The Meaning of Exodus 30:30 Explained

Exodus 30:30

KJV: And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

YLT: and Aaron and his sons thou dost anoint, and hast sanctified them for being priests to Me.

Darby: And Aaron and his sons thou shalt anoint, and shalt hallow them, that they may serve me as priests.

ASV: And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt anoint  Aaron  and his sons,  and consecrate  them, that [they] may minister unto me in the priest's office. 

What does Exodus 30:30 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 30:22-38 - The Anointing Oil And The Incense
The anointing oil was extremely rich and costly. Pure myrrh; sweet cinnamon, imported probably from Sumatra or China; sweet calamus, the product of India or Mesopotamia; cassia, from Java, were the principal ingredients. Such a combination must have produced a delightful fragrance! The use of this oil was restricted to the holy service of the Tabernacle, and reminds us of "the unction of the Holy One"-i.e., the anointing by the Holy Spirit. See Leviticus 8:10-12 and 1 John 2:20.
Christ is the Anointed, and He sheds the oil of joy on our heads, as one by one we yield ourselves to His service. See Acts 2:33. The oil was not to be poured on "the flesh of man." We must deny the flesh, with its affections and lusts, that we may be filled with the Spirit. Calvary before Pentecost!
The incense also was carefully prepared, and thus we are taught that prayers should not be uttered rashly or lightly; but with reverence, deliberation and forethought. [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 30:30 mean?

And Aaron his sons you shall anoint and consecrate them that [they] may minister as priests to Me
וְאֶת־ אַהֲרֹ֥ן בָּנָ֖יו תִּמְשָׁ֑ח וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם לְכַהֵ֥ן לִֽי

אַהֲרֹ֥ן  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
בָּנָ֖יו  his  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
תִּמְשָׁ֑ח  you  shall  anoint 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁח  
Sense: to smear, anoint, spread a liquid.
וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥  and  consecrate 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
לְכַהֵ֥ן  that  [they]  may  minister  as  priests 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: כָּהַן  
Sense: to act as a priest, minister in a priest’s office.
לִֽי  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular