Revelation 8 · Verse 3

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.

Revelation 8:3, King James Version

Revelation 8:3 in other translations

BSB	Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.
WEB	Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
ASV	And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
YLT	and another messenger did come, and he stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given to him much perfume, that he may give it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar that is before the throne,
DARBY	And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might give efficacy to the prayers of all saints at the golden altar which was before the throne.
BBE	And another angel came and took his place at the altar, having a gold vessel for burning perfume; and there was given to him much perfume, so that he might put it with the prayers of all the saints on the gold altar which was before the high seat.
Webster	And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

What does Revelation 8:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

3. another angel--not Christ, as many think; for He, in Revelation, is always designated by one of His proper titles; though, doubtless, He is the only true High Priest, the Angel of the Covenant, standing before the golden altar of incense, and there, as Mediator, offering up His people's prayers, rendered acceptable before God through the incense of His merit. Here the angel acts merely as a ministering spirit (He 1:4), just as the twenty-four elders have vials full of odors, or incense, which are the prayers of saints (Re 5:8), and which they present before the Lamb. How precisely their ministry, in perfuming the prayers of the saints and offering them on the altar of incense, is exercised, we know not, but we do know they are not to be prayed TO. If we send an offering of tribute to the king, the king's messenger is not allowed to appropriate what is due to the king alone. there was given unto him--The angel does not provide the incense; it is given to him by Christ, whose meritorious obedience and death are the incense, rendering the saints' prayers well pleasing to God. It is not the saints who give the angel the incense; nor are their prayers identified with the incense; nor do they offer their prayers to him. Christ alone is the Mediator through whom, and to whom, prayer is to be offered. offer it with the prayers--rather as Greek, "give it TO the prayers," so rendering them efficacious as a sweet-smelling savor to God. Christ's merits alone can thus incense our prayers, though the angelic ministry be employed to attach this incense to the prayers. The saints' praying on earth, and the angel's incensing in heaven, are simultaneous. all saints--The prayers both of the saints in the heavenly rest, and of those militant on earth. The martyrs' cry is the foremost, and brings down the ensuing judgments. golden altar--antitype to the earthly.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 3. And another angel came. Who this angel was is not mentioned, nor have we any means of determining. Of course, a great variety of opinion has been entertained on the subject (see Poole's Synopsis)-- some referring it to angels in general; others to the ministry of the church; others to Constantine; others to Michael; and many others to the Lord Jesus. All that we know is, that it was an angel who thus appeared, and there is nothing inconsistent in the supposition that any one of the angels in heaven may have been appointed to perform what is here represented. The design seems to be, to represent the prayers of the saints as ascending in the anticipation of the approaching series of wonders in the world--and there would be a beautiful propriety in representing them as offered by an angel, feeling a deep interest in the church, and ministering in behalf of the saints.

And stood at the altar. In heaven--represented as a temple, with an altar, and with the usual array of things employed in the worship of God. The altar was the appropriate place for him to stand when about to offer the prayers of the saints--for that is the place where the worshipper stood under the ancient dispensation. Compare Mt 5:23-24; Lk 1:11. In the latter place, an angel is represented as appearing to Zacharias "on the right side of the altar of incense."

Having a golden censer. The fire-pan, made for the purpose of carrying fire, on which to burn incense in time of worship. See it described and illustrated in Barnes on "Heb 9:4". There seems reason to suppose that the incense that was offered in the ancient worship was designed to be emblematic of the prayers of saints, for it was the custom for worshippers to be engaged in prayer at the time the incense was offered by the priest. See Lk 1:10.

And there was given unto him much incense. Lk 1:9. A large quantity was here given to him, because the occasion was one on which many prayers might be expected to be offered.

That he should offer it with the prayers. Marg., "add it to." Gr., "that he should give it with"--δωση. The idea is plain, that, when the prayers of the saints ascended, he would also burn the incense, that it might go up at the same moment, and be emblematic of them. Compare Rev 5:8.

Of all saints. Of all who are holy; of all who are the children of God. The idea seems to be, that, at this time, all the saints would unite in calling on God, and in deprecating his wrath. As the events which were about to occur were a matter of common interest to the people of God, it was to be supposed that they would unite in common supplication.

Upon the golden altar. The altar of incense. This in the tabernacle and in the temple was overlaid with gold.

Which was before the throne. This is represented as a temple-service, and the altar of incense is, with propriety, placed before his seat or throne, as it was in the tabernacle and temple. In the temple, God is represented as occupying the mercy-seat in the holy of holies, and the altar of incense is in the holy place before that. See the description of the temple in Mt 21:12.

(1) "offer" "add it to" (c) "prayers" Rev 5:8 (d) "golden altar" Rev 6:9

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 Another angel - About to perform the office of priest. Having a golden censer - This was a preparation peculiar to the day of expiation. "On other days it was the custom of the priest to take fire from the great altar in a silver censer, but on the day of expiation the high priest took the fire from the great altar in a golden censer; and when he was come down from the great altar, he took incense from one of the priests, who brought it to him, and went with it to the golden altar; and while he offered the incense the people prayed without in silence, which is the silence in heaven for half an hour." See Sir Isaac Newton. Much incense, that he should offer it - Judgments of God are now about to be executed; the saints - the genuine Christians, pray much to God for protection. The angelic priest comes with much incense, standing between the living and those consigned to death, and offers his incense to God With the prayers of the saints.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 8:1-6

The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries through oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it is a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer, and much incense, fulness of merit in his own glorious…

Read the full comment on Revelation 8:1-6 →

Revelation 8:3 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

ἄλλοςallosanotherG243

ἄγγελοςangelosangelG32

ἦλθενēlthencameG2064

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐστάθηestathēhe stoodG2476

ἐπὶepiatG1909

τοῦtoutheG3588

θυσιαστηρίουthusiastērioualtarG2379

ἔχωνechōnhavingG2192

λιβανωτὸνlibanōtona censerG3031

χρυσοῦν.chrusoungolden.G5552

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐδόθηedothēwas givenG1325

αὐτῷautōto himG846

θυμιάματαthumiamataincenseG2368

πολλὰpollamuchG4183

ἵναinathatG2443

δώσειdōseihe will give [it]G1325

ταῖςtaiswith theG3588

προσευχαῖςproseuchaisprayersG4335

τῶνtōnof theG3588

ἁγίωνhagiōnsaintsG40

πάντωνpantōnallG3956

ἐπὶepiuponG1909

τὸtotheG3588

θυσιαστήριονthusiastērionaltarG2379

τὸto<the>G3588

χρυσοῦνchrusoungoldenG5552

τὸto<the>G3588

ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799

τοῦtoutheG3588

θρόνου.thronouthrone.G2362

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

Cross references for Revelation 8:3

Revelation 5:8
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.
Revelation 8:4
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Psalms 141:2
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Luke 1:10
And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Revelation 9:13
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Malachi 1:11
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
Leviticus 16:12-13
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
Numbers 16:46-47
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
Hebrews 9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
2 Chronicles 26:16-20
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord, that were valiant men: And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God. Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar. …
Exodus 37:25-26
And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.
Exodus 40:26
And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

another.
7:2; 10:1; Ge 48:15,16; Ex 3:2-18; Ac 7:30-32
stood.
9:13; Ex 30:1-8; 2Ch 26:16-20; Ro 8:34; Heb 7:25
having.
Le 16:12; 1Ki 7:50; Heb 9:4
much.
Le 16:13; Nu 16:46,47; Mal 1:11
offer it with the prayers. or, add it to the prayers.
4; 5:8; Ps 141:2; Lu 1:10; Heb 4:15,16; 10:19-22; 1Jo 2:1,2
the golden.
6:9; 9:13; Ex 37:25,26; 40:26

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

Context

Revelation 8:2
And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
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.
Revelation 8:4
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

Read all of Revelation 8

Revelation 8:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y otro ángel vino, y se paró delante del altar, teniendo un incensario de oro; y le fué dado mucho incienso para que lo añadiese á las oraciones de todos los santos sobre el altar de oro que estaba delante del trono.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et un autre ange vint et se tint debout devant l’autel, ayant un encensoir d’or; et beaucoup de parfums lui furent donnés, pour donner efficace aux prières de tous les saints, sur l’autel d’or qui est devant le trône.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und ein anderer Engel kam und stellte sich an den Altar, und er hatte ein goldenes Räucherfaß; und es wurde ihm viel Räucherwerk gegeben, auf daß er Kraft gebe den Gebeten aller Heiligen auf dem goldenen Altar, der vor dem Throne ist.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et alius angelus venit, et stetit ante altare habens thuribulum aureum: et data sunt illi incensa multa, ut daret de orationibus sanctorum omnium super altare aureum, quod est ante thronum Dei.