Exodus 37:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.

NIV: They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense—the work of a perfumer.

NASB: Then he made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer.

CSB: He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant, and expertly blended incense.

NLT: Then he made the sacred anointing oil and the fragrant incense, using the techniques of a skilled incense maker.

KJV: And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

NKJV: He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the perfumer.

Exodus 37:25–29 record that Israel closely followed God's designs for a sacred incense altar. The description of the altar exactly follows the instructions in Exodus 30:1–10. Unlike the other tabernacle parts, this section does not duplicate earlier instructions about how to compound incense and anointing oil (Exodus 30:22–38). It merely notes that Bezalel (Exodus 35:30) makes them.

Bezalel (Exodus 35:30) follows God's instructions to make multiple items for the tabernacle. Most of these are described in Exodus 25. He constructs the ark, table, lampstand, and altar of incense. All of these will be kept inside the main tabernacle building. The text deliberately reproduces the phrasing of God's earlier command to stress Israel's exact obedience to His will.

Moses relays God's instructions for building the tabernacle (Exodus 25—31). The people respond generously (Exodus 35) and follow the Lord's directions exactly (Exodus 36). This pattern continues in chapter 37 as Bezalel (Exodus 35:30) completes designs mostly seen in chapter 25. Other items are depicted in chapter 30. The next two chapters (Exodus 38—39) are more of the same: describing the Israelites carrying out God's design as it was given.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 9/18/2025 5:39:06 AM