The Incense
A sacred aromatic offering burned daily before the Lord.
AI-generated artistic depiction (no historical imagery exists)
The incense is a sacred aromatic substance used in the worship of the Tabernacle, made from specific spices as commanded by God (Exodus 25:6; Exodus 31:11; Exodus 35:8; Exodus 35:28; Exodus 37:29). It was burned on a special golden altar of acacia wood placed before the veil (Exodus 30:1; Exodus 30:27; Exodus 40:5), and Aaron was instructed to burn it every morning and evening when tending the lamps (Exodus 30:7-8). The incense is also symbolically linked to the prayers of the saints in a heavenly vision (Revelation 5:8).
Lore & Background
The incense was a perpetual offering before the Lord, burned by Aaron each morning when he dressed the lamps and each evening when he lit them (Exodus 30:7-8). It was to be made only from the prescribed sweet spices, and no strange incense, burnt sacrifice, meat offering, or drink offering was to be placed on the incense altar (Exodus 30:9). The altar itself was made of shittim wood, overlaid with gold, and measured a cubit square and two cubits high, with horns (Exodus 37:25). On the Day of Atonement, the high priest took a censer of burning coals from the altar and sweet incense beaten small, bringing it within the veil so that the cloud of incense would cover the mercy seat, ensuring he did not die (Leviticus 16:12-13). Blood from sin offerings was also applied to the horns of the incense altar (Leviticus 4:7). The incense was prepared by a skilled apothecary (Exodus 37:29) and was listed among the key furnishings of the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:8; Exodus 35:15; Exodus 39:38). A cautionary tale is found in Nadab and Abihu, who offered strange fire with their incense, which the Lord had not commanded, leading to their deaths (Leviticus 10:1). In the New Testament, the golden vials full of odors held by the elders in heaven are identified as the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8), connecting the earthly incense offering to heavenly worship.
Reader's Guide
The passages portray incense as a carefully regulated element of worship, emphasizing obedience to divine instructions. The incense was to be burned exclusively on the designated golden altar (Exodus 30:1, 27; Exodus 40:5), at set times—morning and evening (Exodus 30:7-8)—and made only from the specified sweet spices (Exodus 25:6; Exodus 31:11; Exodus 35:8, 28). The prohibition against strange incense (Exodus 30:9) and the fatal consequence for Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized offering (Leviticus 10:1) underscore the seriousness of adhering to God's commands. The incense also played a role in atonement rituals, as its smoke veiled the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:12-13) and blood was applied to the altar's horns (Leviticus 4:7). The connection to prayer is explicit in Revelation 5:8, where the incense in golden vials represents the prayers of the saints, suggesting a symbolic continuity between the earthly incense offering and the prayers of God's people.
Did You Know?
- The incense altar was made of shittim wood and overlaid with gold, measuring one cubit square and two cubits high (Exodus 37:25).
- Aaron burned incense on the altar every morning and evening when he tended the lamps (Exodus 30:7-8).
- Nadab and Abihu died for offering strange fire with incense, which the Lord had not commanded (Leviticus 10:1).
- In Revelation, the golden vials full of odors held by the elders are the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8).