Exodus 30:35

And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure [and] holy:

And thou shalt make {H6213} it a perfume {H7004}, a confection {H7545} after the art {H4639} of the apothecary {H7543}, tempered {H4414} together, pure {H2889} and holy {H6944}:

and make incense, blended and perfumed as would an expert perfume-maker, salted, pure and holy.

and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.

and thou shalt make of it incense, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy:

Commentary

Exodus 30:35 describes the final instruction for preparing the sacred incense, emphasizing its precise composition and consecrated nature for use in the Tabernacle. This verse concludes the detailed divine recipe for the holy incense, which was to be burned daily on the Altar of Incense before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Context of Exodus 30:35

This verse is part of a larger section in Exodus (chapters 25-31) where God provides Moses with meticulous instructions for building the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the garments for the priests. Specifically, Exodus 30 outlines the construction of the Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1-10), the anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-33), and the holy incense (Exodus 30:34-38). The instruction here highlights the meticulousness required for anything associated with God's presence and worship.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Instruction and Precision: The phrase "after the art of the apothecary" signifies that this was not a casual mixture but a precise formulation requiring skill and adherence to God's specific recipe. This underscores the importance of obeying God's commands in worship and service.
  • Holiness and Consecration: The description "pure and holy" is paramount. This incense was set apart exclusively for God's worship and was not to be replicated for common use (Exodus 30:37-38). This strict command underscored the principle of worship according to God's precise instructions, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty and purity.
  • Symbolism of Ascending Prayer: In later biblical understanding, the burning of incense became a powerful symbol of the prayers of the saints ascending to God (Psalm 141:2, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 8:3-4). The purity and holiness of the incense reflect the desire for pure and acceptable prayer.

Linguistic Insights

The term "apothecary" (Hebrew: roqeah) refers to a perfumer or compounder, someone skilled in mixing spices and ointments. This highlights the specialized craft involved in preparing the sacred blend. The phrase "tempered together" (Hebrew: memullach) literally means "salted" or "seasoned with salt." While it could refer to a process of grinding with salt or perhaps a method of preservation, it strongly evokes the idea of purity and covenant faithfulness, as salt was often associated with everlasting covenants in biblical tradition.

Practical Application

For believers today, Exodus 30:35 serves as a reminder of the reverence and intentionality God desires in our worship. While we no longer offer physical incense, the principle of offering something "pure and holy" remains. Our prayers, praise, and service are to be offered with sincerity, purity of heart, and according to God's will. Just as the incense was set apart, believers are called to live consecrated lives, set apart for God's purposes, recognizing His holiness and majesty in all we do.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 30:25

    And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.

  • Leviticus 2:13

    And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

  • John 12:3

    Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

  • Song Of Solomon 3:6

    ¶ Who [is] this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

  • Proverbs 27:9

    ¶ Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so [doth] the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

  • Song Of Solomon 1:3

    Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
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