"incense, any odoriferous substance burnt in religious worship, Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4; 18:13; or, the act of burning incense, Lk. 1:10, 11*"
Definition and meaning
incense, any odoriferous substance burnt in religious worship, Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4; 18:13; or, the act of burning incense, Lk. 1:10, 11*
In the original Greek the word is written: θυμίαμα
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
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 thumiama (G2368) across the King James Bible.
And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
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 smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
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Common questions
Strong's G2368 (thumiama) is a Greek word that means: incense, any odoriferous substance burnt in religious worship, Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4; 18:13; or, the act of burning incense, Lk. 1:10, 11* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word thumiama (G2368) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2368 is thumiama, a Greek word defined as: incense, any odoriferous substance burnt in religious worship, Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4; 18:13; or, the act of burning incense, Lk. 1:10, 11*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
thumiama is a Greek word found in the New Testament.