Paragraph 8:3–5

8:3a

golden: The word golden indicates that the censer was made of gold. Gold is a rare metal of a somewhat yellow color. It was the most expensive metal known at that time. It is naturally shiny and beautiful. See how you translated this word in 1:12 or 5:8.

censer: A censer is a dish or bowl that was used to carry burning incense or hot coals. It sometimes had chains, a handle, or short feet attached to it. A person would hold the censer by the chains, handle, or feet when there were burning incense or coals in it.

Some languages do not have a word for censer. If that is true in your language, you may want to use a general word for what a censer does. The exact shape of the censer is not important here. For example:

incense bowl
-or-
incense burner

altar: On earth, an altar is a platform on which people offer sacrifices or gifts to God. This altar is golden, like the small altar for burning incense in the Jewish Temple. But this altar is in heaven in John’s vision. Translate this word as you did in 6:9.

8:3b–c

He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints: The Greek words are literally “Much incense was given to him, so that he will give (it) with the prayers of all the saints.” Someone gave the incense to the angel. The angel offered both the incense and the prayers to God. For example:

he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints (New Revised Standard Version)

8:3b

He was given much incense: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊someone⌋ gave much incense to him
-or-

⌊God had someone⌋ give a lot of incense to him
-or-
he received much incense

much incense: The word much indicates more than the usual amount. The amount of much incense might be several handfuls or more.

incense: The word incense refers to the dried sap of certain kinds of trees. The dried sap burns slowly to make a sweet-smelling smoke. Incense is often used as a part of worship.

In some languages people are not familiar with incense. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain incense in your translation. For example:

⌊special tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called incense⌋ burned to give/release a sweet smell
-or-
sweet smelling ⌊tree⌋ resin/sap ⌊called incense⌋

• Use the major language word. If people are not familiar with this word, explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Incense is the dried sap of certain trees. The dried sap burns slowly to make a sweet-smelling smoke. People often burned incense as part of their worship.
-or-
See the footnote on incense at 5:8.

See how you translated this word in 5:8.

to offer: The word to introduces a purpose clause. The angel offered the incense by burning it.

In some languages people are not familiar with burning incense as an offering. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain the process in your translation. For example:

to burn as an offering
-or-
to offer by burning ⌊and giving the good smell⌋

8:3c

along with the prayers of all the saints: This phrase indicates that the prayers would mix with the incense. For example:

to mix with the prayers of God’s people (New Living Translation (2004))

along with the prayers: The smoke of burning incense is often a symbol of prayers. Here the incense smoke is mixed with what it represents. The prayers are offered with the incense.

saints: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saints means “holy ones.” Here the word refers to all believers. See how you translated it in 5:8.

8:3d

on the golden altar before the throne: This phrase refers to the altar in 8:3a. John described the altar as being golden and before the throne. Your translation should indicate that this phrase refers to the altar in 8:3a. For example:

on ⌊that⌋ altar of gold ⌊that stood⌋ before the throne
-or-
on it. ⌊This⌋ altar was made of gold ⌊and stood⌋ before the throne

on the golden altar: The incense altar had a small place to hold the burning coals. The incense was placed on those coals. You may need to explain this process. For example:

⌊and burned the incense on the coals⌋ on the golden altar

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