Luke 1 · Verse 10

Luke 1:10

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Luke 1:10, King James Version

Luke 1:10 in other translations

BSBAnd at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
WEBThe whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
ASVAnd the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.
YLTand all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the hour of the perfume.
DARBYAnd all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.
BBEAnd all the people were offering prayers outside, at the time of the burning of perfumes.
WebsterAnd the whole multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense.

What does Luke 1:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. praying without--outside the court in front of the temple, where stood the altar of burnt offering; the men and women in separate courts, but the altar visible to all. the time of incense--which was offered along with the morning and evening sacrifice of every day; a beautiful symbol of the acceptableness of the sacrifice offered on the altar of burnt offering, with coals from whose altar the incense was burnt (Le 16:12, 13). This again was a symbol of the "living sacrifice" of themselves and their services offered daily to God by the worshippers. Hence the language of Psa 141:2; Re 8:3. But that the acceptance of this daily offering depended on the expiatory virtue presupposed in the burnt offering, and pointing to the one "sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savor" (Ep 5:2), is evident from Is 6:6, 7.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 The whole multitude - were praying - The incense was itself an emblem of the prayers and praises of the people of God: see Psa 141:2; Rev 8:1. While, therefore, the rite is performing by the priest, the people are employed in the thing signified. Happy the people who attend to the spirit as well as the letter of every divine institution! Incense was burnt twice a day in the temple, in the morning and in the evening, Exo 30:7, Exo 30:8; but the evangelist does not specify the time of the day in which this transaction took place. It was probably in the morning.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 1:5-25

The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are…

Read the full comment on Luke 1:5-25 →

Luke 1:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
πᾶνpanallG3956
τὸtotheG3588
πλῆθοςplēthosmultitudeG4128
ἦνēnwereG1510
τοῦtouof theG3588
λαοῦlaoupeopleG2992
προσευχόμενονproseuchomenonprayingG4336
ἔξωexōoutsideG1854
τῇtēaat theG3588
ὥρᾳhōrahourG5610
τοῦtouof theG3588
θυμιάματος.¶thumiamatosincense.G2368

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 1:10

  • Leviticus 16:17

    And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

  • Revelation 8:3

    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.

  • Hebrews 4:14

    Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

  • Hebrews 9:24

    For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Le 16:17; Heb 4:14; 9:24; Re 8:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 1:9

    According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

  • Luke 1:10

    And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

  • Luke 1:11

    And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

Read all of Luke 1

Luke 1:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y toda la multitud del pueblo estaba fuera orando á la hora del incienso.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et toute la multitude du peuple priait dehors, à l’heure du parfum.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die ganze Menge des Volkes war betend draußen zur Stunde des Räucherns.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi.