Exodus 30:38
Exodus 30:38 in Multiple Translations
Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.”
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereof, he shall be cut off from his people.
Whoever makes any like it, for its sweet smell, will be cut off from his people.
Anyone who makes incense like this for themselves to enjoy will be expelled from their people.”
Whosoeuer shall make like vnto that to smelll thereto, euen he shalbe cut off from his people.
a man who maketh [any] like it — to be refreshed by it — hath even been cut off from his people.'
Whoever shall make any like that, to smell of it, he shall be cut off from his people.”
Whoever shall make the like to that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.
What man soever shall make the like, to enjoy the smell thereof, he shall perish out of his people.
I will consider that anyone who makes incense like this to use it for perfume will no longer be allowed to associate with my people.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 30:38
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Exodus 30:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אִ֛ישׁ
אֲשֶׁר
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה
כָמ֖וֹ/הָ
לְ/הָרִ֣יחַ
בָּ֑/הּ
וְ/נִכְרַ֖ת
מֵ/עַמָּֽי/ו
אִ֛ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-ms
אֲשֶׁר
ʼăsher
H834
which
Rel
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
כָמ֖וֹ/הָ
kᵉmôw
H3644
like
Prep | Suff
לְ/הָרִ֣יחַ
rûwach
H7306
to smell
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a
בָּ֑/הּ
Prep | Suff
וְ/נִכְרַ֖ת
kârath
H3772
to cut
Conj | V-Niphal-3ms
מֵ/עַמָּֽי/ו
ʻam
H5971
Amaw
Prep | N-mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 30:38
אִ֛ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
אֲשֶׁר
ʼăsher
H834
"which"
Rel
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when
Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
כָמ֖וֹ/הָ
kᵉmôw
H3644
"like"
Prep | Suff
This word means like or as, used to compare things. It appears in the Bible to describe similarities or to make comparisons, such as in the book of Psalms.
Definition: adv 1) like, as, the like of which conj 2) when, according as, as it were
Usage: Occurs in 126 OT verses. KJV: according to, (such) as (it were, well as), in comparison of, like (as, to, unto), thus, when, worth. See also: Genesis 19:15; Job 40:17; Psalms 29:6.
לְ/הָרִ֣יחַ
rûwach
H7306
"to smell"
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a
This word means to smell or perceive, and is used in the Bible to describe how we sense and enjoy things, like a horse smelling its surroundings.
Definition: 1) (Hiphil) to smell, scent, perceive odour, accept 1a) of horse 1b) of delight (metaph)
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: accept, smell, [idiom] touch, make of quick understanding. See also: Genesis 8:21; Judges 16:9; Psalms 115:6.
בָּ֑/הּ
""
Prep | Suff
וְ/נִכְרַ֖ת
kârath
H3772
"to cut"
Conj | V-Niphal-3ms
This Hebrew word means to cut or destroy something, but it also has a special meaning related to making a covenant or agreement. In Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abram, symbolized by cutting animals in half, showing the seriousness of the promise. This word is used to describe important agreements and alliances.
Definition: : cut/fell 1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut off 1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead 1a2) to cut down 1a3) to hew 1a4) to cut or make a covenant 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cut off 1b2) to be cut down 1b3) to be chewed 1b4) to be cut off, fail 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be cut off 1c2) to be cut down 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cut off 1d2) to cut off, destroy 1d3) to cut down, destroy 1d4) to take away 1d5) to permit to perish 1e) (Hophal) cut off
Usage: Occurs in 280 OT verses. KJV: be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want. See also: Genesis 9:11; 1 Samuel 24:6; Psalms 12:4.
מֵ/עַמָּֽי/ו
ʻam
H5971
"Amaw"
Prep | N-mp | Suff
A people or nation is what this Hebrew word represents, like the nation of Israel in Exodus 33:13. It can also mean a tribe, troops, or attendants, and is used to describe a group of people gathered together. The word is often used to refer to the people of God.
Definition: This name means nation, people
Usage: Occurs in 1655 OT verses. KJV: folk, men, nation, people. See also: Genesis 11:6; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 17:9.
Study Notes — Exodus 30:38
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Incense
36Grind some of it into fine powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.
37You are never to use this formula to make incense for yourselves; you shall regard it as holy to the LORD.
38Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.”
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 30:33 | Anyone who mixes perfume like it or puts it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’” |
Exodus 30:38 Summary
This verse is warning us about the importance of respecting and obeying God's commands, especially when it comes to things that are sacred and special to Him (as seen in Exodus 30:37). If we try to use or imitate these sacred things for our own pleasure or gain, we risk facing serious consequences, like being 'cut off from our people' (similar to Genesis 17:14). We need to be careful to prioritize our relationship with God and seek to obey His commands, even when it's hard, and remember that our obedience is a sign of our love and respect for Him (as seen in John 14:15 and 1 John 5:3). By doing so, we can cultivate a deeper reverence for God's sacred things and avoid the temptation to profane what is holy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the warning in Exodus 30:38?
The warning in Exodus 30:38 emphasizes the importance of treating God's sacred things with reverence and respect, as seen in Exodus 30:37, where the incense is regarded as holy to the Lord, and in Leviticus 10:1-3, where Nadab and Abihu suffered consequences for using unauthorized fire.
Why is making something like the sacred incense for personal enjoyment so serious?
Making something like the sacred incense for personal enjoyment is considered a serious offense because it profanes what is holy, as stated in Exodus 30:37, and disregards God's specific instructions, similar to the disobedience seen in Numbers 12:1-10, where Miriam and Aaron questioned Moses' authority.
What does it mean to be 'cut off from his people' in Exodus 30:38?
To be 'cut off from his people' means to be excluded from the community of believers and face spiritual and possibly physical consequences, as seen in Genesis 17:14 and Numbers 19:13, where those who disobeyed God's commands were cut off from their people.
How does this verse relate to our lives today?
This verse reminds us of the importance of respecting and obeying God's commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:6 and 1 Samuel 15:22-23, where disobedience and rebellion against God's will have serious consequences, and encourages us to prioritize our relationship with Him above personal desires and pleasures.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways we might be tempted to 'make something like' the sacred things of God for our own enjoyment, and how can we guard against this?
- How can we balance our desire for spiritual experiences and pleasures with the need to reverence and respect God's holy things?
- What are some practical ways we can prioritize our relationship with God and seek to obey His commands, even when it's difficult or unpopular?
- In what ways can we, like the Israelites, be tempted to profane what is holy, and how can we cultivate a deeper reverence for God's sacred things?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 30:38
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto,.... A man might make a perfume of the same ingredients, and of the same weight, and exactly like it, but not to burn for his own delight and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 30:38
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: Take unto thee sweet spices.
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 30:38
(37, 38) These instructions are similar to those given with respect to the holy oil (Exodus 30:32-33). Neither of the two holy compounds were to be applied to any profane use.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 30:38
38. cut off from his father’s kin] See on v. 33. The use of incense in religious ceremonies is very widespread, and many different substances have been used for the purpose—woods, barks, dried flowers, grasses, seeds, resins, gums (Enc. Brit. ed. 9, xii. 718). On Egyptian monuments the references to incense are numerous (Wilk.-B. iii. 398 f., with illustr. of censers,—bronze cups supported by long handles); large quantities of it were consumed in the temples (Erman, 300 f.,—with fabulous figures); and expeditions were constantly sent to the land of ‘Punt’ (Somali) to procure fragrant gums (ibid. 505–514). Plutarch (de Isid. et Osir. p. 383) describes the Eg. perfume called kyphi, which was used both for the toilet and as incense, consisting of sixteen ingredients (Erm. 232; Wilk.-B. iii. 398). There are also many references to incense (ḳ ?uṭ ?rinnu; cf. Heb. ḳ ?eṭ ?ôreth) in Ass. and Bab. inscriptions. The use is also often alluded to by the classical writers. See further Incense in EB.; or, most fully, Atchley, Hist. of the use of Incense in Divine worship (1909), pp. 1–77 (on the pre- and non-Christian use of it). The origin of this use of incense is uncertain.
The Oriental has a partiality for aromatic odours: he enjoys them himself; he perfumes his person, his garments, and his house with them; and he offers them to guests and rulers whom he desires to honour (DB. ii. 468a; Lane, Mod. Eg. i. 175, 256: cf. Proverbs 7:17, Son 3:6, Psalms 45:9). Men naturally believe that what is grateful to themselves is also pleasing to the deity. If, however, the use of incense originated in a primitive, or semi-primitive people, another motive may have contributed to its adoption: it may have been regarded as a means of driving away evil spirits (cf. Tob 6:7; Tob 8:2 f.) from the precincts of a sanctuary. Cf. Atchley, pp. 61–77. In Numbers 16:46 P (cf. Wis 18:21) an atoning efficacy is attributed to the burning of incense.
And in later times incense, rising heavenwards in a cloud, came to be regarded as a spiritual symbol of prayer (Psalms 141:2; Revelation 8:3 f., Exodus 5:8).
Sermons on Exodus 30:38
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Incense Altar by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches about the significance of the Golden Altar in the Tabernacle, symbolizing the Incense of the courts above and pointing to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice and int |
|
Discernment - Part 1 by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of discernment in the Church today. He emphasizes that spiritual truth may seem foolish to the natural man, but it can only be |