Heidi Norton
Incense is a material that is burned to make fragrant smoke, and it has been used in religious rituals and ceremonies for thousands of years. In the context of holy incense, this paragraph will focus on its use in Christianity and Judaism. Incense is used in Christian liturgy and worship, with its origins in the Bible. In the New Testament, incense is used as a symbol of the prayers of the saints and is mentioned in the Revelation of John. The use of incense in Christian liturgy can be traced back to the earliest centuries, and it continues to be used in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Anglican and Lutheran churches. In Judaism, the use of incense is detailed in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Exodus, where Moses is instructed to create a recipe of fragrant spices, including gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, for use in the wilderness Tabernacle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History of use in Christian liturgy | Used since the earliest centuries of Christianity, with the earliest documented history of use in a Catholic Sacrificial Liturgy dating from the 5th century |
| Use in other religions | Used in Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese Taoism, and Japanese Shinto |
| Use in the Bible | Mentioned in the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Revelation of John |
| Ingredients | Gum resin, onycha, galbanum, pure frankincense, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic rind, cinnamon, lye from leeks, Cyprus wine, salt of Sodom, smoke-raiser, Jordan resin, stacte, and opercula from dye-producing sea snails |
| Purpose | Symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven, and is used for sanctification and purification |
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What You'll Learn
Incense in the Bible
Incense is offered to God in worship throughout the Bible, at his own divine command. The Bible describes God giving Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for the times, places, and methods of burning incense (Exodus 30). It was to be burned perpetually before the Lord, and it was a holy act of worship.
The sacred incense prescribed for use in the wilderness Tabernacle was made of costly materials that the congregation contributed. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe:
> 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.
The burning of incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification. Incense also reminds Christians that God is pleased when His people pray. David expresses this in Psalm 141:2:
> Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
Incense is described in the last book of the Bible, Saint John's Revelation. In his vision, he saw incense used in heavenly worship:
> And when [the Lamb] had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
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Incense in Christianity
Incense has been used in Christian worship since the time of Christ. In the Bible, the Book of Exodus describes how God gave Moses and Aaron instructions for constructing an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. This altar was to be placed in the Holy Place in front of the veil before the Holy of Holies, and a priest would burn incense on it every day and evening. The specific composition of this holy incense is described in Exodus 30:34 as having a balsamic fragrance.
Incense is used in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran churches, the Evangelical Catholic Church, Anglican churches, and Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic churches. It is burned at the celebration of the Eucharist, at solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, in particular at Solemn Vespers, Solemn Evensong, funerals, Benediction and exposition of the Eucharist, the consecration of a church or altar, and other services. It is also burned at home by Christians who wish to create an atmosphere of churchly peace in their place of prayer.
Incense is often used as part of a purification ritual, and it can also symbolise the prayers of the saints in heaven, as described in the Revelation of John. In this text, incense in the form of a "golden bowl full of incense" represents "the prayers of the saints" which "infuse upwards towards the altar of God".
The use of incense in Christian worship has its roots in antiquity, with the first recorded use of incense by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. The Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC) were the first non-Asian civilisation to use incense, and it was also used by the ancient Chinese, and later transmitted to Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and other parts of Asia.
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Incense in Judaism
Incense has been used in Judaism since ancient times, and it is mentioned in the Old Testament. The practice of burning incense is associated with the ancient Israelites and is mentioned in the Book of Exodus, which describes the recipe for the sacred incense as a blend of "sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense". The offering of incense is also mentioned in the Books of Chronicles, which describes a similar incense altar in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.
The use of incense in Judaism is related to perfumed offerings on the altar, and it was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. The incense offering is described as a blend of aromatic substances that release a perfume during combustion, usually consisting of spices and gums burnt as an act of worship. The correct blend of spices and aromatic condiments was kept secret by the compounders of the incense offering to prevent its use in the worship of foreign gods. The priests of the House of Avtinas, who were responsible for preparing the incense during the Second Temple period, kept the technique and exact proportions a closely guarded secret.
The burning of incense is also mentioned in rabbinic literature, where it is associated with the Hebrew word "ketoret" or "qəṭoreth", which symbolises holiness, purity, mercy, and hope. The philosopher and Rabbi Maimonides wrote about the significance of incense in the Temple, stating that its pleasant aroma elevated the hearts and minds of the people in a spiritual sense. The mystical tradition associates incense with the idea of binding or knotting, reflecting an underlying harmony and interconnectedness in the universe.
In terms of modern practices, there is some debate among Jews about burning incense for prayer in their own homes. Some consider it a non-Jewish practice and suggest avoiding it, while others see no issue if the intention is to create a calm and beautiful atmosphere. However, burning incense on Yom Tov is generally not allowed.
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Incense in other religions
The use of incense in religious practices has a long history, with the first recorded use being by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC) were the first non-Asian civilisation to use incense, and it has been employed in religious ritual in China, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Incense holds an important role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto shrines. In these shrines, incense is dedicated to the deity Inari Okami, or the Seven Lucky Gods. In Taoist and Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or on special stands. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of a deity or ancestor. The sticks of incense are then placed into individual censers in front of the statues, either singularly or in threes, depending on the status of the deity or the feelings of the worshipper.
In ancient Egypt, incense was used in religious ritual, for example, at the daily liturgy before the cult image of the sun god Amon-Re, and in mortuary rites, when the souls of the dead were thought to ascend to heaven in the flame. The Babylonians also used incense extensively while offering prayer or divining oracles.
The use of incense in religious practice is also rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism, with the ancient Israelites using incense in their liturgy. The Jewish offering of incense continued throughout the Old Testament period, first in the tabernacle, and then in the Temple in Jerusalem.
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The ingredients of holy incense
The Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism, provides further details on the ingredients of holy incense. According to the Talmud, the House of Avtinas was responsible for compounding the incense in the days of the Second Temple. The Talmud lists additional ingredients, including myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic rind, cinnamon, lye from leeks, Cyprus wine, salt of Sodom, smoke-raiser, and Jordan resin. The rabbis of the Talmud expanded the recipe from four ingredients mentioned in the Hebrew Bible to eleven ingredients.
The specific ingredients and processes for making sacred incense were closely guarded secrets, known only to the priests. The use of holy incense was strictly regulated and reserved for holy purposes, with consequences for those who made it for personal use. The burning of incense was a prerogative of the Aaronic priesthood and was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem.
The incense was made from costly materials contributed by the congregation and was intended to create a pleasing fragrance that permeated the tabernacle, masking the smell of animal slaughter and blood sacrifice. The rising smoke of the sweet-smelling incense symbolised the ascent of prayers to heaven, received by God in the heavenly sanctuary.
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Frequently asked questions
Holy incense is an aromatic substance made of gums and spices that is burned, especially in religious worship.
The use of incense in religious rituals dates back to ancient times, with evidence of its use by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Arabians, and Canaanites. In the Christian tradition, the use of incense is inspired by passages in the Bible and has been employed in worship since the earliest centuries.
The ingredients of holy incense are detailed in the Bible, specifically Exodus 30:34. They include gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts.
In Christian liturgy, incense symbolizes the prayers of the faithful rising to God like the smoke from the censer. It is also associated with sanctification and purification, reminding worshippers of the divine origin of their worship.
In addition to Christianity, incense holds an important role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies, Chinese Taoist rituals, and Japanese Shinto shrines. It is also commonly used in Hindu worship and has been a part of Indian religious practices since 3,600 BC.
