Reference: Censer
American
A vessel in which fire and incense were carried, in certain parts of the Hebrew worship. Little is known of its form. The censer for the daily offering was at first made of copper, Nu 16:39. That used on the great Day of Atonement, (and perhaps others also,) was made of pure gold, 1Ki 7:50; Heb 9:4. In the daily offering, the censer was filled with coals from the perpetual fire, and placed on the altar of incense, where the incense was thrown upon the coals, Ex 30:1,7-10. On the day of atonement, in the Holy of Holies, the censer must have been held in the hand, and probably by a handle, Le 16:12-13.
There are two Hebrew words, which are translated censer in our English Bibles. The one signifies strictly fire-pan. The other signifies incense-pan, a vessel for burning incense; but we do not know its exact shape.
The censers of the Egyptians had long handles, like a human arm and hand, upon the palm of which the incense-cup stood. Those of the Greeks and Romans had chains, by which they were carried, like those now used in the Romish service.
In the New Testament, where the twenty-four elders are said to have golden "vials" full of odors, Re 5:8, the meaning is vessels of incense, censers, not vials in the present sense of the word.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet cense every morning when he dresseth the lamps: and likewise at even when he setteth up the lamps he shall burn cense perpetually before the LORD throughout your generations. read more. Ye shall put no strange cense thereon, neither burnt sacrifice nor meat offering, neither pour any drink offering thereon. And Aaron shall reconcile his horns once in a year, with the blood of the sin offering of reconciling: even once in the year shall he reconcile it through your generations. And so is it most holy unto the LORD."
"And then he shall take a censer full of burning coals out of the altar that is before the LORD, and his handful of sweet cense beaten small, and bring them within the veil, and put the cense upon the fire before the LORD: that the cloud of the cense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the witness, that he die not.
And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers which they that were burnt had offered, and beat them and fastened them upon the altar,
and bowls, Psalteries, basins, spoons and fire pans of pure gold; and hinges of gold both for the doors of the quyre, the place most holy, and for the doors of the temple also.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and twenty four elders fell down before the lamb, having harps and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints,
Easton
the vessel in which incense was presented on "the golden altar" before the Lord in the temple (Ex 30:1-9). The priest filled the censer with live coal from the sacred fire on the altar of burnt-offering, and having carried it into the sanctuary, there threw upon the burning coals the sweet incense (Le 16:12-13), which sent up a cloud of smoke, filling the apartment with fragrance. The censers in daily use were of brass (Nu 16:39), and were designated by a different Hebrew name, miktereth (2Ch 26:19; Eze 8:11): while those used on the day of Atonement were of gold, and were denoted by a word (mahtah) meaning "something to take fire with;" LXX. pureion = a fire-pan. Solomon prepared for the temple censers of pure gold (1Ki 7:50; 2Ch 4:22). The angel in the Apocalypse is represented with a golden censer (Re 8:3,5). Paul speaks of the golden censer as belonging to the tabernacle (Heb 9:4). The Greek word thumiaterion, here rendered "censer," may more appropriately denote, as in the margin of Revised Version, "the altar of incense." Paul does not here say that the thumiaterion was in the holiest, for it was in the holy place, but that the holiest had it, i.e., that it belonged to the holiest (1Ki 6:22). It was intimately connected with the high priest's service in the holiest.
The manner in which the censer is to be used is described in Nu 4:14; Le 16:12.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And thou shalt make an altar to burn cense therein, of sethim-wood: a cubit long, and a cubit broad, even foursquare shall it be and two cubits, high: with horns proceeding out of it, read more. and thou shalt overlay it with fine gold both the roof and the walls round about, and his horns also, and shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about, and two golden rings on either side, even under the crown, to put staves therein for to bear it withal. And thou shalt make the staves of sethim-wood and cover them with gold. And thou shalt put it before the veil that hangeth before the ark of witness, and before the mercy seat that is before the witness, where I will meet thee. And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet cense every morning when he dresseth the lamps: and likewise at even when he setteth up the lamps he shall burn cense perpetually before the LORD throughout your generations. Ye shall put no strange cense thereon, neither burnt sacrifice nor meat offering, neither pour any drink offering thereon.
"And then he shall take a censer full of burning coals out of the altar that is before the LORD, and his handful of sweet cense beaten small, and bring them within the veil,
"And then he shall take a censer full of burning coals out of the altar that is before the LORD, and his handful of sweet cense beaten small, and bring them within the veil, and put the cense upon the fire before the LORD: that the cloud of the cense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the witness, that he die not.
and put about it, the firepans, the fleshhooks, the shovels, the basins, and all that belongeth unto the altar, and they shall spread upon it a covering of taxus' skins, and put on the staves of it.
And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers which they that were burnt had offered, and beat them and fastened them upon the altar,
And the whole house he overlaid with gold until he had ended it. And the altar that was in the quyre he overlaid with gold also.
and bowls, Psalteries, basins, spoons and fire pans of pure gold; and hinges of gold both for the doors of the quyre, the place most holy, and for the doors of the temple also.
And Uzziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, even beside the incense altar.
There stood also before the images: Seventy lords of the counsel of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. And every one of them had a censor in his hand, and out of the incense there went a smoke, as it had been a cloud.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
And another angel came and stood before the altar having a golden censer, and much of odours was given unto him, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which was before the seat.
And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire of the altar and cast it into the earth, and voices were made, and thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquake.
Fausets
An instrument to seize or hold burning coals. Latterly the portable metal vessel for receiving from the altar burning coals, on which the priest sprinkled the incense for burning (2Ch 26:16,18-19; Lu 1:9). Korah and his company were told to take censers, with which they had furnished themselves as aspiring to share in Aaron's priesthood. So Uzziah. So Eze 8:11. But Aaron was told to take "the censer" (Hebrew), namely, that of the sanctuary or of the high priest, and make atonement to stay the plague (Nu 16:46). On the day of atonement the high priest was to carry the censer of the golden altar within the most holy place, and put the incense on the fire in the censer "before the Lord" (Le 16:12-13).
Solomon made censers of pure gold, probably to take fire from the brazen altar, and to convey incense to the golden altar on which it was to be offered morning and evening (Ex 30:7-8; 1Ki 7:50). In Re 8:3-4 the "angel" is not Christ, who always has His own title in Revelation, but a ministering spirit. The incense, i.e. Christ's meritorious obedience and death, is given to the angel that he may give it to (so the Greek) the prayers of all saints, to render them a sweet smelling savor to God. "The golden altar," moreover, is Christ Himself (Heb 13:10), resting on whom alone prayer is accepted before God. How the angels' ministry exactly is exercised we know not, but we do know they are not to be prayed to (Re 19:10).
If we send an offering to the King, the King's messenger is not to appropriate what is due to the King alone. In Heb 9:4 "the holiest ... had the golden censer "does not mean it was deposited there, for then the high priest would have had to go in and bring it out before burning incense in it, but that the golden censer was one of the articles belonging to the yearly service in the holiest place; it was taken into the holiest on that anniversary by the high priest. Its shape was probably that of a pan with a handle.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet cense every morning when he dresseth the lamps:
And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet cense every morning when he dresseth the lamps: and likewise at even when he setteth up the lamps he shall burn cense perpetually before the LORD throughout your generations.
and likewise at even when he setteth up the lamps he shall burn cense perpetually before the LORD throughout your generations.
"And then he shall take a censer full of burning coals out of the altar that is before the LORD, and his handful of sweet cense beaten small, and bring them within the veil,
"And then he shall take a censer full of burning coals out of the altar that is before the LORD, and his handful of sweet cense beaten small, and bring them within the veil, and put the cense upon the fire before the LORD: that the cloud of the cense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the witness, that he die not.
and put the cense upon the fire before the LORD: that the cloud of the cense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the witness, that he die not.
And Moses said unto Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire therein out of the altar, and pour on cense, and go quickly unto the congregation and make an atonement for them. For there is wrath gone out from the LORD, and there is a plague begun."
And Moses said unto Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire therein out of the altar, and pour on cense, and go quickly unto the congregation and make an atonement for them. For there is wrath gone out from the LORD, and there is a plague begun."
And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the LORD his God. For he went into the temple of the LORD to burn cense upon the altar of incense.
And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the LORD his God. For he went into the temple of the LORD to burn cense upon the altar of incense.
And they stepped to Uzziah the king and said to him, "It pertaineth not to thee, Uzziah, to burn cense unto the LORD; but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrated for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the LORD God."
And they stepped to Uzziah the king and said to him, "It pertaineth not to thee, Uzziah, to burn cense unto the LORD; but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrated for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the LORD God." And Uzziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, even beside the incense altar.
And Uzziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, even beside the incense altar.
There stood also before the images: Seventy lords of the counsel of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. And every one of them had a censor in his hand, and out of the incense there went a smoke, as it had been a cloud.
There stood also before the images: Seventy lords of the counsel of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. And every one of them had a censor in his hand, and out of the incense there went a smoke, as it had been a cloud.
according to the custom of the priest's office his lot was to burn incense. And he went into the temple of the Lord,
according to the custom of the priest's office his lot was to burn incense. And he went into the temple of the Lord,
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
We have an altar whereof they may not eat, which serve in the tabernacle.
We have an altar whereof they may not eat, which serve in the tabernacle.
And another angel came and stood before the altar having a golden censer, and much of odours was given unto him, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which was before the seat.
And another angel came and stood before the altar having a golden censer, and much of odours was given unto him, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which was before the seat. And the smoke of the odours which came of the prayers of all saints ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
And the smoke of the odours which came of the prayers of all saints ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
And I fell at his feet, to worship him. And he said unto me, "See thou do it not. For I am thy fellow servant, and one of thy brethren, and of them that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
And I fell at his feet, to worship him. And he said unto me, "See thou do it not. For I am thy fellow servant, and one of thy brethren, and of them that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Hastings
Morish
A small vessel made of metal, to contain burning coals from the altar, on which incense was sprinkled by the priest, that a cloud of incense might arise therefrom. Le 10:1; 16:12. Solomon made some of gold. 1Ki 7:50; 2Ch 4:22; Heb 9:4; Re 8:3,5. The same word is used when the company of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were put to the test; the censers were probably hastily constructed ones, for 250 were needed. Aaron ran with a censer and incense between the living and the dead, and the plague was stayed. Nu 16:6-48. The same Hebrew word is translated 'fire-pan' in Ex 27:3; 38:3; 2Ki 25:15; Jer 52:19.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And make his ashpans, shovels, basins, fleshhooks, firepans and all the apparel thereof, of brass;
And he made all the vessels of the altar: the cauldrons, shovels, basins, fleshhooks and coalpans all of brass.
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censor, and put fire therein, and put cense upon; and brought strange fire before the LORD: which he commanded them not.
"And then he shall take a censer full of burning coals out of the altar that is before the LORD, and his handful of sweet cense beaten small, and bring them within the veil,
This do: take firepans, thou Korah and all thy company, and do fire therein and put cense thereto before the LORD tomorrow: And then whomsoever the LORD doeth chose, the same is holy. Ye make enough to do, ye children of Levi." read more. And Moses said unto Korah, "Hear, ye children of Levi: Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the multitude of Israel to bring you to him, to do the service of the dwelling place of the LORD, and to stand before the people to minister unto them? He hath taken thee to him and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee, and ye seek the office of the priest also. For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: for what is Aaron, that ye should murmur against him?" And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they answered, "We will not come. Seemeth it a small thing unto thee that thou hast brought us out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness; but that thou shouldest reign over us also? Moreover, thou hast brought us unto no land that floweth with milk and honey, neither hast given us possessions of fields or of vines. Either wilt thou pull out the eyes of these men? We will not come." And Moses waxed very angry and said unto the LORD, "Turn not unto their offerings. I have not taken so much as an ass from them, neither have vexed any of them." Then Moses said unto Korah, "Be thou and all thy company before the LORD: both thou, they, and Aaron tomorrow. And take every man his censer and put cense in them, and come before the LORD every man with his censer: two hundred and fifty censers, and Aaron with his censer." And they took every man his censer and put fire in them and laid cense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of witness, and Moses and Aaron also. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of witness. And the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, "Separate yourselves from this congregation, that I may consume them at once." And they fell upon their faces, and said, "O most mighty God of the spirits of all flesh; one man hath sinned, and wilt thou be wroth with all the multitude?" And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Speak unto the congregation, and say, 'Get you away from about the dwelling of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.'" And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, "Depart from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs: lest ye perish in all their sins." And they gat them from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, on every side. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood in the door of their tents with their wives, their sons and their children. And Moses said, "Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works, and that I have not done them of mine own mind: If these men die the common death of all men or if they be visited after the visitation of all men, then the LORD hath not sent me. But and if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and swallow them and all that pertain unto them, so that they go down quick in to hell: then ye shall understand, that these men have railed upon the LORD." And as soon as he had made an end of speaking all these words, the ground clove asunder that was under them, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them and their houses and all the men that were with Korah and all their goods. And they and all that pertained unto them, went down alive unto hell, and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were about them, fled at the cry of them. For they said, "The earth might haply swallow us also." And there came out a fire from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered cense. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest and let him take up the censers out of the burning and scatter the fire here and there, for the censers of these sinners are hallowed in their deaths: and let them be beaten into thin plates and fastened upon the altar. For they offered them before the LORD, and therefore they are holy and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel." And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers which they that were burnt had offered, and beat them and fastened them upon the altar, to be a remembrance unto the children of Israel, that no stranger which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer cense before the LORD, that he be not made like unto Korah and his company: as the LORD said unto him by the hand of Moses. And on the morrow all the multitude of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, "Ye have killed the people of the LORD." And when the multitude was gathered against Moses and Aaron, they looked toward the tabernacle of witness; And behold, the cloud had covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. And Moses and Aaron went before the tabernacle of witness. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Get you from this congregation, that I may consume them quickly." And they fell upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire therein out of the altar, and pour on cense, and go quickly unto the congregation and make an atonement for them. For there is wrath gone out from the LORD, and there is a plague begun." And Aaron took as Moses commanded him, and ran unto the congregation: and behold, the plague was begun among the people, and he put on cense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead, and them that were alive, and the plague ceased.
and bowls, Psalteries, basins, spoons and fire pans of pure gold; and hinges of gold both for the doors of the quyre, the place most holy, and for the doors of the temple also.
with the basins, coal pans, sprinklers, pots, candlesticks, spoons and cups; whereof some were of gold, and some of silver.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
And another angel came and stood before the altar having a golden censer, and much of odours was given unto him, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which was before the seat.
And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire of the altar and cast it into the earth, and voices were made, and thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquake.
Smith
A small portable vessel of metal fitted to receive burning coals from the altar, and on which the incense for burning was sprinkled.
2Ch 26:19; Lu 1:9
The only distinct precepts regarding the use of the censer are found in
and in
Solomon prepared "censers of pure gold" as part of the temple furniture.
The word rendered "censer" in
probably means the "altar of incense."
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and put about it, the firepans, the fleshhooks, the shovels, the basins, and all that belongeth unto the altar, and they shall spread upon it a covering of taxus' skins, and put on the staves of it.
and bowls, Psalteries, basins, spoons and fire pans of pure gold; and hinges of gold both for the doors of the quyre, the place most holy, and for the doors of the temple also.
And Uzziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, even beside the incense altar.
according to the custom of the priest's office his lot was to burn incense. And he went into the temple of the Lord,
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot with manna, and Aaron's rod that sprung, and the tables of the testament.
Watsons
CENSER, a sacred instrument made use of in the religious rites of the Hebrews. It was a vase which contained incense to be used in sacrifice. When Aaron made an atonement for himself and his house, he was to take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar of the Lord, Le 16:12. And Solomon, when he provided furniture for the temple of the Lord, made, among other things, censers of pure gold, 1Ki 7:50.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
"And then he shall take a censer full of burning coals out of the altar that is before the LORD, and his handful of sweet cense beaten small, and bring them within the veil,
and bowls, Psalteries, basins, spoons and fire pans of pure gold; and hinges of gold both for the doors of the quyre, the place most holy, and for the doors of the temple also.