Objects & worship
Incense Altar
A small gold-covered altar where fragrant incense was burned.
Also called · golden altar
What it means
Made of wood covered with gold, the altar stands outside the veil that screens the ark. In Exodus 30, Aaron burns incense when he tends the lamps in the morning and lights them in the evening.
Unprescribed incense, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings are forbidden on this altar. Once a year, however, Aaron makes atonement on its horns with the blood of the sin offering.
How it appears in the Bible
In Luke 1, people pray outside while Zacharias burns incense, and an angel appears at the right side of the altar. Revelation 8 describes incense smoke rising with the saints’ prayers from the golden altar before God’s throne.
Translation note
It is distinguished from the larger bronze altar used for sacrifices.