Revelation 8:3
What does Revelation 8:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 8:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 8:3 means
“Another angel” approaches the heavenly altar with a golden censer. He is given much incense to add to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. The imagery recalls temple worship, where incense signified prayer rising to God. The stress falls on God’s valuation of His people’s petitions: they are not peripheral to history but central in the divine council. The angel’s role is priestly, but the power is not his; it is God who receives and acts. “All the saints” suggests the full chorus of believers, including those who have suffered for justice. Before judgments fall, God publicly honors the prayers that have long asked for His righteous rule to appear.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And another angel came and took his place at the altar, having a gold vessel for burning perfume; and there was given to him much perfume, so that he might put it with the prayers of all the saints on the gold altar which was before the high seat.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and another messenger did come, and he stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and there was given to him much perfume, that he may give <FI>it<Fi> to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar that <FI>is<Fi> before the throne,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And another angel came and stood before the altar, having a golden censer: and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints, upon the golden altar which is before the throne of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might give [efficacy] to the prayers of all saints at the golden altar which [was] before the throne.
Context
The altar has appeared before, sheltering martyrs who cried for vindication. Now, instead of lament, we see intercession dignified. This action prepares the reader to understand the coming judgments as God’s response to His people’s prayers. Verses 3–4 form one sequence: offering and ascent, immediately followed (verse 5) by the altar’s fire being thrown to the earth. The flow connects worship to world events, teaching that prayer is not passive but instrumental in God’s purposes.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 30:1
And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of acacia wood shalt thou make it.
- Revelation 7:2
And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
- 1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- Leviticus 16:12
And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Jehovah, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:
- Genesis 48:15
And he blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who hath fed me all my life long unto this day,
- 2 Chronicles 26:16
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
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