Bible Dictionary
Firepan
A firepan was a metal vessel for carrying live coals, burning incense, or receiving the burned ends of lamp wicks. Different firepans served the altar, incense service, and Tabernacle or Temple lamps.
Definition
A firepan was a metal vessel for carrying live coals. Related vessels were used for burning incense, receiving the burnt ends of lamp wicks, and carrying away trimmed snuff.
Biblical Usage
Firepans belonged to the altar and lampstand furnishings. Censers carried burning coals on which incense was placed, while other firepans served the Tabernacle and Temple lamps.
Historical Background
The vessels could be made of bronze or gold. A censer was likely a pan or pot for coals attached to a straight or slightly curved handle.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Ex. 27:3; 38:3), one of the vessels of the temple service (rendered “snuff-dish” Ex. 25:38; 37:23; and “censer” Lev. 10:1; 16:12). It was probably a metallic cinder-basin used for the purpose of carrying live coal for burning incense, and of carrying away the snuff in trimming the lamps.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
one of the vessels of the temple service. (Exodus 27:3; 38:3; 2 Kings 25:15; Jeremiah 52:19) The same word is elsewhere rendered “snuff-dish,” (Exodus 25:38; 37:23; Numbers 4:9) and “censer.” (Leviticus 10:1; 16:12; Numbers 16:6) ff. There appear, therefore, to have been two articles so called: one, like a chafing-dish, to carry live coals for the purpose of burning incense; another, like a snuffer-dish, to be used in trimming the lamps, in order to carry the snuffers and convey away the snuff.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fir'-pan (machtah, "firepan," "censer," "snuffdish," from chathah, "to snatch up"):</p><p>A vessel for carrying coals. Brazen firepans were part of the furnishings of the altar of burnt offerings (Ex 27:3; 38:3, and in Nu 4:14, where the King James Version wrongly reads "censers," the context indicating a vessel belonging to the brazen altar).</p><p>The same word is translated "snuffdishes" in Ex 25:38; 37:23; Nu 4:9, where it refers to golden firepans which belonged to the golden candlestick or lamp stand, and were used to receive the burnt ends of the wicks. In 1Ki 7:50 and 2Ch 4:22, although the King James Version reads "censers," the context points to the firepans belonging to the candlestick; as also in 2Ki 25:15 and Jer 52:19, translated "firepans" in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American). A similar firepan designated by the same Hebrew word but translated "censer" was used to carry the burning coals upon which the incense was thrown and burned (Le 10:1; 16:12; Nu 16:6,17 ff).</p><p>See CENSER.</p><p>The firepan or censer of the Hebrews was doubtless similar to the censer of the Egyptians, pictures of which have been found. It consisted of a pan or pot for the coals, which was held by a straight or slightly curved long handle. The style of censer used in recent centuries, swung by three chains, came into use about the 12th century AD.</p><p>George Rice Hovey</p>