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What does "Incense" mean in the Bible?

This was a compound of frankincense and other gums or spices, the materials and manufacture of which are particularly prescribed. Incense appears in 53 verses across 10 books of the Bible.

Horned incense altar (limestone, Megiddo, 8th c. BCE)
Horned incense altar (limestone, Megiddo, 8th c. BCE) · Gary Todd, Israel Museum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

What does the Bible say about Incense?

IN'CENSE. Ex 30:8. This was a compound of frankincense and other gums or spices, the materials and manufacture of which are particularly prescribed. Ex 30:34-36. See Frankincense. It was the business of the priest to burn it morning and evening upon an altar specially erected for this purpose, and thence called the altar of incense. The preparation of it for common use was positively forbidden; neither could any other composition be offered as incense on this altar, nor could this be offered by any but the priest. The offering of incense was symbolical of prayer, or, as some think, rather of that which makes prayer acceptable — the intercession of Christ. See Altar, Censer, Frankincense. Incense was considered sacred, and might be offered by the priest only. When King Uzziah attempted to use it in the temple, he was struck with leprosy. 2 Chr 26:16-21. Incense was offered to heathen deities and idols, Jer 11:12, 1 Kgs 11:17, and the angels offer it in heaven. Rev 8:3.

Definition text: Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible · 1898. Public domain.

Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.

What is the Hebrew word for Incense?

Hebrew · H6999

קָטַר

qa.tar

to offer: burn

TBESH, STEPBible, licensed CC BY 4.0.

Where does Incense appear in the Bible?

Incense is referenced in 53 verses across 10 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

Jeremiah 192 Chronicles 81 Kings 72 Kings 7Revelation 4Hosea 2Isaiah 2Luke 2Habakkuk 1Malachi 1

Showing the first 24 of 53.

Open all 53 references in Protos

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Incense.

GodsJerusalemAltarBaalCitiesLORD

Common questions

How many times does the Bible mention Incense?

Incense appears in 53 verses across 10 books, most often in Jeremiah, which accounts for 19 of them.

Which books of the Bible mention Incense?

Jeremiah, 2 Chronicles, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Revelation, Hosea, Isaiah, Luke, and 2 more.

Where can I read every verse about Incense?

This page lists 24 of them. Protos carries all 53, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.

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Read Jeremiah with "Incense" explained on the verse.

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