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קָטַר

𐤒𐤈𐤓

qâṭar

H6999 verb

SILEX Entry

Root קטר to smoke, to make smoke, to give off aroma

Definition

To make smoke, particularly by burning incense or offerings, often in a ritual or cultic context; more broadly, to produce smoke or odor from burning. In the Hebrew Bible, קָטַר most commonly refers to the act of burning incense or sacrifices on an altar as part of prescribed ritual, typically as an act of worship, thanksgiving, or atonement. The term may denote either the action itself (to make something go up in smoke) or the experienced result (aromatic smoke). In some contexts, it can be used more generally to refer to burning, but always with an emphasis on the production of smoke, especially aromatic smoke.

Semantic Range

to burn incense, to make smoke (as an act of worship), to offer by burning (incense or sacrifice), to produce aromatic smoke, to burn ritual offerings; make smoke ascend

Root / Etymology

קָטַר derives from the root ק־ט־ר, which fundamentally means 'to make smoke' or 'to produce aroma by burning.' The word probably relates to the sensory result of burning sacrifices or incense—namely the rising smoke—rather than to mere combustion. No clear cognates are found in other Semitic languages, though Ethiopic has a possibly related form denoting burning incense. The root meaning is 'to smoke, make fumes,' from which the verb develops its specialized ritual meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, קָטַר is largely confined to ritual contexts, referring to the act of burning incense or sacrifices at sanctuaries. This usage is prevalent in priestly and Deuteronomistic texts. The term contrasts with other Hebrew verbs meaning 'to burn' (e.g., שָׂרַף saraf, which refers to burning in general or destructive burning) in that קָטַר stresses the intended production of fragrant or ritual smoke as opposed to mere incineration. In earlier Israelite practice, burning incense or meat offerings (מִנְחָה minḥah) was a central element at the sanctuary; later, prophetic literature often critiques improper or unauthorized use of קָטַר, especially outside the central sanctuary or in connection with foreign worship. English translations such as 'burn (incense),' 'offer up (sacrifice),' or 'kindle' capture only part of the word's meaning: the focus on the transformation of the offering into smoke—a key aspect of the ritual—is often underrepresented. In later periods, the act of קָטַר was increasingly restricted to the Jerusalem Temple and became emblematic of proper or improper worship practices.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (identical with through the idea of fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the occupants); to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship); burn (incense, sacrifice) (upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a sacrifice).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

קטר (q-ṭ-r) — to smoke, to make smoke, to give off aroma

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4729 מִקְטָר incense-hearth of
H4730 מִקְטֶרֶת his incense-burning vessel
H6988 קְטוֹרָה smoke-offering incense
H6989 קְטוּרָה Keturah
H7000 קָטַר incense-burnings

Word Forms

41 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6999-29 וְ/הִקְטִ֥יר vehiqetir HC/Vhq3ms and he shall burn and he made smoke ascend 18
H6999-07 לְ/הַקְטִ֥יר lehaqetir HR/Vhc to burn incense to make smoke ascend 12
H6999-24 וַ/יַּקְטֵ֥ר vayaqeter HC/Vhw3ms and burned and he made smoke ascend 10
H6999-08 לְ/קַטֵּ֥ר leqater HR/Vpc to burn incense to send up aromatic smoke 8
H6999-23 וּֽ/מְקַטְּרִ֖ים umeqaterim HC/Vprmpa and burning incense and the smoke-makers 6
H6999-26 וַ/יְקַטְּרוּ vayeqateru HC/Vpw3mp and have burned incense they made aromatic smoke 5
H6999-17 קִטְּרוּ qiteru HVpp3cp burned incense they made smoke ascend 4
H6999-21 וּ/מַקְטִֽיר umaqetir HC/Vhrmsa and-burning and the smoke-maker 3
H6999-11 מְקַטְּרִ֣ים meqaterim HVprmpa are burning incense smoke-making ones 3
H6999-25 וַ/יְקַטֵּ֛ר vayeqater HC/Vpw3ms and burned incense and he made smoke ascend 3

Occurrences in Scripture

117 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6999-28 Exodus 29:13 וְ/הִקְטַרְתָּ֖ vehiqetareta HC/Vhq2ms and burn and you shall cause to go up in smoke
H6999-28 Exodus 29:18 וְ/הִקְטַרְתָּ֤ vehiqetareta HC/Vhq2ms and you shall burn and you shall cause to go up in smoke
H6999-28 Exodus 29:25 וְ/הִקְטַרְתָּ֥ vehiqetareta HC/Vhq2ms and burn and you shall cause to go up in smoke
H6999-29 Exodus 30:7 וְ/הִקְטִ֥יר vehiqetir HC/Vhq3ms and shall burn and he made smoke ascend
H6999-37 Exodus 30:7 יַקְטִירֶֽ/נָּה yaqetirenah HVhi3ms/Sp3fs he shall burn it he will make-her smoke
H6999-37 Exodus 30:8 יַקְטִירֶ֑/נָּה yaqetirenah HVhi3ms/Sp3fs he shall burn it he will make-her smoke
H6999-07 Exodus 30:20 לְ/הַקְטִ֥יר lehaqetir HR/Vhc to burn to make smoke ascend
H6999-24 Exodus 40:27 וַ/יַּקְטֵ֥ר vayaqeter HC/Vhw3ms and he burned and he made smoke ascend
H6999-29 Leviticus 1:9 וְ/הִקְטִ֨יר vehiqetir HC/Vhq3ms and the priest shall offer up in smoke and he made smoke ascend
H6999-29 Leviticus 1:13 וְ/הִקְטִ֣יר vehiqetir HC/Vhq3ms and-he-shall-turn-into-smoke and he made smoke ascend
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