קִטֵּר

perfume

Definition

קִטֵּר (qiṭṭêr) refers specifically to a type of incense or perfume used in ritual contexts. It is derived from the verb meaning 'to make sacrificial smoke' or 'to burn incense,' indicating its primary use in worship. In its single biblical occurrence, Jeremiah 44:21, it refers to the incense offerings that the people of Judah burned to other gods, highlighting its association with idolatrous worship in this instance. While the word itself means 'perfume' or 'incense,' its usage is narrowly focused on the substance burned, rather than the act of burning it.

Biblical Usage

This noun is used only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 44:21. Here, the prophet Jeremiah confronts the remnant in Egypt about their idolatry, specifically mentioning 'the incense that ye burned' (KJV) to other gods. The context is entirely negative, describing illicit worship that provoked God's anger. Its singular occurrence in a prophetic book underscores its role as a concrete example of apostate ritual practice.

Etymology

The noun קִטֵּר (qiṭṭêr) comes directly from the root verb קָטַר (qāṭar, H6999), which means 'to make sacrificial smoke,' 'to burn incense,' or 'to offer up in smoke.' This root is central to the vocabulary of Israelite worship, describing the smoke of sacrifices ascending to God. The noun form denotes the substance that produces this smoke—the incense itself. Cognates appear in other Semitic languages with similar meanings related to smoke and incense.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it captures a tangible element of false worship condemned by the prophets. In Jeremiah 44:21, the 'incense' (qiṭṭêr) symbolizes the people's deliberate turn from Yahweh to idolatry, breaking the covenant. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting the physical act of burning incense to the serious spiritual adultery it represented, contrasting sharply with the legitimate incense offered to God in the tabernacle and temple (e.g., Exodus 30:34-38).

In the ancient Near East, burning incense was a common religious practice, believed to carry prayers or create a pleasing aroma for a deity. In Israelite culture, specific incense (קְטֹרֶת, qəṭōreth) was prescribed for worship of Yahweh (Exodus 30:34-38), making it a sacred act. The use of קִטֵּר in Jeremiah 44:21, however, reflects its appropriation for pagan gods, showing how a culturally familiar ritual item could be misused in syncretistic or apostate worship, profoundly offending the God of Israel.

קְטֹרֶת (qəṭōreth, H7004) — The standard biblical term for the sacred incense compound used in the tabernacle/temple worship. קִטֵּר is a rarer, context-specific term for incense/perfume, often with idolatrous connotations in its single use.

Word Details

Scripture References