Lance Carson
Incense has been used in many religious ceremonies, both Christian and pagan, and is often regarded as a symbol of prayer. In the Bible, Moses instructs Aaron to burn incense to make atonement for the people. The incense is offered as prayers before God, to quell his wrath and make reparation for wrongdoings. Incense is also used to symbolise the knowledge of Christ and the prayers of the saints. In the Jewish temple, incense accompanied all sacrifices, except the sin offering of the poor and the meat offering of the leper. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would burn incense in the Holy of Holies, creating a protective cloud of smoke over the mercy seat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of incense burning | Twice daily, once before the morning sacrifice and again after the evening sacrifice |
| Location of the altar of incense | In the Holy Place, the outermost room of the tabernacle, directly in front of the entrance to the innermost room, the Holy of Holies |
| Incense ingredients | Sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense |
| Incense as a symbol | Symbol of prayer, ascending to God |
| Incense in the Old Testament | Regulated use |
| Incense in the New Testament | Used as a symbol of the knowledge of Christ, of the Philippians' offering to Paul, and of the prayers of the saints |
| Incense in Christian worship | No sure evidence of use until the sixth century |
| Incense in other religions | Used in the ritual of Israel, and in the religious ceremonies of ancient nations such as Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Phoenicians |
| Incense as a sanitary measure | May have been used to fumigate the air after animal sacrifices |
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What You'll Learn
Incense as a symbol of prayer
Incense has been used in religious contexts for millennia, and its use is still common in many faiths today. In the context of atonement for sin, incense is used as a symbol of prayer.
In the Bible, David writes, "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2). This sentiment is echoed in the Book of Revelation, where incense is described as the prayers of the saints in heaven, rising up towards the altar of God. The smoke of the incense is said to symbolise the prayers of God's people, ascending to God as the smoke rises in the sanctuary.
In Numbers 16:46-47, Moses tells Aaron to take a censer, put fire and incense on it, and "make atonement" for the people. The Hebrew word used here, "kaphar", carries the connotation of "make appeasement". In this instance, the incense is offered as a prayer to God, in the hope of appeasing His wrath.
Incense is also used as a symbol of prayer in the Gospel of Luke, where Zechariah is chosen by lot to place incense on the altar in the temple while the people pray outside. In this instance, the incense symbolises the prayers of the people, and it serves to purify the altar and make it acceptable to God.
In modern times, the use of incense continues in many Christian denominations, including the Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, and some Anglican Churches. The practice is also common in Hinduism, where it is offered to God as part of daily worship. In East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites, as well as in Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto shrines, incense is used to purify the surroundings and bring forth an assembly of deities and other spiritual beings.
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Incense as a means of appeasing God's wrath
Incense has been used in religious rituals for thousands of years, from ancient India to East Asian Buddhism, and in Christian worship. In the Bible, incense is used as a symbol of prayer, with the smoke of the incense representing the prayers of God's people wafting up to God.
In Numbers 16:46, Moses tells Aaron to burn incense to make atonement for the people, as the "wrath has gone out from the Lord". The Hebrew word used here, "kaphar", implies making appeasement. In the ancient Near East, incense was used to appease and soothe divine wrath. Moses instructs Aaron to wave the censer, or incense burner, over the people to quell God's wrath, offering something holy and sweet-smelling to distract and placate God.
The altar of incense was placed in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God was. Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar every morning and evening as a regular offering to the Lord. God gave the recipe for the incense, which was made of costly, sweet-smelling materials. The fire used to burn the incense was taken from the altar of the burnt offering outside the sanctuary.
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, a special ceremony involving incense took place. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies with incense burning, creating a protective cloud of smoke over the mercy seat, or cover of the ark of the covenant. The smoke symbolised the prayers of the people and protected the priest from the direct presence of God. The priest then sprinkled the blood of a sacrificed bull and goat on the mercy seat and the altar of incense to cleanse it from sin.
Incense is still used in Christian worship, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Christian churches, Lutheran churches, and some Anglican churches. It is also used in neo-pagan and Wiccan practices.
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The role of priests in burning incense
The use of incense by priests was not limited to the story of Moses and Aaron but was also a regular practice. According to Exodus 30:7-8, Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight as a daily offering to the Lord. This ritual was to be performed with specific incense, for which God provided the recipe, and it was to be burned on the altar dedicated solely for this purpose. The altar of incense was placed in front of the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the presence of God was believed to reside.
The high priest played a crucial role in the annual Day of Atonement ceremony involving incense. On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctum, with burning incense in a censer. The incense created a protective cloud of smoke, symbolising the prayers of the people and shielding the high priest from the direct presence of God. This ceremony was a solemn occasion, emphasising the importance of incense in the atonement for sin.
The burning of incense by priests extended beyond the Old Testament and can be seen in the New Testament as well. The Gospel of Luke, for instance, depicts a shift in tradition, where ordinary priests were permitted to offer incense on the altar. Zechariah, chosen by lot, is an example of this change, as he offered incense while the people prayed outside. This practice continued and evolved, finding a place in various Christian traditions, including the Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, and even some Lutheran churches.
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The ingredients and recipe for incense
The recipe for incense is described in the Book of Exodus. God instructed Moses on the recipe for the sacred incense that was to be burned in the twice-daily liturgy of the morning and evening worship services on the earthly Sanctuary's golden Altar of Incense. The recipe is as follows:
> Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And you shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together [salted], pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with you: it shall be unto you most holy. And as for the perfume which you shall make, you shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto you holy for the Lord.
The Bible's written record of the recipe is incomplete, as God did not name the "sweet spices". These secret ingredients were only given to the priests so that no unauthorized person could produce the sacred incense used in God's Divine Liturgy. According to Jewish tradition, the holy incense was composed of the four ingredients mentioned in Exodus, plus seven other secret ingredients. In addition to these, a small quantity of ambra was added to the mixture, an herb that gave out a dense white smoke. Salt was also added, bringing the total number of ingredients to fourteen.
The Talmud lists seven additional components from the oral Torah, and Josephus mentions the incense as having thirteen ingredients. The rabbis of the Talmud expanded the description of the recipe for the incenses from four ingredients to eleven ingredients.
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The use of incense in other religions
Incense has been used by many different cultures and religions throughout history, often playing a significant role in spiritual practices and rituals. While the previous answer focused on its use in Biblical times, here is an overview of the use of incense in other religious traditions:
Hinduism:
Incense is widely used in Hinduism and is considered to have spiritual and purifying properties. It is burned during puja (worship) rituals, often in front of murtis (sacred images or statues of deities) or during the reading of sacred texts. The smoke is believed to carry prayers to the gods and create an auspicious atmosphere. Different types of incense, such as those made from sandalwood, jasmine, or rose, are used to invoke specific deities or to create particular spiritual effects.
Buddhism:
In Buddhism, incense is often used as an offering to the Triple Gem: the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings), and the Sangha (the monastic community). Burning incense is believed to help focus the mind, cultivate inner peace, and create a sacred space. It is also used in meditation practices to help calm the mind and enhance spiritual awareness. Buddhist temples often feature large incense burners, and devotees may offer incense to honor the Buddha and seek blessings.
Chinese Religion:
Incense plays a significant role in traditional Chinese religious practices, including Taoism and Confucianism, as well as in folk religions. Incense burning is a common practice in temples and shrines, where it is used to honor deities, ancestors, and heroic figures from Chinese history. It is believed that the fragrant smoke helps to carry prayers and offerings to the divine realm. Incense is also used in feng shui practices to purify spaces and promote positive energy flow.
Shinto:
In Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan, incense is used in rituals and ceremonies to honor the kami (deities or divine spirits). It is burned at household altars, as well as in Shinto shrines, to attract the attention of the kami and to create a sacred atmosphere. Incensing is often accompanied by rituals such as clapping to summon the kami and requesting their blessings.
Ancient Egyptian Religion:
In ancient Egypt, incense was used in religious rituals and offerings to the gods. It was believed to be a purifying substance that could help carry prayers to the divine realm. Incense burners and incense offerings were common in temples, and certain types of incense, such as frankincense and myrrh, were highly valued. The use of incense was also associated with funerary practices, as it was believed to help purify and protect the deceased's spirit on its journey to the afterlife.
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Frequently asked questions
The altar of incense is placed before the veil that separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The incense is burned twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening, as a regular offering to the Lord. The incense is also used to symbolise the prayers of God's people, ascending to God.
On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would burn the compounded incense in the Holy of Holies. The smoke symbolised the prayers of the people and protected the high priest from the direct presence of God. The priest would then sprinkle the blood of a sacrificed bull on the mercy seat and purify the altar of incense with the blood of a sacrificed goat.
The recipe for the incense was given by God and was to be the only incense burned on the altar. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe as follows: "Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be of like weight".
The burning of incense symbolises the offering of prayers to God. The smoke of the incense is thought to ascend to God in the same way that prayers do. Incense is also used to symbolise the knowledge of Christ and the forgiveness of sin.
