The Meaning of Exodus 30:7 Explained

Exodus 30:7

KJV: And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

YLT: 'And Aaron hath made perfume on it, perfume of spices, morning by morning; in his making the lamps right he doth perfume it,

Darby: And Aaron shall burn thereon fragrant incense: every morning, when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn the incense.

ASV: And Aaron shall burn thereon incense of sweet spices: every morning, when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Aaron  shall burn  thereon sweet  incense  every morning:  when he dresseth  the lamps,  he shall burn incense  upon it. 

What does Exodus 30:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 30:1-10 - The Altar Of Incense
It seems late in the story of the Tabernacle that the incense-altar should be only mentioned now; but it is not unsuitable, because intercessory prayer, which it represents, is the crown and climax of the religious life. When our Lord had finished His sacrificial death, He passed into the heavens to make intercession for us. In Revelation 8:3-4, r.v., the veil is lifted, and we are allowed to behold Him, standing by the golden altar in heaven, and adding much incense to the prayers of all saints. What a wealth of prayer is ever passing through those gracious hands and that loving heart! John 17:1-26 is the Golden Altar of Scripture; let us often worship there. But, alas, these earthly altars soon get defiled, even by our prayers, and need the blood that speaketh peace. All our prayer requires the blood of at-one-ment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 30

1  The altar of incense
11  The ransom of souls
17  The bronze basin
22  The holy anointing oil
34  The composition of the incense

What do the individual words in Exodus 30:7 mean?

and shall burn on it Aaron incense sweet Morning by morning when he tends - the lamps he shall burn incense on it
וְהִקְטִ֥יר עָלָ֛יו אַהֲרֹ֖ן קְטֹ֣רֶת סַמִּ֑ים בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֗קֶר בְּהֵיטִיב֛וֹ אֶת־ הַנֵּרֹ֖ת יַקְטִירֶֽנָּה

וְהִקְטִ֥יר  and  shall  burn 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .
עָלָ֛יו  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אַהֲרֹ֖ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
קְטֹ֣רֶת  incense 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: קְטֹרֶת  
Sense: incense, smoke, odour of (burning) sacrifice.
סַמִּ֑ים  sweet 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: סַם  
Sense: spice.
בַּבֹּ֣קֶר  Morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
בַּבֹּ֗קֶר  by  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
בְּהֵיטִיב֛וֹ  when  he  tends 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָטַב  
Sense: to be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַנֵּרֹ֖ת  the  lamps 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נִיר 
Sense: lamp.
יַקְטִירֶֽנָּה  he  shall  burn  incense  on  it 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: מֻקְטָר 
Sense: .