Dictionaries :: Incense

Incense:

a fragrant composition prepared by the "art of the apothecary." It consisted of four ingredients "beaten small" (Exd 30:34-36). That which was not thus prepared was called "strange incense" (30:9). It was offered along with every meat-offering; and besides was daily offered on the golden altar in the holy place, and on the great day of atonement was burnt by the high priest in the holy of holies (30:7,8). It was the symbol of prayer (Psa 141:1,2; Rev 5:8; 8:3,4).

Incense:

in'-sens (qeTorah; in Jer 44:21, qiTTer; in Mal 1:11, qaTar, "In every place incense shall be offered unto my name"; the word lebhonah, translated "incense" in several passages in Isa and Jer in the King James Version, is properly "frankincense," and is so rendered in the Revised Version (British and American)): The offering of incense, or burning of aromatic substances, is common in the religious ceremonies of nearly all nations (Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, etc.), and it is natural to find it holding a prominent place in the tabernacle and temple-worship of Israel. The newer critical theory that incense was a late importation into the religion of Israel, and that the altar of incense described in Ex 30:1 ff is a post-exilian invention, rests on presuppositions which are not here admitted, and is in contradiction to the express notices of the altar of incense in 1Ki 6:20,22; 7:48; 9:25; compare 2Ch 4:19 (see discussion of the subject by Delitzsch in Luthardt's Zeitschrift, 1880, 113 ff). In the denunciation of Eli in 1Sa 2:27 ff, the burning of incense is mentioned as one of the functions of the priesthood (2:28). The "smoke" that filled the temple in Isaiah's vision (Isa 6:4) may be presumed to be the smoke of incense. The word keTorah itself properly denotes. "smoke." For the altar of incense see the article on that subject, and TABERNACLE and TEMPLE. The incense used in the tabernacle service-called "sweet incense" (keToreth ha-cammim, Ex 25:6, etc.)-was compounded according to a definite prescription of the perfumes, stacte, onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense (Ex 30:34 f), and incense not so compounded was rejected as "strange incense" (keTorah zarah, Ex 30:9). In the offering of incense, burning coals from the altar of burnt offering were borne in a censer and put upon the altar of incense (the "golden altar" before the oracle), then the fragrant incense was sprinkled on the fire (compare Lu 1:9 f). Ample details of the rabbinical rules about incense may be seen in the article "Incense," in DB.

Figuratively, incense was symbolical of ascending prayer. The multitude were praying while Zacharias offered incense (Lu 1:10, thumiama), and in Re 5:8; 8:3 f, the incense in the heavenly temple is connected and even identified (5:8) with "the prayers of the saints."

Written by James Orr

See CENSER

Incense: Formula for Compounding

Exd 30:34, 35

Incense: Uses Of

Exd 30:36-38; Lev 16:12; Num 16:17, 40, 46; Deu 33:10

Incense: Compounded

By Bezaleel,

Exd 37:29;

by priests,

1Ch 9:30.

Incense: Offered

Morning and evening,

Exd 30:7, 8; 2Ch 13:11;

on the golden altar,

Exd 30:1-7; 40:5, 27; 2Ch 2:4; 32:12;

in making atonement,

Lev 16:12, 13; Num 16:46, 47; Luk 1:10.

Incense: Unlawfully Offered

By Nadab and Abihu,

Lev 10:1, 2;

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram,

Num 16:16-35;

by Uzziah,

2Ch 26:16-21.

Incense: Offered in Idolatrous Worship

1Ki 12:23; Jer 41:5; Eze 8:11

Incense: Presented by the Wise Men to Jesus

Mat 2:11

Incense: Reference Concerning

See ALTAR OF INCENSE

Incense: Figurative:

Of prayer,

Psa 141:2.

Of praise,

Mal 1:11.

Of an acceptable sacrifice,

Eph 5:2.

Incense: Symbolical:

Of the prayers of saints,

Rev 5:8; 8:3, 4.

Incense: Brought from Sheba

Jer 6:20

Incense: Called Frankincense

Sgs 4:6,14

Incense: An Article of Extensive Commerce

Rev 18:13

Incense: Common, Not to Be Offered to God

Exd 30:9

Incense: For God's Service Mixed with Sweet Spices

Exd 25:6; 37:29

Incense: Receipt for Mixing

Exd 30:34-36

Incense: None but Priest to Offer

Num 16:40; Deu 33:10

Incense: Offered

In censers

Lev 10:1; Num 16:17,46

On the altar of gold

Exd 30:1,6; 40:5

Morning and evening

Exd 30:7,8

Perpetually

Exd 30:8

By the high priest in the most holy place on the day of atonement

Lev 16:12,13

With fire from off the altar of burnt offering

Lev 16:12; Num 16:46

Incense: Offering Of, Allotted to the Priests

Luk 1:9

Incense: The Jews Prayed at Time of Offering

Luk 1:10

Incense: Designed for Atonement

Num 16:46,47

Incense: Put on Meat Offerings

Lev 2:1,2,15,16; 6:15

Incense: Levites Had Charge Of

1Ch 9:29

Incense: Used in Idolatrous Worship

Jer 48:35

Incense: The Jews

Not accepted in offering, on account of sin

Isa 1:13; 66:3

Offered, to idols on altars of brick

Isa 65:3

Punished for offering, to idols

2Ch 34:25

Incense: Nadab and Abihu destroyed for offering, with strange fire

Lev 10:1,2

Incense: Korah and His Company Punished for Offering

Num 16:16-35

Incense: Uzziah Punished for Offering

2Ch 26:16-21

Incense: Presented to Christ by the Wise Men

Mat 2:11

Incense: Illustrative Of

The merits of Christ

Rev 8:3,4

Prayer

Psa 141:2; Mal 1:11; Rev 5:8

Incense:

from the Latin "to burn," "a mixture of gums or spices and the like, used for the purpose of producing a perfume when burned;" or the perfume itself of the spices, etc., burned in worship. The incense employed in the service of the tabernacle walls compounded of the perfumes stacte, onycha, galbanum and pure frankincense. All incense which was not made of these ingredients was forbidden to be offered (Exodus 30:9). Aaron, as high priest, was originally appointed to offer incense each morning and evening. The times of offering incense were specified in the instructions first given to Moses (Exodus 30:7-8). When the priest entered the holy place with the incense, all the people were removed from the temple, and from between the porch and the altar. Cf (Luke 1:10). Profound silence was observed among the congregation who were praying without, cf (Revelation 8:1) and at a signal from the perfect the priest cast the incense on the fire and, bowing reverently toward the holy of holies, retired slowly backward. The offering of incense has formed part of the religious ceremonies of most ancient nations. It was an element in the idolatrous worship of the Israelites (2 Chronicles 34:25; Jeremiah 11:12; 11:17; 48:35). It would seem to be symbolical, not of itself, but of that which makes acceptable, the intercession of Christ. In Revelation 8:3-4, the incense is of as something distinct from, though offered with, the prayers of all the saints cf. Luke 1:10 and in Revelation 6:8 it is the golden vials, and not the odors or incense, which are said to be the prayers of saints.