קָטַר (qa.tar)
qa.tar
to offer: burn; incense; incense-altar; to offer: offer; to offer: to perfume
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 102 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qatar means to burn something so that it produces smoke, specifically in the context of religious offerings. It appears over a hundred times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Leviticus and Chronicles. The word describes the physical act of making sacrifices or incense rise on an altar through fire.
Its meaning extends beyond simple burning to include the specific ritual of offering incense. In Jeremiah, the term is used critically when prophets condemn those who burn incense to false gods (Jeremiah 44:15). This highlights that the act itself carries theological weight; it is not neutral but represents devotion directed toward a specific deity.
The sources note that qatar is often used in the Hiphil stem to mean causing incense to smoke. This grammatical form emphasizes the intentional nature of the offering. Translators usually render it as "burn incense" or "offer sacrifices," capturing the visual of smoke rising as a sign of worship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qatar describes the act of burning offerings so that smoke rises toward heaven. In the Old Testament, this was not merely a physical ritual but a tangible expression of devotion. When the Israelites burned fat or incense on the altar, they were acknowledging God’s holiness and their need for His presence. The rising smoke symbolized prayers and sacrifices ascending to the divine throne, creating a visible connection between the worshipper and the Creator.
For believers today, this imagery reminds us that worship is an act of surrender. Just as the ancient offerings were consumed by fire to become a pleasing aroma, our lives are called to be living sacrifices. This does not mean we must perform rituals, but that we offer our time, resources, and hearts with sincerity. The physical act points to a spiritual reality: God desires truth in the inward parts.
Understanding qatar helps us see the seriousness of worship. It was never taken lightly by Israel, nor should it be for us. Whether through prayer, giving, or service, every action can be an offering that honors God. This perspective transforms daily routines into opportunities for communion with Him, inviting a life marked by reverence and gratitude.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 102 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ make smoke15×
- and/ he will make smoke9×
- and/ he made smoke9×
- and/ he will make [it] smoke7×
- and/ they have made smoke4×
- and/ he made [them] smoke4×
- he made smoke3×
- and/ [were] making smoke3×
- you will make smoke2×
- you made smoke2×
- they make smoke2×
- they made smoke/ !2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הִקְטִ֨יר6×
- וַ/יַּקְטֵ֥ר5×
- וּֽ/מְקַטְּרִ֖ים4×
- וְ/הִקְטִ֖יר4×
- וַֽ/יְקַטְּרוּ֙3×
- וְ/הִקְטִ֣יר3×
- קִטַּרְתֶּ֜ם2×
- לְ/קַטֵּ֥ר2×
- לְ/קַטֵּ֞ר2×
- לְ/הַקְטִ֥יר2×
- לְ/הַקְטִ֑יר2×
- וַ/יַּקְטֵ֤ר2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 30:7
Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it.
This verse establishes the daily rhythm of incense burning, showing that worship is a consistent, intentional act rather than an occasional event.
-
Leviticus 1:9
but he shall wash its innards and its legs with water. The priest shall burn all of it on the altar, for a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
Here the entire burnt offering is burned, emphasizing total surrender and the concept of the sacrifice as a 'pleasant aroma' to God.
-
Exodus 29:18
You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Yahweh; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
The ram is described as a 'pleasing aroma,' linking the physical act of burning directly to God's acceptance of the worshipper's devotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qatar mean?
How is qatar different from other words for sacrifice?
Why is burning incense important in the Old Testament?
Every Occurrence (102 verses across 15 books)
Exodus 7 verses
You shall take all the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on…
Exodus 29:18You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Yahweh; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made…
Exodus 29:25You shall take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar on the burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma before…
Exodus 30:7Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it.
Exodus 30:8When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations.
Exodus 30:20When they go into the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water, that they don’t die; or when they come near to the…
Exodus 40:27and he burned incense of sweet spices on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.