Hebrews 9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
a. ASV: Having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
b. YLT: Having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid all round about with gold, in which is the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the covenant,
d. Amplified Bible Classic: It had the golden altar of incense and the ark (chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This [ark] contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the [two stone] slabs of the covenant [bearing the Ten Commandments].
1. “Which had the golden censer…”
a. [Which] had [Strong: 2192 échō, ekh'-o; a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):—be (able, × hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), × conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, +recover, + reign, + rest, + return, × sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]
b. [the] golden [Strong: 5552 chrýseos, khroo'-seh-os; from G5557; made of gold:—of gold, golden.]
c. censer [Strong: 2369 thymiastḗrion, thoo-mee-as-tay'-ree-on; from a derivative of G2370; a place of fumigation, i.e. the alter of incense (in the Temple):—censer.]
1). Albert Barnes Commentary: Which had the golden censer - The censer was a "fire-pan," made for the purpose of carrying fire, in order to burn incense on it in the place of worship. The forms of the censer were various. Some difficulty has been felt respecting the statement of Paul here that the "golden censer" was in the most holy place, from the fact that no such utensil is mentioned by Moses as pertaining to the tabernacle, nor in the description of Solomon's temple, which was modelled after the tabernacle, is there any account of it given. But the following considerations will probably remove the difficulty. (1) Paul was a Jew, and was familiar with what pertained to the temple, and gave such a description of it as would be in accordance with what actually existed in his time. The fact that Moses does not expressly mention it, does not prove that in fact no such censer was laid up in the most holy place. (2) Aaron and his successors were expressly commanded to burn incense in a "censer" in the most holy place before the mercy-seat. This was to be done on the great day of atonement, and but once in a year; Lev 16:12-13. (3) there is every probability that the censer that was used on such an occasion was made of gold. All the implements that were employed in the most holy place were made of gold, or overlaid with gold, and it is in the highest degree improbable that the high priest would use any other on so solemn an occasion; compare Kg1 7:50. (4) as the golden censer was to be used only once in a year, it would naturally be laid away in some secure situation, and none would so obviously occur as the most holy place. There it would be perfectly safe. No one was permitted to enter there but the high priest, and being preserved there it would be always ready for his use. The statement of Paul, therefore, has the highest probability, and undoubtedly accords with what actually occurred in the tabernacle and the temple. The object of the incense burned in worship was to produce an agreeable fragrance or smell; see notes on Luke 1:9.
2). 2 Chronicles 26:19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.
3). Revelation 8:3-5 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
2. “...and the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold…”
a. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]
c. ark [Strong: 2787 kibōtós, kib-o-tos'; of uncertain derivation; a box, i.e. the sacred ark and that of Noah:—ark.]
d. [of] the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]
e. covenant [Strong: 1242 diathḗkē, dee-ath-ay'-kay; from G1303; properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract (especially a devisory will):—covenant, testament.]
f. overlaid [Strong: 4028 perikalýptō, per-ee-kal-oop'-to; from G4012 and G2572; to cover all around, i.e. entirely (the face, a surface):—blindfold, cover, overlay.]
g. roundabout [Strong: 3840 pántothen, pan-toth'-en; adverb (of source) from G3956; from (i.e. on) all sides:—on every side, round about.]
h. [with] gold [Strong: 5552: chrysíon, khroo-see'-on; diminutive of G5557; a golden article, i.e. gold plating, ornament, or coin:—gold.]
1). The instructions and building of the Ark of the covenant.
a). Exodus 25:10-22
b). Exodus 37:1-9
3. “...wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded…”
a. wherein [was] [Strong: 1722 en, en; a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:—about, after, against, + almost, × altogether, among, × as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), × mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, × outwardly, one, × quickly, × shortly, (speedi-)ly, × that, × there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]
b. [Strong: 3739 hós, hos; probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:—one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]
c. [the] golden [Strong: 5552: chrysíon, khroo-see'-on; diminutive of G5557; a golden article, i.e. gold plating, ornament, or coin:—gold.]
d. pot [Strong: 4713 stámnos, stam'-nos; from the base of G2476 (as stationary); a jar or earthen tank:—pot.]
e. [that] had [Strong: 2192 échō, ekh'-o; a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):—be (able, × hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), × conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, +recover, + reign, + rest, + return, × sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]
f. manna [Strong: 3131 mánna, man'-nah; of Hebrew origin (H4478); manna (i.e. man), an edible gum:—manna.]
1). Israel began eating manna shortly after they left Egypt and ate it for forty years until they crossed over the Jordan to go to the land of Canaan.
a). Exodus 16:32-35.
g. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
h. Aaron’s [Strong: 2 Aarṓn, ah-ar-ohn'; of Hebrew origin (H175); Aaron, the brother of Moses:—Aaron.]
i. rod [Strong: 4464 rhábdos, hrab'-dos; from the base of G4474; a stick or wand (as a cudgel, a cane or a baton of royalty):—rod, sceptre, staff.]
j. [that] budded [Strong: 985 blastánō, blas-tan'-o; from βλαστός blastós (a sprout); to germinate; by implication, to yield fruit:—bring forth, bud, spring (up).]
1). This was a divine demonstration by God to show that Aaron was chosen by God and that murmurings against him would cease.
a). Numbers 17:1-13.
4. “...and the tables of the covenant;”
a. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]
c. tables [Strong: 4109 pláx, plax; from G4111; a moulding-board, i.e. flat surface ("plate", or tablet, literally or figuratively):—table.]
d. [of] the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]
e. covenant [Strong: 1242 diathḗkē, dee-ath-ay'-kay; from G1303; properly, a disposition, i.e. (specially) a contract (especially a devisory will):—covenant, testament.]
1). 1 Kings 8:9
2). When Solomon brought the Ark into the Temple it only contained the two tablets of the Covenant. The other contents had been removed .
