Seamus Hammond
Holy incense is a material that is burned to produce fragrant smoke, used in religious ceremonies and rituals. It is mentioned in the Bible, with the four ingredients for holy incense listed in the Old Testament. Holy incense is also mentioned in the New Testament, where it is used as a symbol of the knowledge of Christ. The use of incense in worship dates back to ancient times, with records showing its use by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Arabians, and Canaanites. Today, incense is still used in religious ceremonies, particularly in Eastern religions, and holds spiritual and religious significance for many people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Gum resin, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, basil, flowers, copal, vanilla, caramel, lemon, honey, sweet herbs, cinnamon, saffron, cassia, spikenard, costus, aromatic rind, lye from leeks, Cyprus wine, salt of Sodom, smoke-raiser, Jordan resin, stacte, nard, spice, resin, opercula from dye-producing sea snails |
| Uses | Purifying the holy temple, ritualised cleansing during spiritual ceremonies, prayer and worship, symbol of the knowledge of Christ, offering to Paul, symbol of prayers of the saints |
| Other | The highest quality frankincense and myrrh are usually produced in the Middle East, where the climate is dry and hot |
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What You'll Learn
Holy incense ingredients
The ingredients of holy incense are detailed in the Old Testament, specifically Exodus 30:34, where Moses is tasked with making the incense. The Bible mentions incense 170 times, and its use in Jewish temple worship continued well after the establishment of Christianity.
The four main ingredients of holy incense are fragrant spices or sweet spices, gum resin, onycha, and galbanum, along with pure frankincense, all in equal amounts. However, the Talmud lists seven additional components from the oral Torah, and Flavius Josephus records that thirteen spices and herbs were used, with salt as the fourteenth ingredient.
The origin of onycha was long debated, with many suspected sources, but it was recently confirmed to come from the opercula of Murex whelks, predatory sea snails. The opercula are the trapdoor lids that protect the snails inside their shells.
Other ingredients listed in the Talmud include myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, aromatic bark, cinnamon, Carshina lye, Cyprus wine, Sodom salt, and a minute amount of maaleh ashan. Rabbi Nathan of Babylon also mentions Jordan amber.
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Biblical references
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies across the world, including in ancient Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Arabia, and Canaan. In the Bible, incense is mentioned in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Psalms, Luke, Ephesians, and Revelation.
In Exodus, God gives Moses the recipe for the sacred incense blend to be burned in the wilderness Tabernacle, which was made of costly materials contributed by the congregation:
> 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. (Exodus 30:34-35, KJV)
God also specifies that the incense must only be used for worship and not for personal use, and that only a high priest could burn the sacred blend on the altar of incense (Exodus 30:36-37). The high priest burned incense twice daily, once in the morning before the sacrifice and again in the evening after the sacrifice (Exodus 30:7-8).
On the Day of Atonement, a special ceremony involving incense took place. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies with incense burning in a censer, creating a protective cloud of smoke over the mercy seat, which was the cover of the ark of the covenant (Leviticus 16:12-13). The smoke symbolized the prayers of the people and protected the high priest from the direct presence of God (Leviticus 16:12-13).
In Numbers 7:14, incense is mentioned as part of an offering for the dedication of the altar. Deuteronomy 33:10 also makes reference to "the smoke of sacrifice." In 2 Chronicles 34:25, Jeremiah 11:12, 11:17, and 48:35, the offering of incense is mentioned as part of idolatrous worship.
In the New Testament, there are several typological references to incense, including a Christological reference to the coals from the altar of incense taken behind the veil on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:3-4). In Revelation 5:8, St. John writes about the elders having "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones." In Revelation 8:3-4, an angel is described as having "a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones… The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God."
In the Old Testament, incense was considered to be related to "a greater reality." In Psalm 141:2, incense is used as a symbol of prayer:
> Let my prayer be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence. Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted as an evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2)
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Historical use
The use of incense in religious rituals has a long history, dating back to ancient times. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation around 3600 BC. The practice then spread to China by 2000 BC, with the burning of cassia and sandalwood, and was eventually transmitted to other East Asian countries including Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Incense holds a significant role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto rites.
In the Western world, the Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC) were the first to discover the use of incense, which was already a longstanding practice among Hindus. The use of incense in religious rituals was also prevalent in Judaism, with references to incense in the Talmud and 170 mentions of it in the Bible. The Old Testament, specifically Exodus 30:34, lists the four ingredients for holy incense as fragrant spices – gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense – all in equal amounts. The book of Exodus also mentions the use of incense in the tabernacle and for the purification of the holy temple.
The use of incense in Christianity has its roots in these earlier Jewish traditions. The Bible mentions that the Three Wise Men presented frankincense as a gift to baby Jesus, along with gold and myrrh. Incense has been employed in Christian worship since ancient times, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Church, Orthodox Christian churches, and Anglican Churches, among others. In the Catholic Church, incense is used during liturgical celebrations, sacrificial liturgies, and the Mass, where it adds solemnity and symbolises the link between Heaven and Earth.
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Spiritual significance
Incense has been used in spiritual practices for millennia, with records showing its importance in ancient Egypt, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, and Canaan. In these cultures, incense was used to reinforce prayers and offerings to deities.
In the Bible, incense is mentioned numerous times, including in the Old Testament, where the four ingredients for holy incense are listed: gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The recipe for this holy incense was given by God to Moses, according to Exodus 30:34. The creation of this incense involves a complex process, with each ingredient needing to be sourced authentically and blended finely to achieve the right fragrance.
Holy incense holds symbolic significance in Christianity, representing the knowledge of Christ, the offerings of the Philippians to Paul, and the prayers of the saints. It is also used in Christian rituals, such as the service of Holy Communion, where incense is burned to create a fragrant smoke.
The use of incense is also mentioned in the Talmud, where it is associated with the worship of Baal, the queen of heaven, and other foreign gods. The Talmud describes the secret process of making incense whose smoke rose straight up, known only to the priestly family of Abtinas.
Today, incense continues to be used in spiritual practices, particularly in the East, where it is more common than in the West. It is often burned to create a calming atmosphere and promote mental focus, enhancing spiritual experiences and rituals.
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How to burn holy incense
Burning incense is a practice that is widespread throughout the world in many religions and has myriad symbolic meanings. In Christianity, for example, incense is burned during prayer and other moments. Holy incense, in particular, is said to have profound spiritual and historical significance.
Choosing an Incense Holder
Incense holders, also known as censers, come in many different shapes and sizes. The type of holder you choose depends on the kind of incense you are using. If you have a cored incense stick, you can use an incense "boat", which is a long, thin piece of wood, metal, or ceramic with a tiny hole at one end to catch any falling ash. If you have a solid incense stick, do not use a wooden holder as these burn all the way down, and using anything flammable as a censer is dangerous. Instead, consider filling a bowl or cup with grain, rice, salt, or sand, and sticking the incense stick inside. You can also use a ceramic or stone censer.
Preparing the Incense
If you are using incense sticks, put your incense in its holder using the end that isn't covered with incense material. If you are using incense resin, hold a charcoal disc with tongs or tweezers and light it with a lighter or match. Hold the flame to the charcoal for several seconds until it sparks and glows. Place the lit charcoal in the holder and allow it to heat up until it becomes gray and ashy.
Lighting the Incense
Once your incense is in its holder, hold a flame to the end of the incense until it catches fire. Remove the flame and let the incense burn until you see a lit ember, then blow it out. If you are using incense resin, add it to the hot charcoal now, and adjust the amount to achieve your desired fragrance level.
Safety and Maintenance
Always burn your incense in a well-ventilated room, but away from open windows or doors where there is a draft. Keep flammable objects, such as curtains, away from the burning incense. When disposing of the ashes, do not toss them in the trash. Instead, bury them in the ground or put them somewhere people will not step on them, like along the foundation of a building.
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Frequently asked questions
Holy incense is a material that is burned to create fragrant smoke, often used in spiritual and religious ceremonies.
The four main ingredients for holy incense are gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, according to the Bible. However, there has been much debate over the origin of onycha, which was recently discovered to be opercula from sea snails.
Holy incense is described as having a rich, earthy fragrance with sweet, herbal, and floral notes.
You can buy holy incense from specialty shops like The Jerusalem Gift Shop or online retailers like Amazon.
