Definition: And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Exodus 30:7. It’s a really interesting and symbolic passage about offering sacrifices in the Tabernacle – God’s house for his people in Egypt. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, Aaron was responsible for lighting up the Tabernacle with incense. Let's unpack that a little bit: “And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense…” : This tells us Aaron is the person who will be doing this. "Onen" means “on” or “upon,” so it’s saying he’ll be burning something onto something else. “…every morning:” This is important – it’s done daily . It's a regular, consistent practice. “When he dresseth the lamps…” : Aaron is arranging the lamps (which were made of rushes and linen) in a specific way. “Dresseth” means to arrange or put something together. “…he shall burn incense upon it.” : This is the key part! He’ll be lighting the incense, placing it on top of the arrangement of the lamps, and burning it. What was the purpose? This wasn't just about making a beautiful display. It was a deeply symbolic act that demonstrated God’s presence with his people. The incense was meant to: Show God’s Presence: The smell of incense is often associated with holiness and reverence. Communicate with God: It was a way for Aaron to offer a direct plea to God, acknowledging his power and importance. Test the Israelites: It's believed that the scent of the incense could have been used as a test – to see if the people were truly worshipping God sincerely. In short, it’s a beautiful and important detail in the story of how God established a special place for his people in Egypt. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Talk about the significance of this passage in the context of the Old Testament?