Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

EXODUS 30:9KJV
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Exodus 30:9 (KJV)

What does Exodus 30:9 mean?

Exodus 30:9 commands that no "strange incense," burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings are to be offered on the altar of incense. Only the specific incense prescribed by God is to be burned there, and no other sacrifices or offerings are allowed on that altar.

In context, God is speaking to Moses, giving instructions for the tabernacle's altar of incense. The verse sets clear boundaries for how this altar is to be used, emphasizing that it is reserved for a special, designated purpose—burning the holy incense described earlier in the chapter, and nothing else.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 30:9

  • "Strange" (זָר zār): This word means "foreign" or "unauthorized." Here, it highlights that only the incense God commanded is acceptable; anything else is considered improper and is not allowed.
  • "Incense" (קְטֹרֶת qetōret): This refers specifically to the fragrant blend God instructed Moses to make. The command is not just about any incense, but about the unique, sacred mixture set apart for worship.
  • "Offer" (עָלָה ‘ālāh): This verb means "to bring up" or "to offer." It is used here to stress that no other types of offerings should be brought up on this altar, reinforcing its exclusive purpose.

Why Exodus 30:9 matters

  • Exodus 30:9 clarifies that the altar of incense had a unique, limited function, preventing confusion with the main altar used for animal and grain sacrifices.
  • The verse highlights the importance of following God's specific instructions in worship, not substituting personal preferences or innovations.
  • This restriction helps explain later stories in the Bible where offering "strange fire" or incense leads to serious consequences, showing that these rules were taken very seriously.

Where else these words appear

“pour” Hebrew H5258 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
  • Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
  • Jeremiah 19:13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

“incense” Hebrew H7004 · used in 58 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • Leviticus 16:12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
  • Numbers 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

“offering” Hebrew H5262 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
  • Numbers 28:31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering,(they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.
  • 2 Kings 16:15 And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

“strange” Hebrew H2114 · used in 76 verses

  • Exodus 29:33 And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.
  • Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
  • Isaiah 29:5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.