Revelation 8:4

Revelation 8:4 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

Context of Revelation 8:4

2I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets. 3Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out. 5Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake. 6Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts.

Revelation 8:4 word by word

καὶ ἀνέβη ὁ καπνὸς τῶν θυμιαμάτων ταῖς προσευχαῖς τῶν ἁγίων ἐκ χειρὸς τοῦ ἀγγέλου ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• the smokeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the smokeκαπνόςkapnos · smokeG2586
• of the incenseθυμίαμαthumiama · incenseG2368
• with the prayersπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335
• of the saintsἅγιοςhagios · holy: saintG40
• ascended upἀναβαίνωanabainō · to ascendG305
• beforeἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• outἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• of the angel’sἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• handχείρcheir · handG5495

Cross-references for Revelation 8:4

• Revelation 8:3Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne.
• Revelation 15:8The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.
• Exodus 30:1“Then make another altar of acacia wood for burning incense.
• Psalms 141:2Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
• Luke 1:10While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

Commentaries on Revelation 8:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The smoke of the incense - with the prayers - Though incense itself be an emblem of the prayers of the saints, Psalm 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.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4The prayers of God's people ask for God's final justice and judgment (Revelation 6:10–11; see also 5:8; Ezra 9:5–6; Psalm 141:2; Daniel 9:21). The mix of incense and prayers that reaches God's presence shows that God hears them (see Revelation 6:9–11) and is ready to act.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. 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. The saints themselves are priests; and the angels in this priestly…Read the comment

Topics related to Revelation 8:4

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Incense
• Intercession
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Altar
• Incense
• Abimelech
• Ascend
• Baal (1)
• Ethics
• Literature, Sub-Apostolic
• Midian; Midianites

Commentaries on Revelation 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings