Katrina Rosales
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, from the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Arabians, and Canaanites to modern-day Christian and Jewish liturgies. The Bible makes several references to incense, including in Exodus, where the recipe for sacred incense is revealed to Moses by God. This holy incense was composed of costly materials contributed by the congregation and was burned during worship services. The four primary ingredients of biblical incense were sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum, with pure frankincense added in equal parts. The Talmud and other sources list additional ingredients, bringing the total to up to fourteen components. The specific ingredients and processes for making sacred incense were closely guarded secrets, and its use was strictly for holy purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of ingredients | 4, or 11, or 13, or 14 |
| Ingredients | Stacte, Onycha, Galbanum, Frankincense |
| Storax, Salt, Ambra, Myrrh, Spices, Costus, Spice, Cloves, Styrax benzoin, Bdellium | |
| Origin of Onycha | Operculum from a sea snail shell, or exudation from the rock rose bush |
| Salt | Essential in every sacrifice to the Lord |
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What You'll Learn
- The four main ingredients: onycha, galbanum, stacte, and frankincense
- The mystery ingredient: opercula from sea snails
- Salt: for preservation and purity
- Thirteen ingredients in total: four from the Bible, seven from the Talmud, and two others
- The ingredients symbolise the worship in every corner of our lives
The four main ingredients: onycha, galbanum, stacte, and frankincense
The four main ingredients of biblical incense, as mentioned in Exodus 30:34, are onycha, galbanum, stacte, and frankincense. This incense, known as Ketoret, was used in the Tabernacle and in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. It was considered sacred and its use was restricted to honouring Yahweh; trivial or profane use was punishable by exile.
Onycha, or 'shecheleth' in Hebrew, is derived from the Greek word 'onyx', which means "nail" or "claw". It is believed to have been the operculum, or trap door, of certain sea snails, such as Strombus lentiginosus and Onyx marinus, found in the Red Sea. The shape of the operculum resembles a claw, which is also the origin of the name 'Unguis odoratus'. The Babylonian Talmud mentions a process of purifying onycha by rubbing it with an alkali solution and then soaking it in fermented berry juice or strong white wine to enhance its fragrance.
Galbanum is an aromatic gum resin derived from certain umbelliferous Persian plant species, primarily Ferula gummosa (synonym F. galbaniflua) and Ferula rubricaulis. It is a sticky, tar-like resin that can be made into a powder and has a bitter taste and a peculiar, musky odour with an intense green scent. It is highly valued as a sacred substance, with a history of use in ancient Egypt and as a medicine by Hippocrates.
Stacte is derived from the myrrh tree. It is described as the thinnest moiety of myrrh, forced through tiny holes in the intact bark at the start of spring. It is the liquid part found in the centre of the lumps or clots of myrrh, which flows spontaneously from the tree. Stacte is also referred to as "mixed myrrh" or "scented myrrh", and it is believed to be a mix of myrrh with another oil, possibly styrax (storax in antiquity).
Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae. It is hand-sorted for quality and comes from various species of Boswellia, including Boswellia sacra and Boswellia frereana. The trees start producing resin when they are about eight to ten years old, and the final taps produce the best-quality tears with a higher aromatic terpene content. Frankincense has been a significant part of Christian tradition, with the Biblical Magi offering it to Jesus at his nativity.
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The mystery ingredient: opercula from sea snails
The Bible lists four ingredients for holy incense in the Old Testament, three of which are well-known essential oils or resins of botanical origin. However, there has been much debate over the origin of the fourth ingredient, onycha. Onycha is universally defined as the opercula, or trapdoor, of certain types of marine whelks.
Murex whelks, a type of predatory sea snail, were one of many suspected sources of onycha, but there was previously no evidence to support the claim. However, researchers from Southern Cross University have recently published a paper detailing how they captured and analysed the fragrant chemicals in the smoke of whelk opercula, providing evidence to support the claim that the opercula from sea snails are the source of onycha.
The researchers analysed the smoke of burnt opercula from the predatory sea snails after treating it using traditional methods prescribed for onycha in ancient Hebrew and Arabic texts. They discovered that after a traditional pre-soaking with wine and vinegar, the 'fishy' odour was removed, along with pyridine, a potentially toxic compound. The smoke compounds produced after this treatment were found to have a mild medicinal odour and stabilising qualities, which would prolong the fragrance of the incense.
The use of products from sea snails for holy purposes is supported by the fact that the incorporation of purple and blue-dyed yarn, derived from these snails, is prescribed for use in the tabernacle and garments worn by high priests in Exodus 26 and 28. It is likely that the specific ingredients and processes for making sacred incense were closely guarded secrets, only to be used for holy purposes.
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Salt: for preservation and purity
Salt played a crucial role in the preparation of biblical incense, not only for its preservative properties but also for its symbolic significance.
In the Bible, salt is mentioned as one of the essential ingredients in the recipe for sacred incense. According to Exodus 30:34-36, also referenced in Revelation 8:3-5, God instructed Moses to create a mixture of sweet spices, including onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, in equal parts. This blend was to be "salted, pure, and holy." The addition of salt served a practical purpose, as it helped preserve the incense mixture, preventing it from spoiling or becoming corrupted.
Salt also held symbolic importance in the context of biblical incense. In the Bible, salt is often associated with purity and holiness. By adding salt to the incense mixture, the act of purification was emphasized, reflecting the spiritual cleansing that the incense itself facilitated during religious ceremonies.
The use of salt in the incense recipe also carried a deeper spiritual meaning. In the Bible, salt is mentioned in various contexts, often symbolizing purification, preservation, and sanctification. For example, in Mark 9:50, salt is associated with preservation and purity, reflecting its role in safeguarding the incense mixture from corruption. Additionally, salt is mentioned in Leviticus 2:13 and Numbers 18:19, where it is used in sacrifices to the Lord, further emphasizing its spiritual significance.
The inclusion of salt in the incense recipe served as a reminder of the importance of purity and sanctification in worship. It symbolized the spiritual cleansing and transformation that believers sought through their prayers and sacrifices. The salt in the incense acted as a tangible representation of the spiritual purification that believers desired in their own lives.
Furthermore, salt was also added to the incense mixture to enhance its fragrance. While the primary purpose of salt in this context was preservation, its inclusion contributed to the overall aroma of the incense. This fragrance played a vital role in creating a pleasing atmosphere for worship and prayer, as well as symbolizing the sweet fragrance of worship that rises to God.
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Thirteen ingredients in total: four from the Bible, seven from the Talmud, and two others
Incense has been used in many religious ceremonies, both Christian and pagan. In the Bible, it is described as a symbol of prayer ascending to God. The burning of incense is mentioned in the Old Testament, where it is said to be composed of four ingredients: onycha, galbanum, stacte, and frankincense. Onycha is derived from a shell found in the Red Sea, or the exudation from the rock rose bush called labdanum. Stacte is described as the extract of the transparent portion of the myrrh resin, or a balsam from a tree such as opobalsamum or styrax. Galbanum is a variety of Ferula galbaniflua, and frankincense is the resin of a tree of the boswellia species.
The Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism, lists seven additional components of incense from the oral Torah. These are likely to have been kept secret and only known by the priests. According to one source, these seven ingredients are to be added to the four ingredients mentioned in the Bible, along with a small quantity of ambra, an herb that gives off a dense white smoke, and salt, resulting in a total of fourteen ingredients. However, another source states that the four Bible ingredients and seven Talmud ingredients, for a total of eleven ingredients, were expanded by the rabbis of the Talmud.
In addition to its use in religious ceremonies, incense was also used to mask the smell of animal slaughter and blood sacrifice in the Tabernacle. It is also said to have been used in exorcisms. The smoke of incense is thought to symbolise the rising of prayers to God, and it is still used in some Christian churches today.
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The ingredients symbolise the worship in every corner of our lives
The use of incense in the Bible is symbolic of prayer and worship. It is said that the ingredients of the incense represent the worship that forms in every corner of our lives. The Bible describes the recipe for the sacred incense as being made up of "sweet spices", which are: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. These four ingredients are to be in equal parts, salted, pure, and holy.
Stacte is a fragrant gum from the storax tree, also known as the "balm of Gilead". It is a form of very pure myrrh, which flows spontaneously from the tree once a stalk has been pierced, broken, and crushed. Myrrh is the fragrance that represents suffering. Jesus is our "Balm of Gilead", our Great Physician who heals every physical, moral, and spiritual suffering or flaw in man.
Onycha, which in Greek means "nail", is described as being the operculum from a shell found in the Red Sea, which is said to resemble a fingernail. It is also described as the exudation from the rock rose bush called labdanum, including both the petals and markings, which are also said to resemble a fingernail.
Galbanum is generally considered to be Ferula galbaniflua, with a milder variety possibly coming from the Levant. Pure frankincense is the resin of a tree of the boswellia species.
The use of incense in worship is not unique to the Bible. From the earliest times for which there are records about worship, incense was used by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Arabians, and Canaanites. The Canaanites, who were the neighbours of the Hebrews, have left various incense stands, altars, censers, and spoons in city levels dated to the second millennium BC.
The ingredients of the biblical incense symbolise the worship in every corner of our lives. The "sweet spices" represent the sweetness of the contrite and humbled souls offering worship and praise to God. The salt added to the incense speaks of purity, burning our affections for the world and the things that keep us away from Him. It takes away our divided heart and creates in us a forgiving heart, because it heals wounds.
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Frequently asked questions
Biblical incense is made from a combination of fragrant spices, including gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, with each ingredient weighing the same.
Onycha is one of the four major ingredients in biblical incense, and it is believed to come from the operculum of a sea snail called the murex whelk, which is found in the Red Sea.
In addition to the four major ingredients, biblical incense also contains myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic bark, and cinnamon.
Incense was used in the Bible as a symbol of prayer ascending to God and was burned during religious ceremonies and sacrifices. It was also used to purify holy temples and for ritual cleansing.
