-43 (v6) It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh, where I will meet with…
  • Exodus 30:7-8 (v1) Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it. When Aaron lights the lamps at…
  • Exodus 30:10 (v1) Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make…
  • Exodus 30:34 (v7) Yahweh said to Moses, “Take to yourself sweet spices, gum resin, onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense. There shall be…
  • Exodus 30:36 (v6) You shall beat some of it very small, and put some of it before the covenant in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall…
  • Exodus 40:3 (v6) You shall put the ark of the covenant in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
  • Exodus 40:26 (v6) He put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the veil;
  • Leviticus 4:18 (v1) He shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before Yahweh, that is in the Tent of Meeting; and the rest of the blood…
  • Leviticus 16:13 (v6) He shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that…
  • Numbers 17:4 (v6) You shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the covenant, where I meet with you.
  • 1 Samuel 3:3 (v7) and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in Yahweh’s temple where God’s ark was,
  • 1 Kings 6:20 (v1) Within the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in its height; and he overlaid it…
  • 1 Chronicles 28:11 (v6) Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its…
  • 2 Chronicles 26:16 (v1) But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into…
  • Matthew 27:51 (v6) Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
  • Acts 6:4 (v7) But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
  • Romans 8:34 (v8) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes…
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (v8) Pray without ceasing.
  • Hebrews 4:16 (v6) Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.
  • Hebrews 7:25 (v8) Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make…
  • Hebrews 9:3-5 (v6) After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant…

53 distinct cross-references across this passage (55 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (27 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 Upon the which the sweet perfume was burnt, verse…

Upon the which the sweet perfume was burnt, verse 34.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Exo 30:1 And thou shalt make an altar to…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Incense signifies the prayers of God’s people, Psa 141:2;…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v1 I. The orders given concerning the altar of incense…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv1–10 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv1, 7, 10 Moses in this chapter farther instructed, (1.) Concerning the…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10 The altar of burnt incense, 1.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv1, 7, 10 Exo 30:1-6. Thou shalt make an altar to burn…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v1 Exo 37:25-28; Exo 40:26-27. The altar of incense was…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10 An altar to burn incense. This burning of incense…
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures 1864 · Public Domain On v1 5. The Altar of Incense. Exo_30:1-10
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv2, 6, 7, 8, 9 foursquare--the meaning of which is not that it was…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10 THE ALTAR OF INCENSE, Exo_30:1-10.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv1–10 1. incense] Heb. ḳeṭôreth, ‘sweet smoke’ (see on Exo_29:13),…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 (1) Thou shalt make an altar to burn incense…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv1–10 Vers. 1-10. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. This chapter has…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v8 Burn incense upon it.
The Expositor's Bible 1887 · Public Domain On v1
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v1 Exo_30:1. Altar of incense] = Miktar Ketoreth, literally, the…
The Sermon Bible 1900 · Public Domain On v1 Exo 30:6-10
Alexander MacLaren 1905 · Public Domain On v1
J. R. Dummelow 1909 · Public Domain On v1 The Altar of Incense. The Ransom Money. The Laver.…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On vv1, 5, 9, 10 Altar of incense, type of Christ our intercessor Joh…
Arno C. Gaebelein 1922 · Public Domain On v1 CHAPTER 30 The Altar of Incense and the Worshippers
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v1 The Altar of Incense
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 3, 5, 7, 10 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 6 30:1-10 Plans for the altar of acacia wood are…
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