Greek word · G2368

θυμίαμα

thymiama

incense

Fragrant material burned to make sweet smoke. It can also mean the act of burning incense or the offering itself. In Jewish usage it means above all the holy blended incense of Exod 30:34–38 (stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense), which was forbidden for private use.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

θυμίαμα, -τος, τό

(θυμιάω), [in LXX chiefly for קְטֹרֶת ;]

fragrant stuff for burning, incense: ἡ ὥρα τοῦ θ., Luke 1:10; θυσιαστήριον τοῦ θ. (Exodus 30:27, al.), Luke 1:11; pl., Revelation 5:8 8:3-4 18:13.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 8:3

Range of meaning

Fragrant material burned to make sweet smoke. It can also mean the act of burning incense or the offering itself. In Jewish usage it means above all the holy blended incense of Exod 30:34–38 (stacte, onycha, galbanum, frankincense), which was forbidden for private use.

Against the English

'Incense' is accurate. The YLT's 'perfume' loses the temple setting. The Greek plural ('incenses') suggests many portions or a large supply. English renders it as a mass noun, 'much incense'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint: Exod 30:1, 7–8 (the morning and evening incense), Lev 16:12–13, Ps 141:2 [140:2 LXX], 'Let my prayer be set before you as incense (θυμίαμα).' Luke 1:9–11: Zechariah offers incense while 'the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense'. Revelation 5:8: 'golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints'.

From the study of Revelation 18:13

Range of meaning

Incense: fragrant material burned to produce smoke, or the act of offering it. It was used in temple worship, pagan cult, banquets and funerals.

Against the English

KJV's "odours" is archaic and today suggests smells, often bad ones. Modern versions rightly say "incense."

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX it is used for the holy incense of the tabernacle (Exodus 30:1–10, 34–38) and for prayer rising like incense (Psalm 141:2 [140:2 LXX]). In Revelation itself the golden bowls of incense are "the prayers of the saints" (5:8), and incense rises with their prayers before God (8:3–4).

From the study of Revelation 5:8

Range of meaning

Incense, or the burning of incense. In the Greek Bible it most often means the holy incense blend of Exod 30:34–38, burned on the gold altar before the inner curtain every morning and evening.

Against the English

Most versions have 'incense'. KJV has 'odours' and YLT 'perfumes', which lose the fact that this is temple incense burned as an offering.

How it drifted

'Odours' meant fragrances in 1611. To a modern ear it sounds neutral or even unpleasant, and it hides the sacrificial setting.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Ps 140:2 (Hebrew 141:2): 'Let my prayer be set before you as incense (θυμίαμα).' Luke 1:10: the people prayed outside 'at the hour of incense'. The Mishnah (Tamid) describes the daily incense offering as part of the regular service.

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 1:10 θυμιάματος.¶ incense.

    And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

  2. Luke 1:11 θυμιάματος· incense;

    Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

    Here: The sacred blended incense (Exod 30:34–38), burned every morning and evening. The phrase 'altar of the incense' names which altar, and puts the angel right where the smoke, a picture of Israel's prayers, was rising (Ps 141:2).

Revelation · 4

  1. Revelation 5:8 θυμιαμάτων of incenses

    When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

    Here: 'Of incenses' (plural): fragrant spices burned on the incense altar. They stand for prayer rising to God (Ps 141:2).

  2. Revelation 8:3 θυμιάματα incense

    Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.

    Here: Literally 'incenses', a plural. It means portions of fragrant spices to be burned, the same word the Greek Old Testament uses for the sacred incense of Exodus 30.

  3. Revelation 8:4 θυμιαμάτων incense

    And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.

    Here: Literally 'incenses' (plural). It means amounts or portions of sacred incense, picking up the 'much incense' of verse 3. This is the temple's holy incense offered to God, not a pleasant household scent.

  4. Revelation 18:13 θυμιάματα incense

    of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.

    Here: Incense blends, in the plural: different kinds of fragrant material to be burned. Elsewhere in Revelation incense stands for the prayers of God's people (5:8; 8:3–4). Here it is just stock for sale.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.