Seamus Hammond
Incense is offered to God in worship throughout the Bible, and its use continues in some Christian denominations and in Judaism to this day. The practice is described as a divine command, with God giving Moses and Aaron instructions for the times, places, and methods of burning incense. The Bible describes incense as a sweet fragrance that helps worshippers physically and spiritually lift up their hearts to God. The burning of incense is referenced in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and in Saint John's Revelation, the last book of the Bible.
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What You'll Learn
Incense as a holy act of worship
Incense has been offered to God in worship throughout the Bible and is still practised by some denominations today. In the Bible, God gave Moses and Aaron instructions on when, where, and how to burn incense. According to Exodus 30, it was to be burned perpetually before the Lord as a holy act of worship. The burning of incense is also mentioned in the Book of Exodus, which lists the components of the sacred incense. The four components from the Book of Exodus are stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, each weighing seventy mina and comprising 19.02% of the total weight. The Talmud lists seven additional components from the oral Torah.
The Bible mentions that the sweet fragrance of incense is pleasing to God and helps lift our prayers to Him. This is reflected in Psalm 140/141:2, which says, "Let my prayer be set before you as incense; let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice." This verse highlights the connection between incense and prayer, where the act of burning incense is akin to offering prayers to God.
The altar of incense held significant meaning in the Bible. According to the Books of Chronicles, there was an altar of incense in Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. The Bible describes the detailed construction of this altar, specifying its dimensions, materials, and even the rings for poles used to carry it. The incense offering was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem during the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple periods.
The burning of incense symbolised the prayers of God's people rising up to Him and was considered a sacred act. However, when the people fell into sin and idolatry, their offering of incense was despised by God, as it lacked sincerity and true worship. Isaiah prophesied that God would again receive incense from all the nations in worship of the Lord in His true Temple, which is believed to be the Body of Christ, the Church.
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The altar of incense
The burning of incense is a divine command, with God giving Moses and Aaron instructions on when, where, and how to burn it. The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus chapter 30, where it is described as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. It was made of acia wood and overlaid with gold, with a square top and a height of two cubits (approximately two feet). The altar had four "horns," one at each corner, and rings of gold built into it so that it could be carried with acacia wood poles.
The incense burned on the altar was made from a specific recipe given by God, and no other incense was to be used. The fire used to burn the incense was taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary. The altar of incense was considered “most holy to the Lord” and was not to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would smear the blood of a sin offering on the horns of the altar to cleanse it.
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Incense in the Old Testament
The burning of incense is mentioned throughout the Bible as a divine command from God. Incense is offered to God as an act of worship, and its sweet fragrance is considered pleasing to the senses, helping worshippers physically and spiritually lift up their hearts to God.
In the Old Testament, God gave Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for the times, places, and methods of burning incense. According to Exodus 30, it was to be burned perpetually before the Lord. The altar of incense is described in Exodus 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns" at each corner. Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a regular offering to the Lord. The altar of incense was considered holy, and it was never to be used for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or drink offerings.
The Old Testament also mentions the importance of incense beyond the rituals and formalities. During Isaiah's time, the people of Israel fell into sin and idolatry, and their offering of incense was hated by God because it was not a true expression of worship. Isaiah prophesied that incense would be received by God again when it was offered by all the nations in worship of the Lord in his true Temple, which is believed to be the Body of Christ, or the Church.
The use of incense is also symbolic in the Bible. In the Book of Revelation, John describes his vision of heaven, where the elders around the throne held golden bowls full of incense, representing the prayers of God's people rising to Him. Similarly, David's prayer in Psalm 141:2 compares prayer to incense, saying, "Let my prayer be set before you like incense."
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Incense in the New Testament
Incense is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament. In the Bible, the practice of burning incense is thousands of years old and has been a part of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. In the New Testament, burning incense is often associated with prayer and worship.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Bible mentions that when Jesus was born, “wise men from the East” came to visit him, and they brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:10-11). Burning incense is also mentioned as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. In Revelation 5:8, John describes his vision of the heavenly temple, and he sees the prayers of the saints rising up to God like sweet-smelling incense. Revelation 8:3-4 mentions an angel burning incense on the altar of incense in the heavenly temple.
Burning incense is not considered a sin in the Bible. However, it is important to examine the intentions and motives behind the act. In the New Testament, the practice of burning incense has shifted from sacrificial offerings to God or purifying spaces, as seen in the Old Testament, to a symbolic act of prayer and worship.
The book of Revelation reinforces the symbolic connection between incense and prayer, where incense represents "the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4). This interpretation is further supported by the account of Zacharias, a priest who entered the temple to burn incense while the multitude of people were praying outside (Luke 1:9-10).
While the New Testament does not provide specific instructions on the use of incense, it is mentioned in the context of worship and prayer, indicating that Christians may choose to incorporate incense as a symbolic act in their spiritual practices.
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The ingredients of incense
The Bible mentions incense throughout its chapters, from the Book of Exodus to Revelation. The burning of incense is described as a divine command, with God giving Moses and Aaron instructions on when, where, and how to burn it. Incense was offered to God as a holy act of worship, and its sweet fragrance was believed to physically and spiritually uplift one's prayers to God.
The ingredients for holy incense are listed in the Old Testament, specifically in Exodus 30. According to the Bible, God instructed Moses to take equal parts of four main ingredients: sweet spices, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. These were to be compounded and salted to create a sacred blend. However, the exact recipe was a closely guarded secret, and the written record in the Bible does not specify all the "sweet spices". These secret ingredients were known only to the priests, ensuring that only authorized individuals could create the sacred incense for God's Divine Liturgy.
One of the ingredients, onycha, has been a subject of debate among scientists and scholars. Recent research suggests that the source of onycha may have been the opercula of a specific species of sea snail, the Dicathais orbita. The opercula, or trapdoor lid, of this snail produces a fragrant smoke when burned, and its medicinal properties align with the use of sacred incense for purifying rituals in the holy temple.
Additionally, the inclusion of galbanum in the incense mixture is noted to have a transformative effect on the overall fragrance. In a story told by the rabbis, a Levitical perfumer experimenting with the biblical recipe found that the addition of galbanum resulted in a significantly more delightful aroma than the mixture without it. This highlights the importance of each ingredient in creating the perfect incense for worship.
The use of incense in the Bible extends beyond its pleasant fragrance. It symbolises the spiritual act of offering one's prayers and sacrifices to God, as mentioned in Psalm 140/141:2: "Let my prayer be set before you as incense; let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice." The burning of incense thus represents a sacred ritual, connecting the physical and spiritual realms in worship and devotion to God.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, incense was burned in the Bible.
The burning of incense was a holy act of worship. It was offered to God and signified the prayers of God's people rising up to the throne of God.
The altar of incense was a wooden structure, overlaid with gold, where incense was burned. It was located at the end of the Holy compartment of the Tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy.
The Bible lists four components of the incense: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The Talmud lists seven additional components.
Yes, some denominations still burn incense. It is also used in the Divine Liturgy of Saint James, one of the oldest Christian liturgies.
