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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 30:1 "You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/30-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/02_Exo_30_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 30:1 - The Altar of Incense" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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you shall make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/30.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/30.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: <i>of</i> shittim wood shalt thou make it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/30.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/30.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Now you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/30.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Moreover, you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/30.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Moreover, you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/30.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Moreover, you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/30.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“You shall make an altar upon which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/30.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“You are to make an altar for the burning of incense; make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/30.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You are to make an altar for the burning of incense; make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/30.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of acacia wood shalt thou make it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/30.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Build an altar of acacia wood where you can burn incense. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/30.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of acacia wood shalt thou make it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/30.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />[The LORD continued,] "Build an altar out of acacia wood for burning incense.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/30.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Make an altar out of acacia wood, for burning incense. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/30.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You are to make an altar for burning incense. You are to make it of acacia wood. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/30.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/30.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"You are to make an altar for burning incense; you are to make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/30.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/30.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/30.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/30.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />“And you have made an altar [for] making incense; you make it of shittim wood;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/30.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And thou hast made an altar for making perfume; of shittim wood thou dost make it;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/30.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And make an altar for burning incense: of acacia wood shalt thou make it.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/30.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Thou shalt make also an altar to burn incense, of setim wood. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/30.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />“You shall also make an altar, for the burning of incense, from setim wood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/30.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For burning incense you shall make an altar of acacia wood,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/30.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall make an altar on which to offer incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/30.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />YOU shall make an altar to burn incense upon; of shittim wood shall you make it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/30.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And make an altar of incense offering; you shall make it of the wood of the box tree.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/30.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon; of acacia-wood shalt thou make it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/30.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And thou shalt make the altar of incense of incorruptible wood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/30-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=7753" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/30.htm">The Altar of Incense</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">“You are also to make</a> <a href="/hebrew/4196.htm" title="4196: miz·bê·aḥ (N-ms) -- An altar. From zabach; an altar.">an altar</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ta·‘ă·śeh (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application."></a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯōw (DirObjM:: 3ms) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7848.htm" title="7848: šiṭ·ṭîm (N-fp) -- Acacia (a tree and a wood). Feminine of a derivative from the same as shotet; the acacia.">of acacia</a> <a href="/hebrew/6086.htm" title="6086: ‘ă·ṣê (N-mpc) -- Tree, trees, wood. From atsah; a tree; hence, wood.">wood</a> <a href="/hebrew/4729.htm" title="4729: miq·ṭar (N-msc) -- Something to fume, on, a hearth place. From qatar; something to fume on i.e. A hearth place.">for the burning</a> <a href="/hebrew/7004.htm" title="7004: qə·ṭō·reṯ (N-fs) -- Smoke, odor of (burning) sacrifice, incense. From qatar; a fumigation.">of incense.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>It is to be square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns must be of one piece.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/9-4.htm">Hebrews 9:4</a></span><br />containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/8-3.htm">Revelation 8:3-4</a></span><br />Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. / And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/37-25.htm">Exodus 37:25-28</a></span><br />He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece. / And he overlaid with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns. Then he made a molding of gold around it. / He made two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/6-20.htm">1 Kings 6:20-22</a></span><br />The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. / So Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. / So he overlaid with gold the whole interior of the temple, until everything was completely finished. He also overlaid with gold the entire altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/7-48.htm">1 Kings 7:48</a></span><br />Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar; the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/4-19.htm">2 Chronicles 4:19</a></span><br />Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of God: the golden altar; the tables on which was placed the Bread of the Presence;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/16-12.htm">Leviticus 16:12-13</a></span><br />Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. / He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/7-86.htm">Numbers 7:86</a></span><br />The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the gold dishes was a hundred and twenty shekels.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/16-46.htm">Numbers 16:46-47</a></span><br />Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” / So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/141-2.htm">Psalm 141:2</a></span><br />May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-9.htm">Luke 1:9-11</a></span><br />he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. / And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside. / Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/6-6.htm">Isaiah 6:6-7</a></span><br />Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. / And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/26-16.htm">2 Chronicles 26:16-19</a></span><br />But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. / Then Azariah the priest, along with eighty brave priests of the LORD, went in after him. / They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/28-18.htm">1 Chronicles 28:18</a></span><br />the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense; and the plans for the chariot of the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-28.htm">1 Samuel 2:28</a></span><br />And out of all the tribes of Israel I selected your father to be My priest, to offer sacrifices on My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence. I also gave to the house of your father all the food offerings of the Israelites.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And you shall make an altar to burn incense on: of shittim wood shall you make it.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/30-32.htm">Exodus 30:32</a></b></br> Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make <i>any other</i> like it, after the composition of it: it <i>is</i> holy, <i>and</i> it shall be holy unto you.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/30-26.htm">Exodus 30:26</a></b></br> And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/30-7.htm">Exodus 30:7,8,10</a></b></br> And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it… </p><p class="hdg">to burn incense.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/4-11.htm">Exodus 4:11</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/27-6.htm">Acacia</a> <a href="/exodus/27-6.htm">Acacia-Wood</a> <a href="/exodus/29-44.htm">Altar</a> <a href="/exodus/29-34.htm">Burn</a> <a href="/exodus/25-6.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/exodus/27-6.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/exodus/25-29.htm">Incense</a> <a href="/exodus/29-36.htm">Making</a> <a href="/exodus/26-1.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/exodus/29-25.htm">Perfume</a> <a href="/exodus/27-6.htm">Shittim</a> <a href="/exodus/27-8.htm">Wood</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/30-5.htm">Acacia</a> <a href="/exodus/30-5.htm">Acacia-Wood</a> <a href="/exodus/30-2.htm">Altar</a> <a href="/exodus/30-7.htm">Burn</a> <a href="/exodus/30-27.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/exodus/35-7.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/exodus/30-7.htm">Incense</a> <a href="/exodus/30-7.htm">Making</a> <a href="/exodus/30-22.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/exodus/30-8.htm">Perfume</a> <a href="/exodus/30-5.htm">Shittim</a> <a href="/exodus/30-5.htm">Wood</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 30</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/30-1.htm">The altar of incense</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/30-11.htm">The ransom of souls</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/30-17.htm">The bronze basin</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/30-22.htm">The holy anointing oil</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/30-34.htm">The composition of the incense</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/30.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/30.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You are also to make an altar of acacia wood</b><br>The instruction to make an altar signifies the importance of worship and the centrality of God's presence among His people. Acacia wood, known for its durability and resistance to decay, symbolizes the enduring nature of God's covenant. This wood was commonly found in the Sinai region, making it a practical choice for the Israelites. The use of acacia wood in the construction of sacred objects, such as the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, highlights its significance in the worship practices of ancient Israel. The altar's construction from this wood points to the purity and incorruptibility required in approaching God.<p><b>for the burning of incense.</b><br>Incense in the ancient Near East was often associated with worship and the divine presence. The burning of incense on this altar represents the prayers of the people ascending to God, as seen in <a href="/psalms/141-2.htm">Psalm 141:2</a> and <a href="/revelation/8-3.htm">Revelation 8:3-4</a>. The fragrant smoke symbolizes the pleasing aroma of faithful worship and intercession. In the context of the Tabernacle, the incense altar was placed before the veil, separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, indicating the role of prayer in bridging the gap between humanity and the divine. This altar prefigures Christ's intercessory work, as He is the mediator between God and humanity, offering Himself as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (<a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm">Ephesians 5:2</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, who received the instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, including the altar of incense, directly from God on Mount Sinai.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/tabernacle.htm">Tabernacle</a></b><br>The portable sanctuary where God dwelled among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. The altar of incense was a crucial part of the Tabernacle's furnishings.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/altar_of_incense.htm">Altar of Incense</a></b><br>A sacred piece of furniture within the Tabernacle, made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, used for burning incense as a symbol of prayer and worship ascending to God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/acacia_wood.htm">Acacia Wood</a></b><br>A durable and resistant wood used in the construction of the Tabernacle's furnishings, symbolizing strength and endurance.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/incense.htm">Incense</a></b><br>A fragrant offering burned on the altar, representing the prayers of the people rising to God, signifying purity and devotion.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_prayer.htm">Symbolism of Prayer</a></b><br>The altar of incense serves as a powerful symbol of prayer. Just as incense rises, so do our prayers ascend to God. This reminds us of the importance of maintaining a consistent prayer life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_purity.htm">Holiness and Purity</a></b><br>The use of acacia wood and gold signifies the purity and holiness required in worship. Our approach to God should be with reverence and purity of heart.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_presence.htm">God's Presence</a></b><br>The placement of the altar of incense in the Tabernacle signifies the nearness of God to His people. We are reminded that God desires to dwell among us and hear our prayers.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consistency_in_worship.htm">Consistency in Worship</a></b><br>The regular burning of incense symbolizes the need for continual worship and devotion. Our relationship with God should be marked by regular and sincere worship.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/intercession.htm">Intercession</a></b><br>The incense represents intercession, pointing to the role of Christ as our intercessor. We are called to intercede for others, lifting their needs before God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_30.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 30</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/purpose_of_altar_of_incense.htm">What is the purpose of the Altar of Incense?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_a_divine_appointment.htm">What is the Bible's perspective on incense?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_horns_of_the_altar's_role.htm">What are the Horns of the Altar's significance?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_could_birds_nest_on_a_used_altar.htm">In Psalm 84:3, how could birds nest on the altar if it was used for sacrifices? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/30.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>XXX.<p>THE ALTAR OF INCENSE.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">Thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon.</span>--Why the directions concerning the altar of incense were delayed until this place, instead of being given when the rest of the furniture of the holy place was described (Exodus 25), it is impossible to say. But there is certainly no reason to suspect a dislocation of the text. The mode in which Aaron is spoken of in <a href="/context/exodus/30-7.htm" title="And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.">Exodus 30:7-10</a> implies a previous mention of his consecration to the high priesthood.<p>That incense would be among the offerings which God would require to be offered to Him had appeared already in <a href="/exodus/25-6.htm" title="Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,">Exodus 25:6</a>. Its preciousness, its fragrance, and its seeming to mount in cloud after cloud to heaven, gave it a natural place in the symbolism of worship, and led to its employment in the religious rites of a variety of nations. Egyptian priests continually appear on the monuments with censers in their hands, in which presumably incense is being offered, and the inscriptions mention that it was imported from Arabia, and used largely in the festivals of Ammon (<span class= "ital">Records of the Past, </span>vol. x., pp. 14-19). Herodotus tells us that the Babylonians consumed annually a thousand talents' weight of it at the feast of Belus (i. 183). The employment of it by the Greeks and Romans in their sacrifices is well known. Here again, as so often in the Mosaical dispensation. God sanctioned in His worship an innocent rite, which natural reason had pointed out to man as fitting and appropriate, not regarding its employment in false religions as debarring it from adoption into the true.<p><span class= "bld">Of shittim wood shalt thou make it.</span>--<span class= "bld">Of </span>the <span class= "bld">same </span>main material as "the brazen altar" (<a href="/exodus/27-1.htm" title="And you shall make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.">Exodus 27:1</a>), but covered differently.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/30.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1-10.</span> - THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. This chapter has the appearance of being one in which accidental omissions are supplied. The natural place for a description of the altar of incense - part of the furniture of the holy place (ver. 6) - would seem to have been <a href="/exodus/25-10.htm">Exodus 25:10-40</a>, where we have the descriptions of the ark, the mercy-seat, the table of shew-bread, and the candlestick; the natural place for "the ransom of souls," the earlier part of the same chapter (ver. 3), where the silver is required which was to be collected in this way; the natural place for an account of the bronze laver, ch. 27, where the bronze altar, near which it stood, is described; the natural place for the composition of the holy oil, ch. 29, where its use is commanded (vers. 7, 21); and the natural place for a description of the perfume the same as for the altar on which it was to be offered. Whether Moses made the omissions in writing his record, and afterwards supplied them in the present chapter, or whether Divine wisdom saw fit to give the directions in the order in which we now have them, cannot be determined. Hitherto certainly no sufficient reason has been shown for the existing order, which hence appears accidental. The altar of incense was to be in many respects similar to the altar of burnt-offering, but of smaller size and richer material. Both were to be "four-square," and both of shittim wood cased with metal; but the former was to be taller, the latter shorter, than it was broad; and while the latter was to be cased with bronze, the former was to have a covering of gold. The place for the altar of incense was the main chamber of the tabernacle, a little in front of the veil; and its purpose was, as the name implied, the offering of incense to almighty God. This was to be done by the officiating priest, twice a day, morning and evening, and in practice was performed before the morning, and after the evening sacrifice. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1</span> <span class="cmt_word">- An altar to burn incense upon.</span> The offering of incense was an element in the religious worship of most ancient nations. In Egypt frankincense was especially used in the festivals of the god Ammon (<span class="accented">Records of the Past</span>, vol. 10. pp. 18, 19);. and on one occasion an Egyptian sovereign sent a naval expedition to Arabia for the express purpose of bringing frankincense and frankincense trees to Egypt, in connection with the Ammon feasts (Brugsch, <span class="accented">History of Egypt</span>, vol. 1. pp. 305-311). The Babylonians burnt a thousand talents' weight of frankincense every year at the great festival of Bal (Herod. 1:183). The Greeks and Romans offered frankincense, as a rule, with every offering; and in the early ages of Christianity it was made the test of a Christian whether he would do this or no. What exactly the religious notion was which underlay these acts, or whether it was the same everywhere, may be questioned. In the Mosaic religion, however, there can be little doubt that, in the main, incense symbolised prayer. (See <a href="/psalms/141-2.htm">Psalm 141:2</a>; <a href="/luke/1-10.htm">Luke 1:10</a>.) <span class="cmt_word">Of shittim wood</span>. Compare above, <a href="/exodus/27-1.htm">Exodus 27:1</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/30-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">You are also to make</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘ā·śî·ṯā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an altar</span><br /><span class="heb">מִזְבֵּ֖חַ</span> <span class="translit">(miz·bê·aḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4196.htm">Strong's 4196: </a> </span><span class="str2">An altar</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of acacia</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁטִּ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(šiṭ·ṭîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7848.htm">Strong's 7848: </a> </span><span class="str2">Acacia (a tree and a wood)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wood</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲצֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·ṣê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6086.htm">Strong's 6086: </a> </span><span class="str2">Tree, trees, wood</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for the burning</span><br /><span class="heb">מִקְטַ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(miq·ṭar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4729.htm">Strong's 4729: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something to fume, on, a hearth place</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of incense.</span><br /><span class="heb">קְטֹ֑רֶת</span> <span class="translit">(qə·ṭō·reṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7004.htm">Strong's 7004: </a> </span><span class="str2">Smoke, odor of (burning) sacrifice, incense</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/30-1.htm">Exodus 30:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/30-1.htm">OT Law: Exodus 30:1 You shall make an altar to burn (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/29-46.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 29:46"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 29:46" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/30-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 30:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 30:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>