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Exodus 30

English Standard Version



1 “You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. (Ex 37:25; Ex 40:5; Le 4:7; Re 8:3) 2 A cubit[1] shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. (Ex 27:2) 3 You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it. (Ex 39:38; Ex 40:5; Ex 40:26; Nu 4:11) 4 And you shall make two golden rings for it. Under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them, and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. (Ex 25:27) 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the ark of the testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony, where I will meet with you. (Ex 25:21) 7 And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, (Ex 27:20; Ex 30:34; Ex 31:11; Ex 37:29; Ex 40:27; 1Sa 2:28; 1Ch 23:13; 2Ch 2:4; 2Ch 29:11; Lu 1:9) 8 and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. 9 You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. (Le 10:1) 10 Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering of atonement he shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.” (Ex 29:36; Le 16:18; Le 23:27) 



11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. (Ex 21:30; Nu 1:2; Nu 26:2; Nu 31:50; 2Sa 24:2; Ps 49:7) 13 Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel[2] according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs),[3] half a shekel as an offering to the Lord. (Ge 24:22; Ex 38:24; Ex 38:26; Le 5:15; Le 27:3; Le 27:25; Nu 3:47; Nu 18:16; Eze 45:12; Mt 17:24) 14 Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives. (Ex 30:13) 16 You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives.” (Ex 28:12; Ex 38:25; Ex 39:7; Nu 16:40) 



17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, (Ex 40:7; Ex 40:30; 1Ki 7:38) 19 with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. (Ex 40:31; Ps 26:6; Isa 52:11; Heb 10:22) 20 When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering[4] to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.” (Ex 27:21) 



22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, (So 4:14; Eze 27:19; Eze 27:22) 24 and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin[5] of olive oil. (Ex 29:40) 25 And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. (Ex 37:29; Nu 35:25; Ps 89:20; Ps 133:2) 26 With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, (Ex 40:9; Le 8:10; Nu 7:1) 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. (Ex 40:11) 29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. (Ex 29:37) 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. (Ex 29:7) 31 And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. (Ex 30:25; Ex 30:37) 33 Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’” (Ex 30:38) 34 The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), (Ex 25:6; Ex 30:7; Ex 37:29) 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. (Ex 30:25; Le 2:13) 36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. (Ex 25:22; Ex 40:10) 37 And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. (Ex 30:32) 38 Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.” (Ex 30:33) 

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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Exodus 30

New International Version



1 ‘Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high[1] – its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold moulding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the moulding – two on each of the opposite sides – to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law – before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law – where I will meet with you. 7 ‘Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so that incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. 9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it. 10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering[2] for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.’ 



11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 ‘When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them. 13 Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel,[3] according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord. 14 All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the Lord. 15 The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives. 16 Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.’ 



17 Then the Lord said to Moses, 18 ‘Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord, 21 they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.’ 



22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 ‘Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels[4] of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels[5] of fragrant calamus, 24 500 shekels of cassia – all according to the sanctuary shekel – and a hin[6] of olive oil. 25 Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. 26 Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, 27 the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. 30 ‘Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. 31 Say to the Israelites, “This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. 32 Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred. 33 Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from their people.” ’ 



34 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take fragrant spices – gum resin, onycha and galbanum – and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.’ 

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Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

Exodus 30

King James Version

1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. 2 A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same. 3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. 4 And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it ; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal. 5 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. 7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. 9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. 10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. 14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. 16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. 17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 18 Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal : and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. 19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations. 22 Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels , and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels , and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels , 24 And of cassia five hundred shekels , after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 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. 26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. 30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest' office. 31 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. 32 Upon man' flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. 33 Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people. 34 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 : 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. 37 And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. 38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

Exodus 30

New International Reader’s Version



1 ‘Make an altar for burning incense. Make it out of acacia wood. 2 It must be half a metre square and 1 metre high. Make a horn stick out from each of its upper four corners. 3 Cover the top, sides and horns with pure gold. Put a strip of gold around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the strip. Put the rings opposite each other. They will hold the poles that are used to carry it. 5 Make the poles out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that hangs in front of the ark. The ark is where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. The ark will have a cover. It will be the place where sin is paid for. There I will meet with you. 7 ‘Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on the altar. He must do it every morning when he takes care of the lamps. 8 He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at sunset. Incense must be burned regularly in front of the LORD. Do it for all time to come. 9 Do not burn any other incense on the altar. Do not use the altar for burnt offerings or grain offerings. And do not pour drink offerings on it. 10 Once a year Aaron must put the blood of a sin offering on the horns of the altar. He must do this to make the altar pure. He must do this on the day Israel’s sin is paid for. Do this for all time to come. The altar is a very holy place to me.’ 



11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, 12 ‘Make a list of the Israelites and count them. When you do, each one must pay the LORD for his life at the time he is counted. Then a plague will not come on them when you count them. 13 Each one counted must pay 6 grams of silver. It must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. The payment is an offering to the LORD. 14 Each one counted must be 20 years old or more. He must give an offering to the LORD. 15 When you make the offering, rich people must not give more than 6 grams of silver. And poor people must not give less. The offering you give to the LORD will pay for your lives. 16 Receive the money from the people of Israel. Use it for any purpose in the tent of meeting. It will remind the people that they are paying me for their lives.’ 



17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said, 18 ‘Make a large bronze bowl for washing. Make a bronze stand to put it on. Place the bowl between the tent of meeting and the altar. Put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet with water from it. 20 When they enter the tent of meeting, they must wash with water so that they will not die. They will come to the altar to serve me. They will bring a food offering to the LORD. 21 When they do, they must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. For all time to come, that will be a law for Aaron and the priests in his family line.’ 



22 Then the LORD said to Moses, 23 ‘Get some fine spices. Get 6 kilograms of liquid myrrh. Get 3 kilograms of sweet-smelling cinnamon and the same amount of sweet-smelling calamus. 24 Also get 6 kilograms of cassia. All the spices must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. And get 4 litres of olive oil. 25 Have a person who makes perfume mix everything into a sacred anointing oil. It will smell sweet. 26 Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting and the ark where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. 27 Anoint the table for the holy bread and all its things. Anoint the lampstand and the things that are used with it. Anoint the altar for burning incense. 28 Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all its tools. And anoint the large bowl together with its stand. 29 You must set them apart so that they will be very holy. Anything that touches them will be holy. 30 ‘Anoint Aaron and his sons. Set them apart so that they can serve me as priests. 31 Say to the people of Israel, “This will be my sacred anointing oil for all time to come. 32 Do not pour it on anyone else’s body. Do not make any other oil in the same way. It is sacred. So you must think of it as sacred. 33 Suppose a person makes perfume in the same way. And suppose that person puts it on someone who is not a priest. Then that person must be separated from their people.” ’ 



34 Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Get some sweet-smelling spices. Get some gum resin, onycha and galbanum. Also get some pure frankincense. Make sure everything is in equal amounts. 35 Have a person who makes perfume mix it all up into a sweet-smelling incense. It must have salt in it. It will be pure and sacred. 36 Grind some of it into powder. Place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting. There I will meet with you. The incense will be very holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense for yourselves in the same way. Think of it as holy to the LORD. 38 Whoever makes incense in the same way to enjoy its sweet smell must be separated from their people.’ 

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised)
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.