Exodus 30:38
New International Version
Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.”

New Living Translation
Anyone who makes incense like this for personal use will be cut off from the community.”

English Standard Version
Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”

Berean Standard Bible
Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.”

King James Bible
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

New King James Version
Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people.”

New American Standard Bible
Whoever makes any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.”

NASB 1995
“Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.”

NASB 1977
“Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.”

Amplified Bible
Whoever makes any like it, to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].”

Christian Standard Bible
Anyone who makes something like it to smell its fragrance must be cut off from his people.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Anyone who makes something like it to smell its fragrance must be cut off from his people.”

American Standard Version
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereof, he shall be cut off from his people.

Contemporary English Version
If you ever make any of it to use as perfume, you will no longer belong to my people.

English Revised Version
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, he shall be cut off from his people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever prepares anything like it for his own enjoyment must be excluded from his people."

Good News Translation
If anyone makes any like it for use as perfume, he will no longer be considered one of my people."

International Standard Version
Anyone who makes anything like it to use it as perfume is to be cut off from his people."

Majority Standard Bible
Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.”

NET Bible
Whoever makes anything like it, to use as perfume, will be cut off from his people."

New Heart English Bible
Whoever shall make any like that, to smell of it, he shall be cut off from his people."

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever shall make the like to that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

World English Bible
Whoever shall make any like that, to smell of it, he shall be cut off from his people.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
a man who makes [any] like it—to be refreshed by it—has even been cut off from his people.”

Young's Literal Translation
a man who maketh any like it -- to be refreshed by it -- hath even been cut off from his people.'

Smith's Literal Translation
A man who shall make like it to smell in it, and he shall be cut off from his people.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
What man soever shall make the like, to enjoy the smell thereof, he shall perish out of his people.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whatever man will have made anything similar, so as to thoroughly enjoy its smell, he shall perish from his people.”

New American Bible
Whoever makes an incense like this for his own enjoyment of its fragrance, shall be cut off from his people.

New Revised Standard Version
Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from the people.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whosoever shall make any like it, to anoint with it, shall be cut off from his people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the incense that you will make, you will not make in its likeness for yourselves; it shall be holiness to you for LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereof, he shall be cut off from his people.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whosoever shall make any in like manner, so as to smell it, shall perish from his people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Incense
37You are never to use this formula to make incense for yourselves; you shall regard it as holy to the LORD. 38Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its fragrance shall be cut off from his people.”

Cross References
Leviticus 10:1-2
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

Leviticus 19:31
You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, / casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. / For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.

Isaiah 1:13
Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly.

Isaiah 66:3
Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.

Jeremiah 6:20
What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”

Jeremiah 7:9-10
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?

Ezekiel 8:10-11
So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel. / Before them stood seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.

Ezekiel 20:39
And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.

Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 15:9
They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

Mark 7:7
They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’

John 4:24
God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Acts 8:18-22
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. / “Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” / But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ...

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever shall make like to that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

be cut off

Exodus 30:33
Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.

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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














Anyone who makes
This phrase emphasizes the universality of the command. The Hebrew word used here is "כָּל" (kol), meaning "any" or "every." It underscores that the directive is not limited to a specific group but applies to all individuals within the community. This universality reflects the holiness and exclusivity of the sacred incense, which was meant solely for worship and not personal enjoyment.

something like it
The phrase "something like it" refers to the sacred incense described earlier in Exodus 30. The Hebrew word "כָּמֹהוּ" (kamohu) implies an imitation or replication. This highlights the importance of maintaining the sanctity and uniqueness of the incense, which was consecrated for divine purposes. The replication for personal use would diminish its sacredness and blur the lines between the holy and the common.

to enjoy its fragrance
The enjoyment of the fragrance signifies a personal, sensual pleasure derived from something meant for worship. The Hebrew root "רֵיחַ" (reyach) for "fragrance" is often associated with offerings pleasing to God. This phrase warns against misappropriating what is holy for personal gratification, which would be a misuse of what is intended to honor God.

shall be cut off
The consequence of being "cut off" is severe. The Hebrew term "נִכְרַת" (nikrat) can mean being excommunicated or even facing death. This reflects the gravity of the offense. In the context of ancient Israel, being cut off from the community was not only a social and religious penalty but also a loss of identity and protection, emphasizing the seriousness of maintaining the sanctity of worship practices.

from his people
This phrase indicates the communal aspect of the punishment. The Hebrew "מֵעַמָּיו" (me'ammav) suggests a separation from the covenant community of Israel. It underscores the collective responsibility of the Israelites to uphold God's commands and the importance of communal purity. The community's holiness is paramount, and any individual action that threatens this sanctity is met with severe consequences to preserve the integrity of the people as a whole.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Anyone
אִ֛ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

makes
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

something like
כָמ֖וֹהָ (ḵā·mō·w·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

it to enjoy
לְהָרִ֣יחַ (lə·hā·rî·aḥ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7306: Accept, smell, touch, make of quick understanding

its fragrance
בָּ֑הּ (bāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

shall be cut off
וְנִכְרַ֖ת (wə·niḵ·raṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

from his people.”
מֵעַמָּֽיו׃ (mê·‘am·māw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT Law: Exodus 30:38 Whoever shall make any like that (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 30:37
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