📖 Biblical Definition
The altar of incense was the smaller golden altar in the Holy Place — set just before the veil of the Holy of Holies — where pure compounded incense was burned morning and evening (Exodus 30:1-10; 37:25-28). Unlike the bronze altar of burnt offering, this altar received no animal sacrifice; its smoke was perpetual prayer. Revelation makes the typology explicit: "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar" (Revelation 8:3-4). The prayers of the saints rise as the sweet smoke once did — and Christ, our High Priest, mingles them with His perfect intercession.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The golden incense altar before the veil.
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The smaller golden altar standing before the veil in the Holy Place; site of the morning and evening incense burned by the priests; symbol of the prayers of the saints rising before God's throne.
📖 Key Scripture
Exodus 30:7-8 — "And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning... and at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD."
Psalm 141:2 — "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."
Revelation 8:3-4 — "And another angel came... having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Reduced to ancient detail; missing how Scripture makes it the symbol of prayer rising before God.
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Pure incense at morning and evening — perpetual prayer before the veil. Psalm 141 owns the typology directly: let my prayer be incense. Revelation completes it: the prayers of the saints rise as incense from the heavenly altar.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew qetoreth — incense.
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['Hebrew', 'H7004', 'qetoreth', 'incense']
['Hebrew', 'H4196', 'mizbeach', 'altar']
Usage
"Pray morning and evening as incense."
"Your prayers reach the heavenly altar."