King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, [even] two hundred and fifty [shekels], and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty [shekels],
Complete Jewish Bible:
"Take the best spices - 500 shekels of myrrh [121/2 pounds], half this amount (250 shekels) of aromatic cinnamon [61/4 pounds], 250 shekels of aromatic cane,
Berean Standard Bible:
“Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half that amount (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane,
American Standard Version:
Take thou also unto thee the chief spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Take{H3947} thou also unto thee principal{H7218} spices{H1314}, of pure{H1865} myrrh{H4753} five{H2568} hundred{H3967} shekels, and of sweet{H1314} cinnamon{H7076} half{H4276} so much{H4276}, even two hundred{H3967} and fifty{H2572} shekels, and of sweet{H1314} calamus{H7070} two hundred{H3967} and fifty{H2572} shekels,
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezekiel 27:19
- Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.
Song of Solomon 4:14
- Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
Ezekiel 27:22
- The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they [were] thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
Jeremiah 6:20
- To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings [are] not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
Psalms 45:8
- All thy garments [smell] of myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
Exodus 37:29
- And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.
Song of Solomon 1:13
- A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 30:23
Exodus 30:23 is a verse from the Old Testament that falls within the context of the instructions given by God to Moses for the construction and consecration of the Tabernacle, which was the portable dwelling place for God's presence among the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. This verse specifically outlines the ingredients and precise measurements for the holy anointing oil, which was used to consecrate the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priests who served there.
The verse mentions three principal spices: pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, and sweet calamus, with myrrh being the most prominent, requiring double the amount of the other two. These spices were valuable and commonly used in the ancient world for medicinal purposes, as perfumes, and in religious ceremonies. The use of such costly ingredients in the anointing oil symbolizes the sanctity and preciousness of the worship space and the sacred duties performed by the priests. It also reflects the divine instruction and meticulous care taken by the Israelites to follow God's commands in every detail of their religious life.
The historical context of Exodus 30:23 is rooted in the period after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, as they were forming their identity as a nation under God's covenant. The detailed prescriptions for worship, including the anointing oil, served to distinguish the Israelite religious practices from those of their neighbors and to instill a sense of holiness and reverence for God's dwelling place and the rituals associated with it. The verse underscores the importance of sacred ritual, the value of purity in worship, and the significance of following divine instructions with precision and care.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. - Strong's Number: H1314
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּשֶׂם
Transliteration: besem
Pronunciation: beh'-sem
Description: or בֹּשֶׂם; from the same as בָּשָׂם; fragrance; by implication, spicery; also the balsam plant; smell, spice, sweet (odour). - Strong's Number: H1865
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דְּרוֹר
Transliteration: dᵉrôwr
Pronunciation: der-ore'
Description: from an unused root (meaning to move rapidly); freedom; hence, spontaneity of outflow, and so clear; liberty, pure. - Strong's Number: H4753
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹר
Transliteration: môr
Pronunciation: more
Description: or מוֹר; from מָרַר; myrrh (as distilling in drops, and also as bitter); myrrh. - Strong's Number: H2568
There are 273 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָמֵשׁ
Transliteration: châmêsh
Pronunciation: khaw-maysh'
Description: masculine חֲמִשָּׁה; a primitive numeral; five; fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece). - Strong's Number: H3967
There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֵאָה
Transliteration: mêʼâh
Pronunciation: may-aw'
Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. - Strong's Number: H7076
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִנָּמוֹן
Transliteration: qinnâmôwn
Pronunciation: kin-naw-mone'
Description: from an unused root (meaning to erect); cinnamon bark (as in upright rolls); cinnamon. - Strong's Number: H4276
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַחֲצִית
Transliteration: machătsîyth
Pronunciation: makh-ats-eeth'
Description: from חָצָהlemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה; a halving or the middle; half (so much), mid(-day). - Strong's Number: H2572
There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲמִשִּׁים
Transliteration: chămishshîym
Pronunciation: kham-ish-sheem'
Description: multiple of חָמֵשׁ; fifty; fifty. - Strong's Number: H7070
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָנֶה
Transliteration: qâneh
Pronunciation: kaw-neh'
Description: from קָנָה; a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard); balance, bone, branch, calamus, cane, reed, [idiom] spearman, stalk.