A note about "frankincense" -- labenah (לָבַן)

As a follow-up to my most recent post on brimstone, here is another short note about a different material also made from plant resin -- frankincense.

The Hebrew for frankincense is: לָבַן -- labenah

This word derives from the root "laben" which can mean "to make white" or "purify." For example in Isaiah 1:

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1)

The words in bold italics are translated from "laben." 

Frankincense

a vegetable resin, brittle, glittering, and of a bitter taste, used for the purpose of sacrificial fumigation. (Exodus 30:34-36) It was called frank because of the freeness with which, when burned, it gives forth its odor. It burns for a long time, with a steady flame. (Smith's Bible Dictionary)

Here is the reference to Exodus 30:

34 The Lord said to Moses: Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (an equal part of each), 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy; 36 and you shall beat some of it into powder, and put part of it before the covenant in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall be for you most holy. 37 When you make incense according to this composition, you shall not make it for yourselves; it shall be regarded by you as holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from the people. (Exodus 30, NRSV)

It is interesting that this precious substance was to be given freely as a holy offering to the Lord and was forbidden for personal use. This is the same general pattern outlined in the gold and riches series (see part 1 here).

Getting back to Isaiah 1, I find it interesting to contrast the symbolic significance of brimstone and frankincense. In the same chapter that the Lord condemns Israel for covenant rebellion, He pleads with her to "wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;" (verse 16).

That is certainly interesting. The temple significance seems obvious enough (this is stated explicitly in verse 11). Notice how these the temple-related purification symbols are juxtaposed with brimstone-related symbols:

• "your cities are burned with fire" in verse 7
• "Sodom" and "Gomorrah" in verses 9-10

And this one from the final verse:

The strong shall become like tinder,
    and their work like a spark;
they and their work shall burn together,
    with no one to quench them. (Isaiah 1, NRSV)

I see a dualistic pattern in the symbolism of frankincense and brimstone. Both derive from the resin of plants.  Both are burned. One is a temple symbol of purity. The other symbolizes the burning that will be the fate of those who reject their Redeemer. We are free to choose which path we will follow.