Lance Carson
Incense is mentioned in several books of the Bible, including Exodus, Leviticus, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi, Psalms, Luke, and Revelation. The burning of incense is a divine command and a holy act of worship. It is offered to God throughout the Bible and is often associated with prayer and reverence. Incense was burned in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem, and its sweet fragrance is described as pleasing to God and symbolic of prayer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense mentioned in | Luke, Leviticus, Psalms, Revelation, Exodus, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi, Zechariah, Kings, Chronicles, Hebrews, Amos |
| Incense made of | Stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, spices, gums |
| Incense as a symbol of | Prayer, worship, something pleasing to God, adoration, dedication, respect, reverence |
| Incense burned by | Moses, Aaron, Zacharias, priests, Christians, Jews |
| Incense burned | Morning and evening, on the Day of Atonement, during liturgy, in Mass, in the Temple, in the Tabernacle, in the Holy of Holies, in the meeting tent, in the wilderness |
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What You'll Learn
Incense as a symbol of prayer
Incense is offered to God in worship throughout the Bible, and its use continues in some Christian churches today. The burning of incense is a divine command, and God gave Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for the times, places, and methods of burning incense. It was to be burned perpetually before the Lord, and it was a holy act of worship (Exodus 30).
The sweet fragrance of incense is pleasing to God and helps Christians physically and spiritually lift up their hearts to God. In Psalm 141:2, David writes, "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!". Incense, therefore, reminds Christians that God is pleased when His people pray.
The New Testament makes 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 the Book of Revelation, John has a vision of heaven, where the elders hold gold bowls filled with incense, "which are the prayers of the holy ones" (Revelation 5:8). This is connected to the idea of incense as a symbol of prayer, with the smoke of the incense rising up to God, just as prayers rise up to Him.
Incense is also used in liturgical rites and popular devotions outside of church liturgies in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and parts of the Anglican and Lutheran churches. Incensing the altar, for example, shows respect for Christ and his sacrifice. The use of incense in these rituals helps to create a sense of reverence and dedication, connecting the physical act of burning incense with the spiritual act of prayer.
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Incense in the Old Testament
The Old Testament makes numerous references to the burning of incense as a holy act of worship. The Book of Exodus describes God commanding Moses to build an altar of acacia wood for burning incense, which was to be placed at the end of the Holy compartment of the Tabernacle. Aaron, Moses' brother, was instructed to burn incense on the altar morning and evening. God also provided Moses with a formula for the incense, which was to be made of equal parts of storax, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, blended and ground into a fine dust. This sacred incense was to be used solely in the worship of Yahweh and was not to be used for personal fragrance.
The Tabernacle was eventually replaced by the Temple, where incense continued to be offered. The Book of Kings mentions that when the Tabernacle was replaced, incense was offered in the Temple (1 Kings 9:25). The prophet Isaiah also mentions incense in the context of worship, noting that God hated the offering of incense by those who had fallen into sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1:13). However, Isaiah also prophesied that incense would be received by God again when offered by all the nations of the earth in worship of the Lord in his true Temple (Isaiah 60:6-7).
Incense is also mentioned in the Psalms, where it is used as a metaphor for prayer. In Psalm 141, David writes, "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." This verse reflects the belief that the rising smoke of incense symbolized the prayers of the people rising up to God.
The use of incense is also mentioned in the prophetic books of the Old Testament. In the Book of Zechariah, the prophet describes a vision in which an angel places incense on the altar of the temple while the people pray outside (Zechariah 1:9-16). This symbolizes the relationship between God and His people, with the incense smoke representing the people's prayers rising up to God.
The Old Testament also describes the ingredients used in the incense offerings. In addition to the four primary ingredients mentioned in Exodus, other spices such as myrrh, cassia, spikenard, and saffron were also used, according to various sources. The rabbis of the Talmud expanded the recipe to include eleven ingredients, with specific weights and preparation methods.
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Incense in the New Testament
Incense is mentioned in the New Testament, both directly and indirectly. The term "incense" appears in the Gospel of Luke, which shows that ordinary priests were permitted to offer incense, a change from the Old Testament tradition that only the high priest could do so. In Luke 1:9–10, Zechariah was chosen by lot to place incense on the altar in the temple while the people prayed outside. As the incense smoke rose, an angel announced that Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth would have a son, John the Baptist.
Incense is also mentioned in Revelation 5:8 and 8:3–4, where it symbolises the prayers of the saints. This idea is also present in Psalm 141:2, where David writes, "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you". The smoke of incense in the tabernacle signifies offered prayer, a concept that was later developed in medieval Christian art.
The New Testament also contains indirect references to incense. For example, in Ephesians 5:1-2, the language of fragrant offerings in Leviticus that prefigure Jesus' voluntary offering is echoed: "Be, therefore, imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell".
Hebrews 9:11-14 states that it is no longer necessary to burn incense to worship God. However, incense continues to be used in liturgical rites in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and parts of the Anglican and Lutheran churches.
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Incense in the Book of Revelation
Incense is mentioned several times in the Book of Revelation, a work that is believed to be a vision experienced by St. John. In Revelation 5:8, John describes a vision of heaven in which 24 elders worship the lamb, holding "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones". This is interpreted as a symbol of the prayers of the saints, with the sweet aroma of incense symbolizing something pleasing and acceptable being offered to God.
In Revelation 8:3-4, an angel with a golden censer is given a large quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, ascends before God from the angel's hand. This is described in various translations, including the New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), and King James Version (KJV).
The use of incense in the Book of Revelation is believed to be symbolic, with the smoke representing the prayers of the saints rising to God. This symbolism is also present in other parts of the Bible, such as Psalm 34 and Hebrews 4:16, which encourage believers to pray and assure them that their prayers are pleasing to God.
The use of incense is not limited to the Book of Revelation but is also mentioned in other books of the Bible, including Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Exodus, where it is associated with worship and offerings. Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for a long time, even before its inclusion in the Bible, and it continues to be used in liturgical practices today.
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Incense in the Gospel of Luke
Incense is mentioned in the Bible in several places, including the Gospel of Luke. In the Gospel of Luke, the burning of incense is mentioned in Luke 1:9-10, where Zechariah/Zacharias enters the temple to burn incense while the people pray outside. This marks a shift from the Old Testament, where only the high priest was permitted to offer incense, to the Gospel of Luke, where ordinary priests are also allowed to perform this offering.
The use of incense in the Bible is symbolic of prayer and the relationship between God and God's people. In Luke 1:10, the people are described as praying outside the temple while the incense is burned inside, creating a sacred and solemn atmosphere. The smoke of the incense rising towards heaven is often interpreted as a visual representation of prayers ascending to God. This interpretation is supported by Psalm 141:2, where David writes, "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you".
The burning of incense in the Gospel of Luke is also associated with prophecy and divine revelation. In Luke 1:11-16, as the incense smoke rises, an angel appears to Zechariah and foretells the birth of his son, John the Baptist, who will be the Messiah's forerunner. This scene underscores the significance of incense as a means of communicating with the divine and receiving prophetic messages.
Furthermore, the use of incense in the Gospel of Luke highlights the importance of ritual and worship in the Christian faith. The act of burning incense is a sacred ritual that involves specific ingredients and procedures, as outlined in Exodus. By following these rituals, Christians demonstrate their devotion to God and their commitment to following His instructions faithfully.
Overall, the references to incense in the Gospel of Luke emphasize the power of prayer, the importance of ritual, and the relationship between God and God's people. The visual and sensory aspects of incense enhance the spiritual experience and provide a tangible connection to the divine, making it a significant element in Christian worship and theology.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense is first mentioned in the Book of Exodus, where Moses is instructed to build an altar for burning incense.
Burning incense was a divine command from God and was considered an act of worship. It symbolised prayer and the relationship between God and his people.
The Bible describes a recipe for incense, including equal parts of storax, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense.
Aaron, as high priest, was originally appointed to offer incense each morning and evening. However, the Gospel of Luke reveals that ordinary priests were also permitted to perform the offering.
Incense is still used in liturgical rites in many Christian denominations today. It symbolises something pleasing and acceptable being offered to God and is seen as a sign of reverence and dedication.
