Frankincense

Frankincense is a pale, sweet-smelling resin from trees that grow in southern Arabia and the Horn of Africa. In Israel's worship it was blended into the holy incense burned before the LORD and placed on the grain offering, so that its smoke rose 'of a sweet savour unto the LORD.' Because incense rose toward heaven, it became a picture of prayer: 'Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.' The wise men brought frankincense to the young Jesus, and in Revelation the smoke of incense rises before God 'with the prayers of the saints.'

0:00

Strongest connections in Scripture

Exodus 30 Psalms 141

Key Passages

The Holy Incense

Exodus 30:34-36

God gives the recipe for the tabernacle incense, a holy blend set apart only for his presence.

A³⁴nd the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:

³⁵ And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: ³⁶ And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.