קְטַר
a knot (as tied up), i.e. (figuratively) a riddle; also a vertebra (as if a knot)
Definition
The Aramaic noun קְטַר (qᵉṭar) primarily means 'a knot,' referring to something that is tied or bound together. In the book of Daniel, this literal sense is extended figuratively to describe a 'riddle' or a 'difficult problem' that is mentally 'tangled' or hard to unravel, as seen when the wise men of Babylon cannot solve the king's mystery (Daniel 5:12). In a distinct anatomical sense, the word is also used to refer to the 'joints' or 'vertebrae' of the body, the points where bones are 'knit' together, as described in the physical reaction of King Belshazzar (Daniel 5:6).
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel (Daniel 5:6, 5:12, 5:16). It appears in the context of King Belshazzar's feast, where it describes both the physical 'joints' of his loins loosening in fear (Daniel 5:6) and the intellectual 'riddle' of the handwriting on the wall that his wise men cannot interpret (Daniel 5:12, 5:16). The usage pattern shows a clear interplay between a concrete, physical meaning and an abstract, figurative one within the same narrative.
Etymology
Derived from an Aramaic root corresponding to the Hebrew verb קָטַר (qāṭar, H7000), which means 'to knot' or 'to tie.' The noun form קְטַר thus directly denotes the result of that action—a knot. This root connection explains the semantic range from a literal physical knot or joint to a metaphorical knotty problem or puzzle.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's sovereign power to confound human wisdom and induce holy fear. In Daniel 5, the 'riddle' (qᵉṭar) of the divine handwriting exposes the limits of Babylonian occult wisdom and directly leads to the king's physical terror, his 'joints' (qᵉṭar) loosening. Understanding this word enriches the reading by showing how a single term links the intellectual mystery and the physical manifestation of God's judgment, emphasizing that divine revelation can unravel both human puzzles and human composure.
In the ancient Near East, knots could symbolize binding magical spells or complex, esoteric knowledge. The wise men (Chaldeans) of Babylon were renowned for interpreting dreams and solving enigmas. Their failure to untie this 'knot' (qᵉṭar) was a profound cultural humiliation, demonstrating the superiority of Daniel's God over their entire system of divination and wisdom.
חִידָה (ḥîḏâ, H2420) — A common Hebrew word for 'riddle' or 'proverb,' used more broadly than the Aramaic qᵉṭar. פֶּתֶר (peter, H6623) — An Aramaic word for 'interpretation' or 'solution,' the act of untying the knot of a dream or riddle.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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