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What the Bible Says About Altar of Incense

Overview

The Bible addresses altar of incense across 32 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Leviticus and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Altar, Altars, Offerings and Tabernacle. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Aaron, Uzziah, Nadab and Abihu.

Key Bible verses about altar of incense

Old Testament

Exodus

Exodus 30:1

And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

Exodus 30:2

A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.

Exodus 30:3

And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. top: Heb. roof sides: Heb. walls

Exodus 30:4

And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal. corners: Heb. ribs

Exodus 30:5

And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

Exodus 30:6

And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

Exodus 30:7

And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. sweet incense: Heb. incense of spices

Exodus 30:8

And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. lighteth: or setteth up: Heb. causeth to ascend at even: Heb. between the two evenings

Exodus 30:9

Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

Exodus 30:10

And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.

Exodus 30:26

And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,

Exodus 30:27

And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,

Exodus 37:25

And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.

Exodus 37:26

And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.

Exodus 37:27

And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal.

Exodus 39:38

And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, the sweet: Heb. the incense of sweet spices

Exodus 40:5

And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:26

And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:

Leviticus

Leviticus 4:7

And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Leviticus 4:18

And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Leviticus 10:1

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

Leviticus 10:2

And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Leviticus 16:18

And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.

Leviticus 16:19

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 26:16

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

2 Chronicles 26:17

And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:

2 Chronicles 26:18

And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.

2 Chronicles 26:19

Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.

People in the Bible and altar of incense

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying altar of incense for yourself

  • Begin with Exodus 30:1, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Exodus, Leviticus and 2 Chronicles each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Aaron, Uzziah and Nadab and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Altar, Altars, Offerings and Tabernacle.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about altar of incense?

The Bible addresses altar of incense across 32 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Leviticus and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Altar, Altars, Offerings and Tabernacle. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Aaron, Uzziah, Nadab and Abihu.

How many Bible verses are about altar of incense?

The Bible references altar of incense in 32 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention altar of incense?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 30:1: “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with altar of incense?

Aaron, Uzziah, Nadab, Abihu and Solomon.

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