θυμιατήριον (thumiatērion)
thumiatērion
incense altar
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun thumiaterion refers to a vessel used for burning incense, appearing in Scripture only once within Hebrews 9:4. While the term generally denotes a portable censer or shovel for carrying hot coals, its specific application here points to the golden altar of incense that stood before the veil in the Holy of Holies.
This distinction matters because it highlights the sacredness of the space described. The author is not listing everyday items but the most holy furnishings of the tabernacle, including the ark and the mercy seat. By identifying this object as thumiaterion, the text emphasizes the ritual purity required to approach God’s presence, contrasting the old covenant’s limited access with the new way opened through Christ.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word thumiaterion refers to the golden altar of incense, a sacred vessel placed in the Holy of Holies alongside the ark of the covenant. In Hebrews 9:4, this object is listed among the most holy items of the old tabernacle. It was not a common tool but a specialized instrument for burning fragrant offerings before God’s presence.
For your faith, this detail highlights how serious and costly access to God once was. Only specific rituals could approach this altar, underscoring the separation between heaven and earth under the old covenant. The incense rising from it symbolized prayers ascending to God, yet the veil remained closed to ordinary people.
Now, through Christ, that barrier is removed. You do not need a physical altar or priestly mediation to bring your prayers before Him. Instead, you have direct access to the Father. This ancient object reminds us of the privilege we now hold: approaching God boldly, not through ritual purity alone, but through the finished work of Jesus.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- altar of incense1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θυμιατήριον1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 9:4
having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
This verse uniquely identifies the thumiaterion as the golden altar of incense within the Holy of Holies, emphasizing its role in the most sacred ritual space.