Revelation 8 · Verse 4

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.

Revelation 8:4, King James Version

Revelation 8:4 in other translations

BSB	And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.
WEB	The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.
ASV	And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.
YLT	and go up did the smoke of the perfumes to the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the messenger, before God;
DARBY	And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the hand of the angel before God.
BBE	And the smoke of the perfume, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand.
Webster	And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God out of the angel's hand.

What does Revelation 8:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. the smoke ... which came with the prayers ... ascended up--rather, "the smoke of the incense FOR (or 'given TO': 'given' being understood from Re 8:3) the prayers of the saints ascended up, out of the angel's hand, in the presence of Gods" The angel merely burns the incense given him by Christ the High Priest, so that its smoke blends with the ascending prayers of the saints. The saints themselves are priests; and the angels in this priestly ministration are but their fellow servants (Re 19:10).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. And the smoke of the incense, etc. The smoke caused by the burning incense. John, as he saw this, naturally interpreted it of the prayers of the saints. The meaning of the whole symbol, thus explained, is that, at the time referred to, the anxiety of the church in regard to the events which were about to occur would naturally lead to much prayer. It is not necessary to attempt to verify this by any distinct historical facts, for no one can doubt that, in a time of such impending calamities, the church would be earnestly engaged in devotion. Such has always been the case in times of danger; and it may always be assumed to be true, that when danger threatens, whether it be to the church at large or to an individual Christian, there will be a resort to the throne of grace.

(e) "incense" Ex 30:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 The smoke of the incense - with the prayers - Though incense itself be an emblem of the prayers of the saints, Psa 141:2; yet here they are said to ascend before God, as well as the incense. It is not said that the angel presents these prayers. He presents the incense, and the prayers ascend With it. The ascending of the incense shows that the prayers and offering were accepted.

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 8:4 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

ἀνέβηanebēwent upG305

ὁhotheG3588

καπνὸςkapnossmokeG2586

τῶνtōnof theG3588

θυμιαμάτωνthumiamatōnincenseG2368

ταῖςtaiswith theG3588

προσευχαῖςproseuchaisprayersG4335

τῶνtōnof theG3588

ἁγίωνhagiōnsaintsG40

ἐκekout ofG1537

χειρὸςcheiros[the] handG5495

τοῦtouof theG3588

ἀγγέλουangelouangelG32

ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦ.theouGod.G2316

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

Cross references for Revelation 8:4

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 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.
Exodus 30:1
And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
Revelation 15:8
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

3; 15:8; Ex 30:1; Ps 141:2; Lu 1:10

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

Context

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.
Revelation 8:5
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.

Read all of Revelation 8

Revelation 8:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y el humo del incienso subió de la mano del ángel delante de Dios, con las oraciones de los santos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et la fumée des parfums monta avec les prières des saints, de la main de l’ange devant Dieu.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und der Rauch des Räucherwerks stieg mit den Gebeten der Heiligen auf aus der Hand des Engels vor Gott.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et ascendit fumus incensorum de orationibus sanctorum de manu angeli coram Deo.