Katrina Rosales
Incense has been offered as a form of prayer and worship in many religions and cultures throughout history. In the Christian tradition, the Day of Atonement is observed with a specific incense offering, as described in the Book of Exodus. The New Testament also makes several references to incense, including a Christological interpretation of the coals from the altar of incense on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:3–4). Incense offerings are also mentioned in Numbers 16:46-47, where Moses instructs Aaron to use incense to make atonement for the congregation, in hopes of appeasing God's wrath. In Judaism, incense offerings were an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem, with the Book of Exodus prescribing a recipe for sacred incense made from costly materials contributed by the congregation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense offering in Hebrew | קְטֹרֶת (qəṭōreṯ) |
| Incense offering in relation to | Perfumed offerings on the altar of incense |
| Incense offering time | Time of the Tabernacle and the First and Second Temple period |
| Incense offering in the Temple in Jerusalem | An important component of priestly liturgy |
| Incense offering components from the Book of Exodus | Stacte, Onycha, Galbanum, and Frankincense |
| Incense offering components from the Talmud | 7 additional components from the oral Torah |
| Incense offering significance | Symbol of the prayers of God's people |
| Incense offering as prayers | "May my prayer be set before you like incense" (Psalm 141:2) |
| Incense offering as atonement | To appease divine wrath and bring God into a favorable position to forgive |
| Incense offering in Numbers 16:46-47 | Moses instructs Aaron to use incense to make atonement for the congregation |
| Incense offering in the New Testament | Christological reference to the coals from the altar of incense on the Day of Atonement |
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What You'll Learn
Incense offerings are a form of prayer
The Book of Exodus provides a recipe for the incense, instructing Moses to combine sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum with pure frankincense in equal proportions to create a pleasant fragrance. This incense offering symbolized the prayers of the Jewish people, as referenced in Psalm 141: "May my prayer be set before you like incense."
In Christianity, the altar of incense in the Holy Place is seen as a symbol of Christ's mediation on behalf of humanity. The smoke of incense rising towards heaven is likened to the prayers of believers ascending to God. The New Testament makes several typological references to incense, including a Christological reference in Hebrews 9:3-4 to the coals from the altar of incense on the Day of Atonement.
Additionally, in Revelation 5:8, the prayers of the elders around the throne are described as "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people." This imagery reinforces the concept of incense offerings as a form of prayer, with the sweet fragrance of the incense symbolizing the prayers rising to God.
The act of burning incense and the accompanying prayers are believed to bring peace and strengthen the covenant relationship between God and his people. The incense offerings, along with prayers, serve as a reminder of God's grace and our gratitude for his forgiveness.
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Incense is burned on altars
The burning of incense on altars is a significant practice in Judaism and Christianity. The altar of incense is first mentioned in Exodus 30 as one of the items inside the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. According to the text, the altar was constructed from acacia wood and overlaid with gold, standing at a height of two cubits (approximately four feet). It featured four "horns" on each corner, and rings of gold were attached to it for easy transportation.
The altar of incense held a symbolic significance in religious practices. It was associated with Christ's mediation and represented the prayers of believers rising to God like the sweet-smelling smoke. The Book of Exodus describes the recipe for the incense, which included sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense.
The burning of incense on the altar was a daily ritual, performed every morning and evening. However, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, a unique ritual was performed. The coals from the altar, along with two handfuls of incense, were taken into the Holy of Holies, where the incense was made to smoke before the mercy seat of the ark. This ritual is referenced in the New Testament, symbolizing the prayers of believers.
The altar of incense was considered "most holy to the Lord". It was important to use only authorized incense on the altar, as stipulated by God's instructions. The altar required atonement once a year, and blood was applied to its horns as a form of cleansing. The burning of incense on the altar served as a reminder for Israel to pray and assured them that their prayers were pleasing to God.
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Incense is made from costly materials
Incense has been used for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilisations. It has been used for ritual purposes, ceremonial cleansing, and medicine. In the present day, it is used for religious purposes, aromatherapy, and fashion.
The specific materials used to make incense can vary depending on the culture and tradition. In Judaism, the Book of Exodus describes the recipe for sacred incense as including "sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum, with pure frankincense." Stacte is described as the sap from the balsam tree, while onycha can refer to the operculum from a shell found in the Red Sea or the exudation from the rock rose bush. Galbanum is typically considered Ferula galbaniflua, and pure frankincense is the resin of the boswellia species.
In Eastern cultures, incense is often made from plants such as sandalwood, patchouli, agarwood, and vetiver. These plants are ground and mixed with water and saltpeter to create a paste that can be spread on bamboo sticks or extruded into noodles and dried.
The cost of incense materials can be influenced by factors such as rarity, mystery, and demand. For example, cloves from Indonesia were rumoured to be guarded by tigers, keeping their price high. The use of costly materials in incense reflects the value placed on its ritual, ceremonial, and medicinal purposes throughout history.
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Incense offerings symbolise Christ's mediation
Incense offerings have a long history in Judaism and Christianity. In the Bible, incense is offered as a sacrifice to God, and it is often associated with prayer and atonement.
In Numbers 16:46-47, Moses instructs Aaron to use a censer to burn incense and "make atonement" for the congregation. The original Hebrew word used here, "kā·p̄ǎr", is related to the idea of appeasement or making reparation for wrongdoings. The burning of incense was meant to quell God's wrath and make it possible for God to forgive.
Incense offerings are also mentioned in the Books of Chronicles, which describe a similar altar of incense in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. The sacred incense was burned morning and evening, and once a year, on the Day of Atonement, coals and incense were taken into the Holy of Holies.
In Christian typology, the altar of incense in the Holy Place is seen as a symbol of Christ's mediation on behalf of humanity. Just as the sweet-smelling incense was a pleasing offering to God, Christ's intercession is a sweet savour to God. The perpetual burning of incense symbolises the ongoing nature of Christ's mediation, and the prayers of believers are likened to the pleasing aroma of incense.
The New Testament also makes several references to incense, including a Christological reference in Hebrews 9:3-4 to the coals from the altar of incense on the Day of Atonement. Additionally, Revelation 5:8 describes the prayers of the saints as golden bowls full of incense, further emphasising the connection between incense and prayer.
Incense offerings, therefore, symbolise Christ's mediation by representing the prayers of believers rising to God as a sweet-smelling offering. Through Christ's mediation, believers can approach God's holy presence with their prayers, just as the burning of incense in the temple symbolised the offering of prayers to God.
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Incense is used to appease divine wrath
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies and worship for thousands of years. Its use in a religious context began in Ancient China around 2000 BCE, with herbs and plant products such as cinnamon and sandalwood being burned as incense. The use of incense spread to Japan in the 6th century, brought by Korean Buddhist monks who used it in their purification rites.
Incense offerings are mentioned in the Bible, with references to its use in the Tabernacle, the First and Second Temple period, and Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. In Numbers 16:46-47, Moses instructs Aaron to take a censer and make atonement for the people, using incense to quell God's wrath. The sweet-smelling aroma of the incense is described as a symbol of the prayers of God's people, with the smoke of the incense representing their prayers ascending to God.
The altar of incense is also seen as a type of Christ's mediation on behalf of humanity. The perpetual burning of incense symbolises the ongoing nature of Christ's mediation, and the sweet fragrance of the incense is compared to the pleasing nature of the prayers of believers.
In Judaism, the incense offering was an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. The recipe for the sacred incense is described in the Book of Exodus, which includes sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. The Talmud lists additional components for the incense, and it was the responsibility of the House of Avtinas to compound the incense during the days of the Second Temple.
Incense is still used in religious practices today, including in East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian cultures, where incense sticks, also known as joss sticks, are burned in temples, shrines, and before religious divinities or local spirits.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense is often associated with prayer and is considered to be a symbol of the prayers of God’s people.
The priest acts as an intercessor between God and the people, offering up the incense as a holy sacrifice to appease God's wrath and bring about atonement.
In Numbers 16:46-47, Moses instructs Aaron to take a censer, put fire on it from the altar, add incense, and carry it to the congregation to make atonement for them.
The altar of incense in the Holy Place represents Christ's mediation on our behalf, signifying the perpetual nature of His intercession.
The Book of Exodus lists four components: sweet spices, stacte, onycha, and galbanum. The Talmud lists seven additional ingredients, resulting in a total of eleven ingredients according to the rabbis.
