And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

EXODUS 35:28KJV
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Exodus 35:28 (KJV)

What does Exodus 35:28 mean?

Exodus 35:28 names supplies brought for the tent where the Israelites would worship God. The gifts included ingredients for lamps, for a special oil used to set things apart for worship, and for incense burned to produce a fragrant smell.

The sentence continues the list of gifts brought by the leaders in verse 27. The verse points to several distinct uses for these materials: providing light, preparing the special oil, and making incense.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 35:28

  • “spice” — בֹּשֶׂם (bosem): This word refers to fragrant plant material. The verse names such material alongside oil because both were needed for preparing scented mixtures.
  • “anointing” — מִשְׁחָה (mishchah): This word refers to anointing, the act of applying oil. Here it identifies the oil as a special mixture used to set apart the worship tent and its furnishings.
  • “sweet” — סַם (sam): This word can refer to a spice or fragrant ingredient. The KJV’s “sweet incense” describes incense made with such ingredients, not a sweet taste.

Why Exodus 35:28 matters

  • The gifts had practical as well as fragrant uses. “Oil for the light” supplied the lamps, while the other named materials contributed to scented preparations.
  • The oil and incense were prepared for particular uses. Exodus 30:23–25 gives directions for making the anointing oil, and Exodus 30:34–35 gives directions for making the incense.

Where else these words appear

“sweet” Hebrew H5561 · used in 15 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • Exodus 35:8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
  • Leviticus 4:7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

“light” Hebrew H3974 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
  • Exodus 35:8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
  • Numbers 4:16 And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.

“anointing” Hebrew H4888 · used in 24 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • Exodus 35:8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
  • Leviticus 8:10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.

“spice” Hebrew H1314 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 25:6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
  • 1 Chronicles 9:30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.
  • Song of Solomon 4:14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: