Bible Word Study
קְטוֹרָה
qᵉṭôwrâh · perfume
קְטוֹרָה
perfume
Definition
קְטוֹרָה refers to a specific type of aromatic substance, most precisely understood as 'incense' or 'perfume.' It denotes a fragrant offering that is burned, producing a pleasing smoke. In its sole biblical occurrence in Deuteronomy 33:10, it is listed among the priestly duties regarding the altar. The word is closely related to the act of burning incense (קָטַר, H6999), emphasizing its function as a sacrificial aromatic rather than a simple liquid perfume.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 33:10, within Moses's blessing upon the tribe of Levi. The verse states the Levites will teach God's ordinances and 'burn incense' (יָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה) before Him. Its usage is exclusively cultic, tied to the formal worship practices at the altar.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb קָטַר (qāṭar, H6999), meaning 'to burn incense' or 'to make sacrifices smoke.' קְטוֹרָה is a noun form indicating the substance that is burned. Cognates appear in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, with meanings related to smoke or incense, confirming its ancient association with aromatic offerings.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, קְטוֹרָה is theologically significant as it represents the worship offerings of God's people. In Deuteronomy 33:10, it is part of the priestly mandate, symbolizing intercession, prayer (cf. Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4), and the pleasing aroma of a dedicated life presented to God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the connection between Old Testament ritual and New Testament spiritual worship. In ancient Israelite culture, incense was a costly, compounded resin used exclusively in religious ceremony. It was not a common household item but a sacred material, often associated with the holy place (Exodus 30:34-38). Burning קְטוֹרָה was a sensory act of worship, with the smoke symbolizing prayers ascending to heaven. קְטֹרֶת (qᵉṭōreth, H7004) — the more common biblical term for 'incense,' used for the specific sacred blend. לְבוֹנָה (lᵉḇônâh, H3828) — 'frankincense,' a specific aromatic resin often a component of incense.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]