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Exodus 30:34 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֹּאמֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֜ה קַח־ לְךָ֣ סַמִּ֗ים נָטָ֤ף׀ וּשְׁחֵ֙לֶת֙ וְחֶלְבְּנָ֔ה סַמִּ֖ים וּלְבֹנָ֣ה זַכָּ֑ה בַּ֥ד בְּבַ֖ד יִהְיֶֽה׃

BSAThe LORD alsoYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] saidʼâmar toʼêl MosesMôsheh Takelâqach fragrant spicesçam [sweet spices, aromas] gum resinnâṭâph [stacte, a type of aromatic gum] onychashᵉchêleth [derived from a type of shell or mussel] galbanumchelbᵉnâh [a type of resin or gum] and purezak [clean, untainted] frankincenselᵉbôwnâh [a white resin used for incense] in equal measuresbad [with each having a like weight, in the same proportion]

Word
Listen & take awayExodus 30
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 34 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (yih.Yeh) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Exodus 30:34quick helps
In a sentenceGod instructs Moses on the preparation of sacred incense using specific fragrant spices.
Who is speakingThe LORD, identified as Yahweh, speaks directly to Moses.
Where we areThis instruction is part of the detailed laws concerning the Tabernacle and worship.
The hard wordסַמִּ֗ים
Take awayThe precise ingredients for holy incense are specified.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectיהוה verbאָמַר The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

2 of 16 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Exodus 30:34

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Instructions for Sacred Incensegenerated

33Anyone who mixes perfume like it or puts it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’”
34The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures,
35and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.
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.

Exodus 30:34 describes God's command to Moses regarding the preparation of sacred incense. This incense was to be made from specific fragrant spices, emphasizing the importance of worship and the distinctiveness of offerings to God. The instructions highlight the meticulous nature of the worship practices established for the Israelites, ensuring that the incense used in the Tabernacle was both pleasing to God and in accordance with divine specifications.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Exodus 30:23“Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half that amount (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane,
2Exodus 25:6olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
3Exodus 37:29He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.
4Leviticus 2:1–15“When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it,
5Leviticus 5:11But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word סַמִּ֗ים, sa.Mimgenerated

The word סַם (sam) translates to 'spices' and refers to aromatic substances used in incense. This term encompasses a variety of fragrant materials, indicating their significance in rituals and worship. The parsing as a common noun in the masculine plural shows that it refers to multiple types of spices, which were to be combined in equal measures as part of the sacred preparation.

In this context, the use of spices is not merely for fragrance but is integral to the worship of Yahweh, highlighting the sensory aspects of worship in ancient Israel.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יֹּאמֶר֩ (yo.mer), and he said, governs the entire verse, with a series of phrases detailing what is commanded. The structure indicates a direct command from God to Moses.

The main clause is followed by a list of spices, each introduced by conjunctions, which emphasizes the importance of each ingredient in the preparation of the incense.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew סַמִּ֗ים is rendered as ἡδύσματα, which means 'sweet spices.' This choice highlights the aromatic quality of the spices, aligning with the Hebrew emphasis on their fragrant nature.

The translation reflects an interpretation that underscores the pleasing attributes of the incense, which was significant in the context of worship.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Exodus 30:34 tells us that God instructed Moses to take specific fragrant spices for the preparation of holy incense. These included gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, all in equal measures. This emphasizes the importance of these ingredients in the worship practices of the Israelites.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the spices mentioned?

The spices are essential for creating the sacred incense used in worship, symbolizing the importance of offering pleasing aromas to God.

Why were equal measures specified?

Equal measures ensure that the incense is balanced and harmonious, reflecting the careful attention to detail in worship practices.

What does each spice represent?

Each spice has its own significance, often associated with purity, holiness, and the fragrant nature of worship, contributing to the overall experience of approaching God.

How does this instruction relate to the overall theme of Exodus?

This instruction highlights the covenant relationship between God and Israel, emphasizing the importance of worship, obedience, and the establishment of a holy community.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What can I learn from the specific instructions given for the incense preparation?
  2. How do the fragrant spices enhance the worship experience in my own life?
  3. In what ways can I ensure that my offerings to God are pleasing and acceptable?
  4. What does the careful attention to detail in worship teach me about my relationship with God?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Bede comments on the significance of the incense composition in worship, noting the specific spices used as commanded by God.

BedeOn the Tabernacle 3.12, AT Exodus 30:9 c. 673–735
“You shall not offer upon it incense of another composition.” Later in this book the spices from which this incense was to be composed are specified by name: stacte, and onycha, galbanum of pleasing fragrance, and the purest frankincense.
Early Church Fathers on Exodus 30 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Exodus 30:34 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the Lord said unto Moses,.... In a continued discourse, or some time after the former, though more probably at the same time; since it concerns the incense to be offered on the altar of incense,

Read John Gill on Exodus 30 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

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.

Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 30 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Stacte, and onycha, and galbanum: the Jews themselves are not agreed what these were, and it concerns not Christians much to know, the use of them being abolished. It is evident they were each of them sweet spices, and therefore this galbanum was not of the common kind, which gives a very ball scent. Of each shall there be a like weight, Heb. alone shall be with alone, i.e. each of these alone shall be with another alone, to wit, in equal quantity. Or it may note, that’ each of these was to be taken and beaten apart, and then mixed together. Or, it shall be alone alone, i.e. absolutely and certainly alone, the doubling of the word increasing the signification, and thus it doth not belong to…

Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 30 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

THE OF THE HOLY INCENSE.(34) Take unto thee sweet spices.—Rather, Take unto thee spices. The word translated “spices” has no epithet. Incense, as commonly used in the ancient world, was not a composition, but some single spice, most frequently frankincense. That, however, employed by the Hebrews was always a compound. According to Josephus (Bell. Jud., v. 5, § 5), the incense burnt in the later temple contained thirteen ingredients. Stacte is probably the gum storax, which is the produce of the styrax officinalis, a tree common in Syria and Palestine. It burns readily, and emits much smoke (Herod. iii. 107). Onycha is thought to be the “claw” or operculum of the unguis odoratus, or blatta…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 30 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 34. Take unto thee sweet spices] The holy perfume was compounded of the following ingredients: Stacte] נטף nataph, supposed to be the same with what was afterwards called the balm of Jericho. Stacte is the gum which spontaneously flows from the tree which produces myrrh. See Clarke on Exodus 30:23. Onycha] שחלת shecheleth, allowed by the best critics to be the unguis odoriferans described by Rumph, which is the external crust of the shell-fish purpura or murex, and is the basis of the principal perfumes made in the East Indies. Galbanum] חלבנה chelbenah, the bubon gummiferum or African ferula; it rises with a ligneous stalk from eight to ten feet, and is garnished with leaves at each…

Read AdamClarke on Exodus 30 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

34–38. The holy Incense (cf. Exodus 37:29 b). Incense to be made, of, four specified ingredients, mixed together in equal proportions, and tempered with salt, for use upon the altar of incense (vv. 7 f.). Incense of the same composition to be used for no other purpose.

Read Cambridge on Exodus 30 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Exodus 37:29. The incense, like the anointing oil, consisted of four aromatic ingredients.

Read Albert Barnes on Exodus 30 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

OF INCENSE, Exodus 30:34-38. 34. Stacte — This is the name used by the Greek and Latin version as representing the Hebrew πωׂ ?�, nataph, which denotes something that drops, and is commonly held to

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 30 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Yahweh said to Moses, “Take to yourself sweet spices, gum resin, onycha, and galbanum: sweet spices with pure frankincense. There shall be an equal weight of each.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures,

NETBNew English Translation2006

The Lord said to Moses: “Take spices, gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense of equal amounts

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

¶ 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:

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight;

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight;

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the LORD said to Moses, Take to thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight :

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the Lord sayd vnto Moses, Take vnto thee these spices, pure myrrhe and cleare gumme and galbanum, these odours with pure frankincense, of eche like weight:

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Jehovah said to Moses, Take fragrant drugs — stacte, and onycha, and galbanum — fragrant drugs and pure frankincense; in like proportions shall it be.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Take to thee spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, spices and pure frankincense; they are part for part;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And YHWH says to Moses, “Take to yourself spices—stacte, and onycha, and galbanum—spices and pure frankincense; they are part for part;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee spices, balm, and onycha, and galbanum, spices, with pure frankincense: of each shall there be an equal weight.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Yahweh said to Moses, “Take spices—stacte, onycha, and galbanum—sweet spices along with pure frankincense, each in equal amounts.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the Lord said to Moses: Take unto thee spices, stacte, and onycha, galbanum of sweet savour, and the clearest frankincense, all shall be of equal weight.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The Lord told Moses, “Take equal amounts of these aromatic spices: balsam resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And the Lord said to Moses, Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, with the best frankincense, in equal weights;

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיֹּאמֶר֩he.saidsubjectיְהוָ֨הYahwehprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtoמֹשֶׁ֜הMosesclauseclauseverbקַחtakeprepositional phrase · prepositionalלְforךָ֣yourselfnoun phrase · objectnoun phraseסַמִּ֗יםspicesnoun phraseנָטָ֤ףstacteוּandשְׁחֵ֨לֶת֙onychaוְandחֶלְבְּנָ֔הgalbanumnoun phraseסַמִּ֖יםspicesוּandnoun phraseלְבֹנָ֣הfrankincenseזַכָּ֑הpureclausesubjectבַּ֥דa.partprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinבַ֖דa.partverbיִהְיֶֽהit.will.be

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint, which closely matches the Hebrew wording. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch presents five variations, including different terms for 'galbanum' and 'frankincense,' indicating some differences in the tradition of the text.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֜ה קַח־ לְךָ֣ סַמִּ֗ים נָטָ֤ף׀ וּשְׁחֵ֙לֶת֙ וְחֶלְבְּנָ֔ה סַמִּ֖ים וּלְבֹנָ֣ה זַכָּ֑ה בַּ֥ד בְּבַ֖ד יִהְיֶֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּאמֶר֩εἶπενיְהוָ֨הκύριοςאֶל־πρὸςמֹשֶׁ֜הμωυσῆνקַח־λαβὲלְךָ֣σεαυτῷסַמִּ֗יםἡδύσματαנָטָ֤ף׀στακτήνוּשְׁחֵ֙לֶת֙ὄνυξαוְחֶלְבְּנָ֔הξαλβάνηνסַמִּ֖יםἡδυσμοῦוּלְבֹנָ֣הλίβανονזַכָּ֑הδιαφανῆיִהְיֶֽה׃ἔσται

14 of the 16 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

וידבר יהוה אל משׁה לאמר קח לך סמים נטף ושׁחלת וחלבניה סמים ולבונה זכה בד בבד יהיה

5 words differ from the Masoretic Text: ידבר (speak), ל (to), אמר (say), חלבניה (galbanum), לבונה (incense)

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q22a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[ויאמר] [יהוה] אל משה [קח] [ל׳ך] [סמים] [נטף] [ושחלת] [וחלבנה] [סמים] ולבונה [זכה] [בד] [בבד] [יהיה]

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 13 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Exodus 30:34אָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַריהוהYahwehYahwehיהוהאֶלtotoאֶלמֹשֶׁהMosesMosesמֹשֶׁהלָקַחtaketakeלָקַחךָּfor yourselfor yourselfךָּסַםspicesspicesסַםנָטָףstactestacteנָטָףשְׁחֵ֫לֶתand onychaand onychaשְׁחֵ֫לֶתחֶלְבְּנָהand galbanuand galbanumחֶלְבְּנָהסַםspicesspicesסַםלְבֹנָהand frankinand frankincensלְבֹנָהזַךְpurepureזַךְבַּדa parta partבַּדבַּדin a partin a partבַּדהָיָהit will beit will beהָיָהבָּדַדbe alonebe aloneבָּדַדהָיָהto beto beהָיָהמָשָׁהto drawto drawמָשָׁהנָטַףto drip/prto drip/prophesנָטַףחֵ֫לֶבfatfatחֵ֫לֶבלָבָןwhitewhiteלָבָןזָכַךְbe cleanbe cleanזָכַךְשַׁ֫חַלlionlionשַׁ֫חַלהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאקְטֹ֫רֶתincenseincenseקְטֹ֫רֶתמִשְׁחָהanointinganointingמִשְׁחָהתָּמִידcontinuallcontinuallyתָּמִידכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהנְאֻםutteranceutteranceנְאֻםצָבָאarmyarmyצָבָאפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫ה
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Exodus 30:34

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
וַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.Mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
יְהוָ֨הYah.weh Yahweh H3068 Noun proper
6,528× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
Yehovah, The covenant Name of God
Tyndale gloss
The Lord
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)

יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb

יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D

the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy

יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'

from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish

national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.

see HEBREW for 01961

see HEBREW for 03050

see HEBREW for 03069

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.

Jehovah = "the existing One"

1) the proper name of the one true God

1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.

Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.

Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper
HNpt
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
מֹשֶׁ֜הmo.Sheh Moses H4872 Noun proper masculine
766× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Moses, the Israelite leader, was born to Amram and Jochebed and led the Exodus from Egypt. He received the law from God and is considered a key figure in the Bible. Moses means 'drawn' in Hebrew.
Tyndale gloss
Moses
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh) refers to Moses, the prominent Hebrew leader, prophet, and lawgiver. The name is derived from the root meaning 'drawing out,' indicating his rescue from water. He is a key figure in the Old Testament, first mentioned in Exodus 2:10, and is known for leading the Israelites during the Exodus.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֹשֶׁה 767 n.pr.m. Moses, the great Hebrew leader, prophet and lawgiver

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4872 מֹשֶׁה Moses, the great Hebrew leader, prophet and lawgiver

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4872 Mosheh mo-sheh'

from 4871; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh,

the Israelite lawgiver:--Moses.

see HEBREW for 04871

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֹשֶׁה (mo.sheh) — Moses.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.2.10;

son of: Amram (H6019) and Jochebed (H3115);

brother of: Aaron (H0175) and Miriam (H4813); married to Zipporah (H6855);

father of: Gershom (H1647) and Eliezer (H0461H); also called Manasseh at Jdg.18.30(?)

§ Moses = "drawn"

the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mo'-zez, mo'-ziz (mosheh; Egyptian mes, "drawn out," "born"; Septuagint Mouse(s)). The great Hebrew national hero, leader, author, law-giver and prophet.

I. LIFE

1. Son of Levi

2. Foundling Prince

3. Friend of the People

4. Refuge in Midian

5. Leader of Israel

II. WORK AND CHARACTER

1. The Author

2. The Lawgiver

3. The Prophet

LITERATURE

The traditional view of the Jewish church and of the Christian church, that Moses was a person and that the narrative with which his life-story is interwoven is real history, is in the main sustained by commentators and critics of all classes.

It is needless to mention the old writers among whom these questions were hardly under discussion. Among the advocates of the current radical criticism may be mentioned Stade and Renan, who minimize the historicity of the Bible narrative at this point. Renan thinks the narrative "may be very probable." Ewald, Wellhausen…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Moses

Drawn (or Egypt. mesu, “son;” hence Rameses, royal son). On the invitation of Pharaoh (Gen. 45:17-25), Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt. This immigration took place probably about 350 years before the birth of Moses. Some centuries before Joseph, Egypt had been conquered by a pastoral Semitic race from Asia, the Hyksos, who brought into cruel subjection the native Egyptians, who were an African race. Jacob and his retinue were accustomed to a shepherd’s life, and on their arrival in Egypt were received with favour by the king, who assigned them the “best of the land”, the land of Goshen, to dwell in. The Hyksos or “shepherd” king who thus showed favour to Joseph and his family was in all probability the Pharaoh Apopi (or Apopis).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Heb. Mosheh , "drawn," i.e. from the water; in the Coptic it means "saved from the water"), the legislator of the Jewish people, and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion. The immediate pedigree of Moses is as follows: Levi was the father of: Gershon -- Kohath -- Merari Kohath was the father of: Amram = Jochebed Amram = Jochebed was the father of: Hur = Miriam -- Aaron = Elisheba -- Moses = Zipporah Aaron = Elisheba was the father of: Nadab -- Abihu -- Eleazar -- Ithamar Eleazar was the father of: Phineas Moses = Zipporah was the father of: Gershom -- Eliezer Gershom was the father of: Jonathan The history of Moses naturally divides itself into three periods of 40 years each. Moses was born at Goshen, In Egypt, B.C. 1571. The story of his birth is thoroughly Egyptian in its scene. His mother made extraordinary efforts for his preservation from the general destruction of…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The name of the illustrious prophet and legislator of the Hebrews, who led them from Egypt to the Promised Land. Having been originally imposed by a native Egyptian princess, the word is no doubt Egyptian in its origin, and Josephus gives its true derivation—from the two Egyptian words, MO, water, and USE, saved. With this accords the Septuagint form, MOUSES. The Hebrews by a slight change accommodated it to their own language, as they did also in the case of some other foreign words; calling it MOSHIE, from the verb MASHA, to draw. See Ex 2:10. Moses was born about 15.71 B. C., the son of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi, and the younger brother of Miriam and Aaron. His history is too extensive to permit insertion here, and in general too well known to need it. It is enough simply to remark, that it is divided into three…

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
קַח־kach- take H3947 Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
966× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Tyndale gloss
to take: take
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָקַח (*laqach*) means 'to take' and encompasses a wide range of actions, including to receive, seize, capture, and carry away. It can refer to taking something in hand, taking a wife, or even taking vengeance. The verb has various forms indicating different nuances, such as being taken away or captured.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָקַח 965 vb. take

Qal

take, take in hand

take and carry along with oneself

take from, or out of

take, carry away

take away from, so as to deprive of

esp. take away life

take to or for a person

take up, upon = put upon

= fetch

take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

take = capture, seize

take = carry off

in phr. take vengeance

Niph.

be captured, of ark

be taken away, removed

be taken, brought unto

Pu.

be taken from, out of

= be stolen from

be taken captive

be taken away, removed

Hoph.

be taken, brought unto

be taken out of

be taken away from

Hithp. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3947 לָקַח take .. take, take in hand

. take and carry along with oneself

. . take from, or out of

. take, carry away

. take away from, so as to deprive of

. esp. take away life

. take to or for a person

. take up, upon = put upon

. = fetch

. take = lead, conduct (with or without contact)

. take = capture, seize

. take = carry off

. in phr. take vengeance

. . be captured, of ark

. be taken away, removed

. be taken, brought unto

. . be taken from, out of

. = be stolen from

. be taken captive

. be taken away, removed

. . be taken, brought unto

. be taken out of

. be taken away from

. lit. fire taking hold of itself, of lightning

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3947 laqach law-kakh'

a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of

applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch,

get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve,

seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָקַח (la.qach) — to take: take.

: take

1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to take, take in the hand

1a2) to take and carry along

1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away

1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept

1a5) to take up or upon, put upon

1a6) to fetch

1a7) to take, lead, conduct

1a8) to take, capture, seize

1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be captured

1b2) to be taken away, be removed

1b3) to be taken, brought unto

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be taken from or out of

1c2) to be stolen from

1c3) to be taken captive

1c4) to be taken away, be removed

1d) (Hophal)

1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto

1d2) to be taken out of

1d3) to be taken away

1e) (Hithpael)

1e1) to take hold of oneself

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singular
HVqv2ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tak: Most of the very numerous examples of this word are still in good use and only a few call for special attention. "To take" in the sense of "capture" is still common, but when a person or living animal is in point, modern English usually adds "prisoner" or "captive." English Versions of the Bible not infrequently has this addition (Ge 14:14, etc.), but more commonly "take" is used without it (Jos 10:39; Job 5:13; Sirach 23:21; Joh 7:30, etc.). An occasional obscurity is thus caused, as in Ge 27:3, "take me venison" for "hunt venison for me." "To take advice" (2Ch…

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
לְךָ֣le.Kha for yourself H9031 Preposition · suffix
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

ךָּ (ka) — you.

Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine singular

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HRd/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffix
HRd/Sp2ms
and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
סַמִּ֗יםsa.Mim spices H5561 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a spice or aroma, used in incense and perfumes. It is translated as 'sweet spice' in the KJV Bible, and is mentioned in books like Exodus and Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
sweet spices, aromas
Tyndale gloss
spice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סַם (sam) refers to a spice, specifically one used in incense. The word is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of a sweet aroma. It is consistently defined across entries, focusing on its aromatic qualities.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[סַם] 16 n.m. spice, used in incense

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5561 [סַם] spice, used in incense

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5561 cam sam

from an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma:--

sweet (spice).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סַם (sam) — spice.

1) spice

1a) a spice used in incense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Spices

Aromatic substances, of which several are named in Ex. 30. They were used in the sacred anointing oil (Ex. 25:6; 35:8; 1 Chr. 9:29), and in embalming the dead (2 Chr. 16:14; Luke 23:56; 24:1; John 19:39, 40). Spices were stored by Hezekiah in his treasure-house (2 Kings 20:13; Isa. 39:2).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ In the formula for the sacred oil Ex 25:6; 35:8

→ Stores of 2Ki 20:13

→ Used in the temple 1Ch 9:29

→ Exported from Gilead Ge 37:25

→ Sent as a present by Jacob to Joseph Ge 43:11

→ Presented by the Queen of Sheba to Solomon 1Ki 10:2,10

→ Sold in the marketplaces of Tyre Eze 27:22

→ Used in the embalming of Asa 2Ch 16:14

Thompson Chain Reference topics
and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
נָטָ֤ף׀na.Taf stacte H5198 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a type of aromatic gum, likely stacte, used in incense. It is mentioned in the book of Exodus, describing the ingredients for sacred incense. The gum was highly valued for its fragrance.
Amplified meaning
stacte, a type of aromatic gum
Tyndale gloss
drop
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָטָף (nataph) refers to a drop, particularly an aromatic gum known as stacte, which is gathered in drops and used in sacred incense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to drop' and is mentioned in Job 36:27 and Exodus 30:34.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָטָף] n.m. drop;—Jb 36:27

ref

נָטָף n.[m.] an odorif. gum (gathered in drops), used in sacred incense Ex 30:34 (P).

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5198a נָטָף drop H5198b נָטָף an odorif. gum (gathered in drops), used in sacred incense

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5198 nataph naw-tawf'

from 5197; a drop; specifically, an aromatic gum (probably

stacte):--drop, stacte.

see HEBREW for 05197

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָטָף (na.taph) — drop.

drop

נָטָף (na.taph) — gum.

1) gum, drops of stacte

1a) an aromatic gum resin of a shrub used in incense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

stak'-te (nataph, "drops" (Job 36:27); stakte, meaning "oozing out in drops"): One of the ingredients of the holy ointment (Ex 30:34; Ecclesiasticus 24:15, margin "opobalsamum," the King James Version "storax"). The marginal reading is a concession to Jewish tradition, but see SPICE, (1). Dioscorides describes two kinds of stacte, one of pure myrrh and one of storax and a fat mixed. See MYRRH. This nataph must have been either myrrh "in drops," as it is collected, or some other fragrant gum, similarly collected, such, for example, as gum tragacanth.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Stacte

(Heb. nataph), one of the components of the perfume which was offered on the golden altar (Ex. 30:34; R.V. marg., “opobalsamum”). The Hebrew word is from a root meaning “to distil,” and it has been by some interpreted as distilled myrrh. Others regard it as the gum of the storax tree, or rather shrub, the Styrax officinale. “The Syrians value this gum highly, and use it medicinally as an emulcent in pectoral complaints, and also in perfumery.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Heb. nataf) the name of one of the sweet spices which composed the holy incense. See (Exodus 30:34) --the only passage of Scripture in which the word occurs. Some identify the nataf with the gum of the storer tree (Styraz officinale), but all that is positively known is that it signifies an odorous distillation from some plant.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One of the four ingredients composing the sacred perfume, Ex 30:34,35. Some think the gum called storax is intended; but it is generally understood to be the purest king of myrrh; and as the Hebrew properly signifies a drop, it would seem to refer to myrrh as distilling, dropping form the tree of its own accord, without incision. So Pliny, speaking of the trees whence myrrh is produced, says, "Before any incision is made, they exude of their own accord what is called Stacte, to which no kind of myrrh is preferable."

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
וּשְׁחֵ֙לֶת֙u.she.Che.let and onycha H7827 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to onycha, an ingredient used in the holy incense, derived from a type of shell or mussel. It is mentioned in Exodus 30:34 as one of the components of the sacred incense used in worship.
Amplified meaning
derived from a type of shell or mussel
Tyndale gloss
onycha
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁחֵ֫לֶת (shcheleth) refers to onycha, an ingredient used in the holy incense mentioned in Exodus 30:34. The term is possibly derived from a word meaning to peel off, suggesting a connection to its physical characteristics, such as a scale or shell.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁחֵ֫לֶת n.f. an ingredient of the holy incense, Ex 30:34

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7827 שְׁחֵ֫לֶת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7827 shcheleth shekh-ay'-leth

apparently from the same as 7826 through some obscure idea,

perhaps that of peeling off by concussion of sound; a scale or

shell, i.e. the aromatic mussel.:--onycha.

see HEBREW for 07826

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁחֵ֫לֶת (she.che.let) — onycha.

1) onycha

1a) an ingredient used in the holy incense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

on'i-ka (shecheleth; compare Arabic suchalat, "filings," "husks"): "Onycha" is a transliteration of the Septuagint onucha, accusative of onux, which means "nail," "claw," "hoof," and also "onyx," a precious stone. The form "onycha" was perhaps chosen to avoid confusion with "onyx," the stone. The Hebrew shecheleth occurs only in Ex 30:34 as an ingredient of the sacred incense. It is supposed to denote the horny operculum found in certain species of marine gasteropod molluscs. The operculum is a disk attached to the upper side of the hinder part of the "foot" of the mollusc. When the animal draws itself into its shell, the hinder part of the foot comes last, and the operculum closes the mouth of the shell. The operculum, which may be horny or stony, is absent in some species. The horny opercula when burned emit a peculiar odor, and…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Onycha

A nail; claw; hoof, (Heb. sheheleth; Ex. 30:34), a Latin word applied to the operculum, i.e., the claw or nail of the strombus or wing-shell, a univalve common in the Red Sea. The opercula of these shell-fish when burned emit a strong odour “like castoreum.” This was an ingredient in the sacred incense.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

spoken of in (Exodus 30:34) was one of the ingredients of the sacred perfume. It consists of the shells of several kinds of mussels, which when burned emit a strong odor.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

An ingredient of the sacred incense, whose fragrance perfumed the sanctuary alone, Ex 30:34. It is conjectured to mean the Blatta Bryzantina of the shops; an article which consists of the cover or lid of a species of muscle, and when burnt emits a musky odor. The best onycha is found in the Red Sea, and is white and large.

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
וְחֶלְבְּנָ֔הve.chel.be.Nah and galbanum H2464 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
1× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Galbanum is a type of resin or gum used in holy incense, known for its strong odor.
Amplified meaning
a type of resin or gum
Tyndale gloss
galbanum
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֶלְבְּנָה (chelbnah) refers to galbanum, an aromatic gum used as an ingredient in holy incense, as noted in Exodus 30:34. It is derived from the root word for a similar substance, indicating its odorous properties. The entries consistently describe it as a resin or gum.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֶלְבְּנָה n.f. (Aram. Syriac, חֶלְבְּנִיתָא 𝔊 χαλβάνη, 𝔙 galbanum)—a kind of gum Ex 30:34, ingredient of the holy incense, v. Di Löw 115.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2464 חֶלְבְּנָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2464 chelbnah khel-ben-aw'

from 2459; galbanam, an odorous gum (as if fatty):--galbanum.

see HEBREW for 02459

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֶלְבְּנָה (chel.be.nah) — galbanum.

1) galbanum

1a) a kind of resin or gum, ingredient of the holy incense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gal'-ba-num (chelbenah; chalbdne):

A gum-resin which occurs in small, round, semitranslucent tears or in brownish yellow masses; has a pleasant aromatic odor and a bitter taste; and is today, at any rate, imported from Persia.

It is derived from certain umbelliferous plants, Ferula galbaniflua and F. rubricaulis. It is mentioned in Ex 30:34 as an ingredient of the holy incense, and also in /APC Sirach 24:15: "a pleasant odor .... as galbanum."

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Galbanum

Heb. helbenah, (Ex. 30:34), one of the ingredients in the holy incense. It is a gum, probably from the Galbanum officinale.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

one of the perfumes employed in the preparation of the sacred incense. (Exodus 10:34) The galbanum of commerce is brought chiefly from India and the Levant. It is a resinous gum of a brownish-yellow color and strong disagreeable smell, usually met with in masses, but sometimes found in yellowish tear-like drops. But, though galbanum itself is well known, the plant which yields it has not been exactly determined.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

An ingredient in the incense burned at the golden altar, in the Holy Place, Ex 30:34. It is the gum of a plant growing in Abyssinia, Arabia, and Syria, called by Pliny stagonitis, but supposed to be the same as the Bubon Galbanum of Linnaeus. The gum is unctuous and adhesive, of a strong and somewhat astringent smell.

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
סַמִּ֖יםsa.Mim spices H5561 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a spice or aroma, used in incense and perfumes. It is translated as 'sweet spice' in the KJV Bible, and is mentioned in books like Exodus and Ezekiel.
Tyndale gloss
spice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סַם (sam) refers to a spice, specifically one used in incense. The word is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of a sweet aroma. It is consistently defined across entries, focusing on its aromatic qualities.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[סַם] 16 n.m. spice, used in incense

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5561 [סַם] spice, used in incense

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5561 cam sam

from an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma:--

sweet (spice).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סַם (sam) — spice.

1) spice

1a) a spice used in incense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Spices

Aromatic substances, of which several are named in Ex. 30. They were used in the sacred anointing oil (Ex. 25:6; 35:8; 1 Chr. 9:29), and in embalming the dead (2 Chr. 16:14; Luke 23:56; 24:1; John 19:39, 40). Spices were stored by Hezekiah in his treasure-house (2 Kings 20:13; Isa. 39:2).

Nave's Topical Bible

→ In the formula for the sacred oil Ex 25:6; 35:8

→ Stores of 2Ki 20:13

→ Used in the temple 1Ch 9:29

→ Exported from Gilead Ge 37:25

→ Sent as a present by Jacob to Joseph Ge 43:11

→ Presented by the Queen of Sheba to Solomon 1Ki 10:2,10

→ Sold in the marketplaces of Tyre Eze 27:22

→ Used in the embalming of Asa 2Ch 16:14

Thompson Chain Reference topics
and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
וּלְבֹנָ֣הu.le.vo.Nah and frankincense H3828 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
21× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Frankincense is a white resin used for incense, often burned in ceremonies and rituals. It was used in the holy incense, as seen in Exodus 30. The KJV translates it as frankincense.
Amplified meaning
a white resin used for incense
Tyndale gloss
frankincense
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לְבֹנָה (lebownah) refers to frankincense, a fragrant resin known for its white color. It is used both ceremonially and personally, particularly in the preparation of holy incense. The term is derived from another Hebrew word related to whiteness, indicating its appearance or the color of its smoke.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לְבֹנָה, לְבוֹנָה n.f. frankincense

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3828 לְבֹנָה, לְבוֹנָה frankincense

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3828 lbownah leb-o-naw'

or lbonah {leb-o-naw'}; from 3836; frankincense (from its

whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke): -(frank-)incense.

see HEBREW for 03836

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לְבֹנָה (le.vo.nah) — frankincense.

1) frankincense

1a) a white resin burned as fragrant incense

1a1) ceremonially

1a2) personally

1a3) used in compounding the holy incense

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

frants'-in-sens (lebhonah, from root meaning "whiteness," referring to the milky color of the fresh juice: Ex 30:34; Le 2:1 f,15 f; 5:11; 6:15; 24:7; Nu 5:15; 1Ch 9:29; Ne 13:5,9; So 3:6; 4:6,14; Isa 43:23; 60:6; 66:3; Jer 6:20; 17:26; 41:5; translated in the last six references "incense" in the King James Version, but correctly in the Revised Version (British and American); libanos: Mt 2:11;

Frankincense

(Heb. lebonah; Gr. libanos, i.e., “white”), an odorous resin imported from Arabia (Isa. 60:6; Jer. 6:20), yet also growing in Palestine (Cant. 4:14). It was one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary (Ex. 30:34), and was used as an accompaniment of the meat-offering (Lev. 2:1, 16; 6:15; 24:7). When burnt it emitted a fragrant odour, and hence the incense became a symbol of the Divine name (Mal. 1:11; Cant. 1:3) and an emblem of prayer (Ps.…

a vegetable resin, brittle, glittering, and of a bitter taste, used for the purpose of sacrificial fumigation. (Exodus 30:34-36) It was called frank because of the freeness with which, when burned, it gives forth its odor. It burns for a long time, with a steady flame. It is obtained by successive incisions in the bark of a tree called Arbor thuris . The first incision yields the purest and whitest resin, while the product of the after incisions is spotted with yellow, and loses its whiteness altogether as it becomes old. The Hebrews imported their frankincense from Arabia, (Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 6:20) and more particularly from Saba; but it is remarkable that at present the Arabian libanum or olibanum is a very inferior kind, and that the finest frankincense imported into Turkey…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See INCENSE.

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
זַכָּ֑הza.Kah pure H2134 Adj
11× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means being pure and clean, like a clear conscience. It appears in Psalms and Proverbs, describing a person's moral purity. God values purity and wants His people to be clean.
Amplified meaning
clean, untainted
Tyndale gloss
pure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

זַךְ (zak) means pure or clean, indicating something that is unmixed and free from foreign substances. It can also refer to a figurative sense of righteousness. The word is built from the root associated with clarity and cleanliness, covering both literal and metaphorical uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

זַךְ adj. pure, clean

lit., pure, i.e. unmixed, free from foreign substances

fig., pure, clean, righteous

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2134 זַךְ pure, clean . lit., pure, i.e. unmixed, free from foreign substances

. fig., pure, clean, righteous

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2134 zak zak

from 2141; clear:--clean, pure.

see HEBREW for 02141

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

זַךְ (zakh) — pure.

1) clean, pure

1a) pure

1b) pure, clean, righteous (fig.)

2) the pure one (subst)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAafsa
and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
בַּ֥דbad a part H905 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
200× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'bad' can mean alone, apart, or a separate part of something, like a branch or a bar. It's used to describe something that's only or except for something else.
Amplified meaning
with each having a like weight, in the same proportion
Tyndale gloss
alone: pole
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּד (bad) refers to separation or being alone, often indicating a part or branch of something. It can denote physical separation, such as limbs or bars, as well as figurative uses like 'chief of a city.' The entries consistently highlight meanings related to being apart or alone, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּד, בָּ֑ד n.m. separation, concr. part

prop. in a state of separation, alone, by itself

concr. part

parts, specif. extended from something

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H905 בַּד, בָּ֑ד separation, concr. part . prop. in a state of separation, alone, by itself

. concr. part

. parts, specif. extended from something

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

905 bad bad

from 909; properly, separation; by implication, a part of the

body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief

of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an

adverb, apart, only, besides:--alone, apart, bar, besides,

branch, by self, of each alike, except, only, part, staff,

strength.

see HEBREW for 0909

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּד (bad) — alone: pole.

: pole

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone.

: alone

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone: each.

: each

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone: besides.

: besides/apart from

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

part: "to part" as a verb is no longer in good use (except in a few special phrases, compare Ru 1:17), but is obscure only in Pr 18:18, where the meaning is "break up their quarrel" (compare 2Sa 14:6). the Revised Version (British and American) has not changed the King James Version's usage, except (strangely) in 1Sa 30:24, where "share" is written. For the noun see PORTION.

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
בְּבַ֖דbe.Vad in a part H905 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
200× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'bad' can mean alone, apart, or a separate part of something, like a branch or a bar. It's used to describe something that's only or except for something else.
Tyndale gloss
alone: pole
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּד (bad) refers to separation or being alone, often indicating a part or branch of something. It can denote physical separation, such as limbs or bars, as well as figurative uses like 'chief of a city.' The entries consistently highlight meanings related to being apart or alone, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּד, בָּ֑ד n.m. separation, concr. part

prop. in a state of separation, alone, by itself

concr. part

parts, specif. extended from something

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H905 בַּד, בָּ֑ד separation, concr. part . prop. in a state of separation, alone, by itself

. concr. part

. parts, specif. extended from something

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

905 bad bad

from 909; properly, separation; by implication, a part of the

body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief

of a city; especially (with prepositional prefix) as an

adverb, apart, only, besides:--alone, apart, bar, besides,

branch, by self, of each alike, except, only, part, staff,

strength.

see HEBREW for 0909

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּד (bad) — alone: pole.

: pole

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone.

: alone

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone: each.

: each

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

בַּד (bad) — alone: besides.

: besides/apart from

1) alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone

1a) separation, alone, by itself

1a1) only (adv)

1a2) apart from, besides (prep)

1b) part

1c) parts (eg limbs, shoots), bars

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HR/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

part: "to part" as a verb is no longer in good use (except in a few special phrases, compare Ru 1:17), but is obscure only in Pr 18:18, where the meaning is "break up their quarrel" (compare 2Sa 14:6). the Revised Version (British and American) has not changed the King James Version's usage, except (strangely) in 1Sa 30:24, where "share" is written. For the noun see PORTION.

and he said Yahweh to Moses take for yourself spices stacte and onycha and galbanum spices and frankincense pure a part in a part it will be
יִהְיֶֽה׃yih.Yeh it will be H1961 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVqi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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