Numbers 7:62
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
Original Language Analysis
כַּ֥ף
spoon
H3709
כַּ֥ף
spoon
Strong's:
H3709
Word #:
1 of 6
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
עֲשָׂרָ֥ה
of ten
H6235
עֲשָׂרָ֥ה
of ten
Strong's:
H6235
Word #:
3 of 6
ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
זָהָ֖ב
golden
H2091
זָהָ֖ב
golden
Strong's:
H2091
Word #:
4 of 6
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
Historical Context
The golden altar of incense stood before the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 30:6). The high priest burned incense twice daily—morning and evening—maintaining constant communion between God and Israel. The incense recipe was sacred and exclusive (Exodus 30:34-38); unauthorized incense or offering resulted in death (Leviticus 10:1-2, Numbers 16:35).
Questions for Reflection
- What does the connection between incense and prayer (Revelation 5:8) teach about the 'aroma' of our petitions to God?
- How does the gold construction of the incense vessel point to prayer's divine origin and enabling (Romans 8:26-27)?
- Why did unauthorized incense bring death (Leviticus 10:1-2), and how does Christ's intercession secure our access to God (Hebrews 7:25)?
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Analysis & Commentary
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense—The Hebrew kaf (כַּף) literally means 'palm' or 'hollow hand,' describing a ladle-shaped vessel. Gold (זָהָב, zahav) signifies deity and divine glory, while ten shekels (about 4 ounces) provided substance without ostentation. The qetoreth (קְטֹרֶת, incense) burned continually on the golden altar (Exodus 30:7-8), creating fragrant smoke that ascended to God—a perpetual symbol of prayer.
Revelation 5:8 explicitly identifies incense as 'the prayers of saints.' The golden spoon filled with incense therefore represents prayer offered from divinely-shaped vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7). The precise ten-shekel measure suggests completeness and accountability—our prayers must be neither deficient nor excessive, but Spirit-measured. Christ Himself is our true incense (Hebrews 7:25), making intercessory prayer perpetually acceptable to the Father.