INCENSE . (1) lebônâh , which should always be tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘frankincense’ (wh. see). It was burnt with the meat-offering ( Leviticus 2:1-2; Leviticus 2:15-16; Leviticus 6:15 etc.), and offered with the shewbread ( Leviticus 24:7-9 ). (2) qetôreth , lit. ‘smoke,’ and so used in Isaiah 1:13 , Psalms 66:15; Psalms 141:2; used for a definite substance, Leviticus 10:1 , Ezekiel 8:11 etc. (3) thumiama (Gr.), Luke 1:10 , Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3; Revelation 18:13 . The holy incense ( Exodus 30:34 ) was made of stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense, but the incense of later times, which was offered daily ( Jdt 9:1 , Luke 1:8-10 ), was more complicated. According to Josephus, it had thirteen constituents ( BJ V. v. 5). Incense was originally burned in censers , but these were latterly used only to carry coals from the great altar to the ‘altar of incense.’
E. W. G. Masterman.