Lance Carson
Incense has been burned in temples for millennia, with the practice being referenced in the Bible and other religious texts. The burning of incense is often associated with prayer and offerings to God. In the Bible, incense is described as being made from a variety of aromatic spices and resins, including frankincense, myrrh, and cinnamon. The altar of incense was considered a holy site, and the incense burned on it was believed to symbolize the prayers of the people rising up to God. Today, the burning of incense is still practiced in some religious traditions and is often used to create a sacred space and enhance spiritual practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense offering | קְטֹרֶת (qəṭōreṯ) |
| Incense ingredients | Stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic bark, cinnamon, carshina lye, Cyprus wine, Sodom salt, Jordan amber |
| Incense weight | 368 mina |
| Incense burning time | Morning and evening |
| Incense altar location | End of the Holy compartment of the Tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy |
| Incense symbolism | Symbol of the prayers of God's people, prayers ascend to God as smoke of incense ascended in the sanctuary |
| Incense function | To mask unpleasant smells, for ritualised cleansing during spiritual ceremonies |
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What You'll Learn
Incense offerings were made twice daily
The incense offering was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. The recipe for the incense was detailed in the Old Testament, with Moses tasked with making the incense from costly materials contributed by the congregation. The Book of Exodus lists four components: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, each in equal amounts. However, the Talmud lists seven additional components, and Josephus mentions a total of thirteen ingredients.
The incense was burned with fire taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary. The altar of incense was considered holy and was atoned for with the blood of sacrifice. It was made of gold and acacia wood and was outfitted with poles for transportation.
The sweet-smelling smoke of the incense is often associated with prayer in Scripture. The perpetual burning of the incense symbolises the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation and the need for believers to always be in prayer.
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Incense was burned to mask unpleasant smells
Incense was burned in the king's presence to mask unpleasant smells, such as those of livestock and unwashed bodies. This was done as a tribute to his position. Similarly, incense was burned before God in the tabernacle of Israel, which was his earthly throne room.
The incense offering in Judaism was related to perfumed offerings on the altar of incense during the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple periods. The altar of incense was considered part of the Holy of Holies, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. The sweet-smelling smoke from the incense is said to symbolise the prayers of God's people rising to God.
The incense was made from costly materials that the congregation contributed. The recipe for the incense is detailed in Exodus 30:34, where Moses is tasked with making the incense:
> Take fragrant spices – gum resin, onycha and galbanum – and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts.
The ingredients for the incense were also outlined in the Old Testament, with eleven kinds of spices being used. The four main ingredients were stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The other ingredients were myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic bark, and cinnamon.
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Incense was made from costly materials
The incense offering in Judaism was a significant component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. The sacred incense was made from costly materials, which were contributed by the congregation. The recipe for the incense is detailed in the Book of Exodus, which describes four ingredients: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, each in equal amounts. These sweet-smelling spices were to be tempered together, salted, and made into a holy perfume.
The Talmud, a Jewish text, lists seven additional components for the incense, bringing the total number of ingredients to eleven. These include myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic bark, and cinnamon. The rabbis taught that the mixture should contain 368 mina, corresponding to the days of the solar year, with three extra mina for the Kohen Gadol to bring into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur.
The incense was burned on the altar of incense, which was considered part of the Holy of Holies, where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. The altar was made with materials fit for a king, including gold and acacia wood, and it was outfitted with poles for transportation. The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary, and the incense was to be burned morning and evening, so that its fragrant odour would fill the inner Holy of Holies.
The altar of incense was seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people, with the smoke of the incense representing the ascent of prayers to God. The sweet smell of the incense was also used to mask unpleasant odours, and its medicinal fragrance was associated with the purification of the holy temple and ritual cleansing during spiritual ceremonies.
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Incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings
The burning of incense has been a significant part of Jewish and Christian liturgies. Incense was burned with fire from the altar of burnt offerings, outside the sanctuary (Leviticus 16:12). The incense offering was a sacred act, with the incense itself made from costly materials. The recipe for the incense was stipulated by God, and the burning of incense was a symbol of the prayers of God's people.
The altar of incense was considered part of the Holy of Holies, the place where God resided in the Temple above the Ark of the Covenant. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, with four "horns" at each corner. The incense was burned on this altar each morning and at twilight, every day, as a regular offering to the Lord.
The incense was made from a variety of spices, including frankincense, myrrh, cassia, and cinnamon. The recipe for the incense is described in the Book of Exodus, with additional components listed in the Talmud. The incense was prepared by grinding the spices into a fine powder and then burning it on the altar, creating a sweet-smelling smoke.
The act of burning incense is often associated with prayer and is seen as a symbol of the intercession of Christ. It represents the mediation between God and humanity, with the sweet-smelling incense symbolizing the prayers of the believers rising to God. The continual burning of incense on the altar also signifies the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation.
The altar of incense, therefore, holds significant religious value, and the burning of incense with fire from the altar of burnt offerings is a sacred ritual in Jewish and Christian traditions.
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Incense was burned on a golden altar
The burning of incense has long been associated with prayer and worship in Judaism and Christianity. The incense altar was located in the Holy compartment of the tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy. According to the Bible, incense was burned on a golden altar, also known as the "golden altar of incense". This altar was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, with four horns protruding from its four corners. The golden altar was smaller than the brazen altar and stood at 3 feet high, with each side measuring 1.5 feet.
The incense burned on the golden altar was composed of a mix of precious spices, including stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, in equal parts. The Bible provides specific instructions for preparing and burning this incense, and it was considered holy. The priests were tasked with burning incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, coinciding with the daily burnt offerings. The incense was to be left burning continuously, filling the holy place with a sweet-smelling aroma that was considered a pleasing offering to the Lord.
The golden altar of incense held symbolic significance in biblical times. It was seen as a symbol of prayer and worship, with the rising smoke of incense likened to the ascent of prayers to God. The altar was also associated with Christ's intercession on behalf of believers, representing the mediation between God and humanity through Christ's work on earth and in heaven. The blood of animal sacrifice was sprinkled on the horns of the altar, symbolizing the cleansing of sins and the power of Christ's blood in prayer.
The burning of incense on the golden altar was a sacred ritual, and its fragrance was believed to mask unpleasant odors and create a pleasing atmosphere in the presence of God and royalty. The altar's placement within the temple and its construction from costly materials, such as gold, further emphasized its importance in biblical worship and liturgy. The golden altar of incense, therefore, served as a physical representation of the spiritual connection between God and his people.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense was burned on the altar in the temple. The incense was made from costly materials contributed by the congregation.
The Book of Exodus lists four components: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. However, the Talmud lists seven additional components, and Josephus mentions 13 ingredients.
The incense was seen as a symbol of the prayers of God’s people, rising to God like smoke. It also symbolized the intercession of Christ, with the altar of incense representing Christ's mediation.
Incense was burned in the temple to mask unpleasant odors and as a tribute to God. It was also used for ritualized cleansing during spiritual ceremonies.
