incense

Everyday

1. (church) A substance, often made from tree gum, that gives off a sweet-smelling smoke when it is burned, used in worship. tree →
2. The smoke itself. tree →
3. (verb, stress on -CENSE) To make someone extremely angry. tree →

In the lessons

In church life incense is burned in many Catholic and Orthodox services; the smoke rising is a sign of prayers going up to God. In the Bible the wise men brought frankincense to baby Jesus. As a verb it shows strong anger in stories: «he was incensed». Phrases: burn incense, incense sticks, be incensed by.

Examples

• The priest swung the incense burner during the service. tree →
• The church smelled of incense. tree →
• The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. tree →
• Incense smoke rose slowly towards the ceiling. tree →
• She was incensed when someone kicked over her sandcastle. tree →
• The unfair rule incensed the whole class. tree →
• The incense rises in clouds, and the monks chant the funeral hymn. tree →

Note

Two pronunciations: noun IN-sense, verb in-SENSE. The verb is strong: incensed means furious. Frankincense is a special kind of incense from trees in Arabia and Africa.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it is a sweet-smelling mix of spices burned on the golden altar in the Tabernacle and Temple, as an offering to God.

Interpretation. Tradition says the incense (ketoret) had eleven spices and was offered every morning and evening. Its smoke is a symbol of prayer rising to God.

Examples

• one golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense; (Torah NUM.7.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• and he burnt thereon incense of sweet spices; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Torah EXO.40.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense; (Torah EXO.25.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• A people that provoke Me to My face continually, that sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense upon bricks; (Prophets ISA.65.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Writings PSA.141.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• and thou didst take thy richly woven garments and cover them, and didst set Mine oil and Mine incense before them. (Prophets EZK.16.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Two pronunciations: noun IN-sense, verb in-SENSE. The verb is strong: incensed means furious. Frankincense is a special kind of incense from trees in Arabia and Africa.