from a derivative of θυμιάω; a place of fumigation, i.e. the alter of incense (in the Temple):--censer.
Transliteration:thymiastḗrion
Pronunciation:thoo-mee-as-tay'-ree-on
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun θυμιαστήριον (thymiastḗrion), Strong's number `{{G2369}}`, is derived from the verb θυμιάω (thymiaō), meaning "to burn incense" or "to offer incense." Consequently, its core meaning denotes a "place of fumigation" or an "incense-burning apparatus." In biblical and cultic contexts, its semantic range narrows to two primary interpretations: "the altar of incense" (specifically the golden altar in the tabernacle/temple) or "a censer" (a portable vessel for burning incense). Both interpretations relate to the sacred act of offering aromatic smoke to God in worship.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term θυμιαστήριον appears only once in the New Testament, in [[Hebrews 9:4]]. The verse describes the furnishings within the tabernacle: "having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant."
The precise meaning of θυμιαστήριον in this context has been a subject of scholarly debate. The "altar of incense" (מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת - `{{H4196}}` `{{H6982}}`) was located in the Holy Place, just outside the veil separating it from the Most Holy Place. However, the author of Hebrews lists the θυμιαστήριον *with* the ark of the covenant, which was *inside* the Most Holy Place. This spatial arrangement leads some scholars to interpret θυμιαστήριον here as a "censer," a portable vessel that the High Priest would carry into the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to offer incense before the ark, thus creating a cloud of incense to cover the mercy seat ([[Leviticus 16:12-13]]).
Alternatively, some argue that θυμιαστήριον refers to the altar of incense itself, and its placement "with" the ark in the text signifies its functional proximity and theological connection to the Most Holy Place, as its smoke would penetrate the veil. The Septuagint (LXX) often uses θυμιαστήριον to translate Hebrew terms for the altar of incense (e.g., [[Exodus 30:1]], [[Exodus 37:25]]). Given the author's focus on the inner workings of the tabernacle and its typological significance, both interpretations carry weight, though the "censer" reading might better fit the immediate spatial description. Regardless, the term points to an object central to the sacred ritual of offering incense before God's presence.
### Related Words & Concepts
The term θυμιαστήριον is etymologically linked to several related Greek words:
* θυμιάω (thymiáō - `{{G2370}}`): The verb meaning "to burn incense," "to offer incense."
* θύος (thýos): A less common term for "incense" or "sacrifice."
* θυμίαμα (thymíama - `{{G2368}}`): The noun meaning "incense" (the substance itself) or "an offering of incense." This term is used elsewhere in the New Testament to symbolize the prayers of the saints ([[Revelation 5:8]], [[Revelation 8:3-4]]).
In the Hebrew Bible, the primary counterparts are:
* מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת (mizbach haqqetoret): "The altar of incense," a specific piece of tabernacle furniture (`{{H4196}}` `{{H6982}}`).
* מִקְטֶרֶת (miqteret): A more general term for "censer" or "fire-pan" (`{{H4730}}`).
These terms collectively underscore the significance of incense in ancient Israelite worship, representing prayer, purification, and the ascent of devotion to God.
### Theological Significance
The θυμιαστήριον, whether understood as the altar of incense or a censer, held profound theological significance in Israelite worship. It was the instrument by which aromatic incense was offered, creating a fragrant cloud that ascended to God. This act symbolized:
1. **Prayer and Intercession:** The ascending smoke of incense was widely understood to represent the prayers of the faithful rising to God, as seen in later Jewish and Christian tradition ([[Psalm 141:2]], [[Revelation 5:8]]).
2. **Atonement and Purification:** On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place with incense, whose smoke covered the mercy seat, symbolizing a barrier between the priest and the divine holiness, allowing for atonement to be made without immediate judgment ([[Leviticus 16:12-13]]).
3. **Divine Presence:** The presence of the θυμιαστήριον in the Holy Place, or its use in the Most Holy Place, underscored the nearness of God and the sacredness of the sanctuary.
In the book of Hebrews, the earthly θυμιαστήριον and other tabernacle furnishings are presented not as ends in themselves, but as "copies and shadows of the heavenly things" ([[Hebrews 8:5]]). They served as types, pointing forward to the ultimate reality found in Jesus Christ. Christ, as the true and perfect High Priest, entered the heavenly sanctuary "not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" ([[Hebrews 9:12]]). The earthly incense, offered by fallible priests, foreshadowed Christ's perfect and ongoing intercession for His people, providing a superior and eternal access to God's presence, not through smoke and ritual, but through His completed sacrifice.
### Summary
G2369 (θυμιαστήριον) is a Greek noun meaning "incense altar" or "censer," derived from the verb "to burn incense." Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[Hebrews 9:4]] describes an item associated with the tabernacle's inner sanctuary, prompting scholarly discussion on whether it refers to the golden altar of incense or a censer carried by the high priest. The term is closely related to other words for incense (`{{G2368}}`) and the act of burning it (`{{G2370}}`), and corresponds to Hebrew concepts of the altar of incense (`{{H4196}}` `{{H6982}}`) and portable censers (`{{H4730}}`). Theologically, the θυμιαστήριον represents prayer, atonement, and access to God's presence in Old Testament worship. In the book of Hebrews, it serves as a powerful type, pointing to the superior and perfect priestly work of Jesus Christ, who, through His own blood, has provided ultimate and eternal access to the very presence of God in the heavenly sanctuary.
TRV