מִקְטֶרֶת

מִקְטֶרֶת

something to fume (incense) in, i.e. a coal-pan

Definition

מִקְטֶרֶת refers to a censer, a vessel used for burning incense in Israelite worship. It is a portable container, often made of metal, that held hot coals upon which incense was sprinkled to produce fragrant smoke. In 2 Chronicles 26:19, it is the censer in the hand of King Uzziah as he unlawfully attempts to offer incense in the temple. In Ezekiel 8:11, the vision describes elders in the temple each holding a מִקְטֶרֶת, with the smoke of the incense symbolizing idolatrous prayers. The word consistently denotes a ritual implement for offering incense.

Biblical Usage

This noun occurs only twice in the Old Testament, both times in contexts of illicit worship. In 2 Chronicles 26:19, it is used during King Uzziah's presumptuous and unauthorized act of offering incense, which leads to his being struck with leprosy. In Ezekiel 8:11, the prophet's vision shows seventy elders of Israel secretly using censers in a scene of idolatry within the temple courts. The usage highlights the censer as a central object in acts of worship that defy God's prescribed order.

Etymology

מִקְטֶרֶת is the feminine form of the noun מִקְטָר (H4729, miqṭār), which means 'a place or thing for burning incense.' Both derive from the root קָטַר (qāṭar, H6999), meaning 'to make sacrificial smoke,' 'to burn incense.' This root is central to the vocabulary of worship, connecting the censer directly to the action of offering fragrant smoke to God.

Semantic Range

The מִקְטֶרֶת is theologically significant as it represents the vehicle for offering prayers and worship to God (cf. Psalm 141:2, Revelation 8:3-4). Its misuse in the biblical narratives underscores the gravity of proper worship. Uzziah's story (2 Chronicles 26) teaches that access to God's presence is governed by His covenant terms, not human rank. Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 8) uses the censer to depict the horror of syncretism—using the tools of true worship for idolatry. Understanding this object deepens appreciation for the holiness God requires in approaching Him. In ancient Israelite culture, censers were sacred vessels used exclusively by priests (from the line of Aaron) in the tabernacle and temple rituals (Exodus 30:7-8, Leviticus 16:12-13). They were typically made of bronze or gold. A censer was not a common household item but a specialized cultic object. The severe consequences for unauthorized use, as with Uzziah, highlight the strict boundaries around holy objects and priestly mediation in Israel's worship system. מַחְתָּה (maḥtâ, H4289) — A firepan or censer; often used for carrying coals or removing ashes from the altar, sometimes overlapping in function (e.g., Leviticus 16:12). כַּפּוֹר (kappôr, H3722) — A cover or lid; in Exodus 25:17 (mercy seat), distinct but sometimes associated with atonement rituals involving smoke/incense.

Word Details