Exodus 30:31

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 30:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
Exodus 30:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou shall speak unto the children of Israel, etc.] When he was come down from the mount, and gave the instructions about the making and using of this oil: saying, this shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations; Abarbinel, and other Jewish writers, conclude from hence, that this same oil, which was made by Moses, lasted throughout the generations to the times of Josiah, when it was hid with other things; but this, notion is justly exploded by Aben Ezra; it is not probable, that so small a quantity that was now made, which is supposed by some to be no more than a gallon and a half of wine measure, should suffice so long: it does not seem to be more than what was…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare Exodus 37:29. Exodus 30:23 Principal spices - i. e. the best spices. Pure myrrh - Is a gum which comes from the stem of a low, thorny, ragged tree, that grows in Arabia Felix and Eastern Africa, called by botanists Balsamodendron myrrha. The word here rendered pure, is literally, “freely flowing”, an epithet which is explained by the fact that the best myrrh is said to exude spontaneously from the bark, while that of inferior quality oozes out in greater quantity from incisions made in the bark. Five hundred shekels - Probably rather more than 15 1/4 lbs. See Exodus 38:24. Cinnamon - is obtained from a tree allied to the laurel that grows in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and other islands of…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“an holy: Exo 37:29; Lev 8:12, Lev 21:10; Psa 89:20 Exodus 30:32”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification