Exodus 30:9
ESV
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.
NIV
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.
NASB
You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering, or meal offering; and you shall not pour out a drink offering on it.
CSB
You must not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt or grain offering; you are not to pour a drink offering on it.
NLT
Do not offer any unholy incense on this altar, or any burnt offerings, grain offerings, or liquid offerings.
KJV
Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.
NKJV
You shall not offer strange incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; nor shall you pour a drink offering on it.
What does Exodus 30:9 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on Exodus 30; verse-level content coming soon!Exodus 30:1–10 records the design of a special altar for God's sanctuary (Exodus 25:8–9). This is smaller than the altar used for animal sacrifices (Exodus 27:1). The golden altar (Hebrews 9:3–4) is meant for daily burning of incense (Exodus 30:34). This altar is not used for other sacrifices, though some believe the single atonement each year where Aaron applies blood to an altar's horns (Leviticus 16:18; 23:27) refers to this object. The incense altar is made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Israel transports it with gilded poles fitting into two rings.
Items described here function with other sacred objects (Exodus 25—28) constructed for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8–9). One is a small gold-lined altar for incense. The other is a large bronze basin for ceremonial washing. The last two sets of instructions are for specially formulated anointing oil and sacred incense. Israel will establish a national tax to pay for these.
