"frankincense; in NT a censer, Rev. 8:3, 5*"
Definition and meaning
frankincense; in NT a censer, Rev. 8:3, 5*
In the original Greek the word is written: λιβανωτός
Historical context
Domitian required people across the empire to address him as Dominus et Deus — Lord and God. Christians who refused to burn incense before the emperor's image faced economic exclusion and imprisonment. The book was written in apocalyptic imagery that believers would recognize but Roman authorities would not — a letter of resistance written to people being crushed by the most powerful empire on earth.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of libanotos (G3031) across the King James Bible.
And 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.
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
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Common questions
Strong's G3031 (libanotos) is a Greek word that means: frankincense; in NT a censer, Rev. 8:3, 5* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word libanotos (G3031) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3031 is libanotos, a Greek word defined as: frankincense; in NT a censer, Rev. 8:3, 5*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
libanotos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.