King James Bible Dictionary

The vessel in which incense was presented on "the golden altar" before the Lord in the temple (Exodus 30:1-9). The priest filled the censer with live coal from the sacred fire on the altar of burnt-offering, and having carried it into the sanctuary, there threw upon the burning coals the sweet incense (Leviticus 16:12, 13), which sent up a cloud of smoke, filling the apartment with fragrance. The censers in daily use were of brass (Numbers 16:39), and were designated by a different Hebrew name, miktereth (2 Chronicles 26:19; Ezekiel 8:11): while those used on the day of Atonement were of gold, and were denoted by a word (mahtah) meaning "something to take fire with;" LXX. pureion = a fire-pan. Solomon prepared for the temple censers of pure gold (1 Kings 7:50; 2 Chronicles 4:22). The angel in the Apocalypse is represented with a golden censer (Revelation 8:3, 5). Paul speaks of the golden censer as belonging to the tabernacle (Hebrews 9:4). The Greek word thumiaterion, here rendered "censer," may more appropriately denote, as in the margin of Revised Version, "the altar of incense." Paul does not here say that the thumiaterion was in the holiest, for it was in the holy place, but that the holiest had it, i.e., that it belonged to the holiest (1 Kings 6:22). It was intimately connected with the high priest's service in the holiest.

The manner in which the censer is to be used is described in Numbers 4:14; Leviticus 16:12.

Used for offering incense
Leviticus 16:12; Numbers 4:14; Numbers 16:6-7; Numbers 16:16-18; Numbers 16:46; Revelation 8:3

For the temple, made of gold
1 Kings 7:50; 2 Chronicles 4:22; Hebrews 9:4

Those which Korah used were converted into plates
Numbers 16:37-39

Used in idolatrous rites
Ezekiel 8:11

Symbolic
Revelation 8:3; Revelation 8:5

A small portable vessel of metal fitted to receive burning coals from the altar, and on which the incense for burning was sprinkled. (2 Chronicles 26:19; Luke 1:9) The only distinct precepts regarding the use of the censer are found in (Leviticus 16:12) and in (Numbers 4:14) Solomon prepared "censers of pure gold" as part of the temple furniture. (1 Kings 7:50; 2 Chronicles 4:22) The word rendered "censer" in (Hebrews 9:4) probably means the "altar of incense."

CENSER, noun A vase or pan in which incense is burned. Among the Jews, a kind of chafing-dish, covered by a dome, and suspended by a chain, used to offer perfumes in sacrifices.