Revelation 8:4
in Revelation 8And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.
KJV
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
⋯
This verse in Revelation 8
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThe 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.
This site's exposition
the prayers of all the saints
on Revelation 8:3-5
An angel offers much incense along with the prayers of all the saints on the altar of the martyrs' cry at 6:9-10. He took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth, so the saints' prayers are answered in judgment.
This site's exposition
together with the prayers of the saints
Clarke reads the wording closely. The angel offers the incense and the prayers rise with it, so the smoke going up shows that both were accepted. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, on verse 3, add that the saints do not pray to the angel, since Christ alone is the Mediator.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
And it is said that the smoke of the incense rises in the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel. Do you see that the prayers of the saints became more fragrant before God through the angel?
The seven angels received trumpets, and another [angel], it says, came. One might think that this one came after the seven angels, although he saw all of this at one time. As the angel was coming, those seven received their trumpets, that is, when Christ …
The Medieval Church3 voices
Although what is revealed to the saints is depicted in material form and with colors, whether it be the altar or the censer or something else, in reality these things are invisible and intellectual. And it is at such an altar that the angel stands …
And I saw seven angels standing in the sight of God; and there were given to them seven trumpets. And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer. In this place he upsets the order of the narration and interposes something; …
And the smoke of the incense ascended from the prayers of the saints, etc. Christ the Lord offering Himself as a sacrifice of sweetness made the compunction of the hearts of the saints acceptable, which, being born from the inner fire, usually stirs up tears …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And the smoke of the incense,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3282: “Preparing for the Week of Prayer” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
I SUPPOSE that there will be very little doubt among you that the "Angel" mentioned here was either our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, or a special angelic messenger sent to represent Him. You remember that under the Mosaic dispensation, there was to be an altar of shittim wood, overlaid with pure gold, and that Aaron was to burn sweet incense thereon every morning and every evening.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3282: “Preparing for the Week of Prayer” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
I SUPPOSE that there will be very little doubt among you that the "Angel" mentioned here was either our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, or a special angelic messenger sent to represent Him. You remember that under the Mosaic dispensation, there was to be an altar of shittim wood, overlaid with pure gold, and that Aaron was to burn sweet incense thereon every morning and every evening. In like manner, our Great High Priest is here represented as standing at the golden altar which is before the Throne of God, having in His hand a golden censer full of incense, the fragrance of which would give acceptance to the prayers of the saints for His sake— "Great Advocate, almighty Friend, On Him our humble hopes depend— Our cause can never, never fail, For Jesus pleads and must prevail." I am going to talk to you, first, concerning the prayers of the saints. Secondly, concerning the intercession of Christ And then we shall notice the result of the sending of Christ's intercession with the saints 'prayers. I. So first, I am to speak about THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS. What a very interesting and delightful spectacle the Christian Church will present during the coming week of united prayer! It is an everyday sight to see Christians at prayer, for Believers are to "pray without ceasing." But doubtless, as long as the Church exists and men and women are what they are, there always will be special seasons when the fervor of the suppliants becomes more ardent than at ordinary times, when their desires grow more intense and their prayers, therefore, ascend in a greater volume before the eternal Throne of God.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And the smoke of the incense ... - 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.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀνέβη | anebe | went up | G305 → | 82 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καπνὸς | kapnos | smoke | G2586 → | 13 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θυμιαμάτων | thumiamaton | incense | G2368 → | 6 times |
| ταῖς | tais | with the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προσευχαῖς | proseuchais | prayers | G4335 → | 35 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίων | hagion | saints | G40 → | 220 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| χειρὸς | cheiros | [the] hand | G5495 → | 175 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγγέλου | angelou | angel | G32 → | 175 times |
| ἐνώπιον | enopion | before | G1799 → | 94 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ. | theou | God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀνέβηwent up
anebeG305 →82 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
καπνὸςsmoke
kapnosG2586 →13 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
θυμιαμάτωνincense
thumiamatonG2368 →6 times
ταῖςwith the
taisG3588 →19766 times
προσευχαῖςprayers
proseuchaisG4335 →35 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίωνsaints
hagionG40 →220 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
χειρὸς[the] hand
cheirosG5495 →175 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
ἀγγέλουangel
angelouG32 →175 times
ἐνώπιονbefore
enopionG1799 →94 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ.God.
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 141:2May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering.
it leads to
- Revelation 5:8
When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 8:3–4
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…
- 1 Timothy 2:8
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.
- Daniel 9:21
while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.
- Revelation 5:8
Through
Exodus 30:1“You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.
it leads to
- Revelation 8:3
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…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 8:3
Through
Revelation 8:3Then 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…
it leads to
- Psalms 141:2
May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering.
- Luke 1:10
And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
- Psalms 141:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
On this verse
About Revelation
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Andreas of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8:3; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3282: “Preparing for the Week of Prayer” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Ticonius, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8:3.