Lexical Summary
lebonah: frankincense, incense
Original Word:לְבוֹנָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:lbownah
Pronunciation:leh-voh-NAH
Phonetic Spelling:(leb-o-naw')
KJV: (frank-)incense
NASB:frankincense, incense
Word Origin:[fromH3836 (לָבָן לָבֵן - white)]
1. frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
frankincense
Or lbonah {leb-o-naw'}; fromlaban; frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke) -- (frank-)incense.
see HEBREWlaban
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
labenDefinitionfrankincense
NASB Translationfrankincense (13), incense (8).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. , (from
white colour, compare Lag
BN 33; Late Hebrew
id.; Aramaic
id., ,
Phoenician ; Arabic
(Lane
3007); Ethiopic
is from ); —
Exodus 30:24 18t.;
Leviticus 2:2,16; — used in preparation of holy incense
Exodus 30:34 ("" ); used as incense
Jeremiah 6:20, on meal-offering
Leviticus 2:1,2,15,16;
Leviticus 6:8, compare
Leviticus 5:11;
Numbers 5:15; also
Jeremiah 17:26;
Jeremiah 41:5;
Isaiah 43:23;
Isaiah 66:3; with shew-bread
Leviticus 24:7;
Nehemiah 13:5,9;
1 Chronicles 9:29 ("" ); burned as perfume (article of luxury)
Songs 3:6 ("" );
Songs 4:6 ("" );
Songs 4:14 ("" , , , , , ); as tribute to Zion
Isaiah 60:6 ("" ). — In Hexateuch only P.
Topical Lexicon
Botanical and Commercial BackgroundDerived from the milky resin of trees native to Arabia and the Horn of Africa, לְבוֹנָה (frankincense) dries into “white” droplets whose sweet aroma is released when burned. Antiquity prized it as one of the costliest trade items; caravans from Sheba and Midian (Isaiah 60:6) moved it northward, and Solomon’s import network handled it in bulk (1 Chronicles 9:29).
Role in the Holy Incense
Frankincense is first mandated as an ingredient of the sanctuary incense (Exodus 30:34). The LORD required “stacte, onycha, and galbanum—fragrant spices with pure frankincense… in equal measures”. Its whiteness and fragrance underscored the purity of worship, and its smoke visually portrayed prayer ascending (compareRevelation 8:3-4).
Accompaniment to Grain and Memorial Offerings
Leviticus emphasizes frankincense as part of the minhah (“grain offering”). Fine flour mixed with oil was brought “with all its frankincense” (Leviticus 2:2). Placed on the altar, it became a “memorial portion,” reminding Israel that even their daily bread belonged to God. On the table of the Presence, twelve loaves were renewed each Sabbath “with pure frankincense on each row” (Leviticus 24:7), an act echoing continual intercession.
Symbol of Prayer, Purity, and Consecration
Repeated pairing with “memorial” language links frankincense to remembrance before God (Leviticus 2:2; 24:7). Its bright color and fragrance made it an apt emblem of purity (Psalm 141:2 alludes to incense typologically). Therefore prophets could indict Israel’s hypocrisy by pointing to abused incense: “What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba…? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable” (Jeremiah 6:20).
Absence in Sin and Jealousy Offerings
When poverty demanded a meager sin offering of flour, “he shall put no oil or frankincense on it” (Leviticus 5:11). Likewise the jealousy offering for suspected adultery required that it be “poured no oil on it nor put frankincense on it” (Numbers 5:15). The omission taught that atonement for sin rests on substitutionary sacrifice rather than pleasing aroma.
Temple Stewardship and Post-exilic Reforms
Frankincense had to be safeguarded. Levites “were entrusted with the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices” (1 Chronicles 9:29). After the exile, Nehemiah expelled Tobiah from a chamber originally “assigned to the grain offerings, frankincense, and articles” (Nehemiah 13:5-9), restoring proper priorities in worship.
Aromatic Imagery in the Song of Songs
The Song celebrates frankincense as a perfume of intimacy and royal festivity: “Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense?” (Song of Songs 3:6). The bridegroom’s garden is “the hill of frankincense” (4:6), and the bride’s fragrance rivals “all the finest spices—with myrrh and aloes, and all the finest frankincense” (paraphrased 4:14). Such language hints at the delights of covenant love between Christ and His Church.
Prophetic Warnings Against Empty Ritual
Isaiah and Jeremiah both indict externalism. “You have not burdened Me with frankincense” (Isaiah 43:23) exposes neglect, whileIsaiah 66:3 likens insincere incense to idolatry. These oracles affirm that devotion’s heart matters more than the ritual’s fragrance.
Messianic and Eschatological Horizons
Isaiah 60:6 foretells nations bringing “gold and frankincense” in praise—anticipating the Magi who presented those same gifts to the infant Messiah (Matthew 2:11). Revelation portrays heavenly elders holding “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8), showing the ultimate fulfillment of the symbol in Christ’s intercessory ministry and the church’s worship.
Use in Christian Worship and Devotion
While New Covenant worship is not bound to Levitical incense, frankincense remains a powerful emblem. Its ascending smoke invites believers to offer “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5), and its fragrance calls congregations to purity, remembrance, and heartfelt prayer.
Selected References
Exodus 30:34;Leviticus 2:1-16; 5:11; 24:7;Numbers 5:15;1 Chronicles 9:29;Nehemiah 13:5-9; Song of Songs 3:6; 4:6; 4:14;Isaiah 43:23; 60:6; 66:3;Jeremiah 6:20; 17:26; 41:5.
Forms and Transliterations
בִּלְבוֹנָֽה׃ בלבונה׃ הַלְּבֹנָ֔ה הַלְּבוֹנָ֜ה הַלְּבוֹנָֽה׃ הלבונה הלבונה׃ הלבנה וְהַלְּבוֹנָ֖ה וְהַלְּבוֹנָֽה׃ וּלְבֹנָ֣ה וּלְבוֹנָ֑ה וּלְבוֹנָ֔ה וּלְבוֹנָה֙ והלבונה והלבונה׃ ולבונה ולבנה לְבֹנָ֑ה לְבֹנָ֔ה לְבֹנָ֖ה לְבֹנָ֣ה לְבֹנָֽה׃ לְבֹנָתָ֑הּ לְבוֹנָ֑ה לְבוֹנָה֙ לבונה לבנה לבנה׃ לבנתה bil·ḇō·w·nāh bilḇōwnāh bilvoNah hal·lə·ḇō·nāh hal·lə·ḇō·w·nāh halləḇōnāh halləḇōwnāh hallevoNah lə·ḇō·nā·ṯāh lə·ḇō·nāh lə·ḇō·w·nāh ləḇōnāh ləḇōnāṯāh ləḇōwnāh levoNah levonaTah ū·lə·ḇō·nāh ū·lə·ḇō·w·nāh ūləḇōnāh ūləḇōwnāh ulevoNah vehallevoNah wə·hal·lə·ḇō·w·nāh wəhalləḇōwnāh
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