Altar of Incense (Golden Altar)

The Altar of Incense, also known as the Golden Altar, was a small acacia wood structure overlaid with pure gold, positioned in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Priests burned a special blend of incense on it every morning and evening as commanded in Exodus, creating a fragrant smoke that filled the sanctuary. This ritual symbolized the prayers of God's people rising before Him, as referenced in Psalm 141 and Revelation 8. Its significance lies in facilitating continuous intercession and worship, underscoring the importance of prayer in the covenant relationship between God and Israel, with violations like unauthorized incense leading to severe consequences such as the deaths of Nadab and Abihu.

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Significance: Symbolized prayer ascending to God. The incense offering was a picture of intercession and worship.
Materials: Acacia wood overlaid with pure gold

Key Passages

Instructions to Build

Exodus 30:1-10

A¹nd thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

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. 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. 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. ⁵ And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 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. ⁷ And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. ⁸ And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. ⁹ Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. 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.

Zechariah at the Altar

Luke 1:8-12

A⁸nd it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

⁹ According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. ¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

Prayers as Incense

Revelation 8:3-4

A³nd 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 which was before the throne.

⁴ And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

Did You Know?

Incense was burned every morning and evening. Representing the prayers of God's people rising continually.

The altar stood directly before the veil. As close to God's presence as the priests could regularly come.

Revelation 8:3-4 shows an angel offering incense with the prayers of the saints before God's throne.

Zechariah was burning incense at this altar when Gabriel appeared to announce John the Baptist's birth.