קָטַר

From the study of Hosea 11:2

Range of meaning

In the basic sense, smoke or the rising of smoke. The intensive stem used here (piel) means to make an offering go up in smoke. The causative stem (hiphil) is the usual verb for burning sacrifices and incense in the official worship rules. Related nouns: qĕṭōret, smoke of sacrifice, later especially incense, and qîṭôr, thick smoke.

Against the English

KJV, BSB and WEB have "burned incense". ESV has "burning offerings". YLT's "make perfume" is too narrow and too pretty.

How it drifted

English Bibles since the KJV have usually turned this verb into "burn incense" because the related noun came to mean incense. The verb itself just means making something smoke up to a god, and that could be fat, grain or incense.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the prophets the piel form usually describes worship that is condemned: Hosea 4:13 ("they sacrifice on the mountaintops and make smoke on the hills"), Hosea 2:13, Jeremiah 7:9, 44:17. Scholars disagree on how specific it is. Diana Edelman (VT 35, 1985) argued that it means burning offerings in general, while others keep "burn incense". Archaeology shows incense altars and incense burners in use in Iron Age Israel, so incense is a real possibility.

From the study of Hosea 2:13

Range of meaning

The root means smoke. In the causative form used here, it means to make something go up in smoke as an offering. This is the standard verb for the priest burning the sacrifice or its fat on the altar (Lev 1:9, 13, 17; 3:5). It is also used for burning incense (Exod 30:7–8). The related noun qeṭoret can mean incense or the smoke of a sacrifice.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, BSB and NIV say "burned incense". ESV ("burned offerings") and NASB ("offer sacrifices") take it more broadly. To a modern reader "incense" means a fragrant stick or resin, a much narrower picture than the Hebrew.

How it drifted

English Bibles from the 16th and 17th centuries tended to take qiṭṭer/hiqtir as "burn incense" every time. Later study (e.g. D. Edelman, VT 1985) showed that the verb often covers burning sacrifices in general.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Hosea 4:13 and 11:2 the related intensive form describes worship on the hilltops and to the Baals, side by side with "sacrificing". The Septuagint here has epethuen, "she sacrificed". Incense altars excavated at Arad, Megiddo and elsewhere show that incense was really offered too.

From the study of Jeremiah 1:16

Range of meaning

In this form (the intensive stem), 'to make (an offering) go up in smoke'. It covers burning sacrificial fat, grain, and aromatic substances. The noun qeṭōret can mean incense or the smoke of a sacrifice.

Against the English

BSB, KJV and WEB say 'burned incense'. YLT says 'make perfume'. ESV and NASB use broader wording about making or offering sacrifices. 'Incense' may make the act sound smaller and more specific than it was.

How it drifted

The KJV tradition fixed 'burn incense' as the standard gloss. Later study of how the verb is used (e.g. D. Edelman, VT 35, 1985) suggests the general sense is sending any offering up in smoke.

Used elsewhere in the period

Jeremiah uses this verb many times for forbidden worship: on rooftops to 'all the host of heaven' (19:13), to Baal (11:13; 32:29), and to the 'Queen of Heaven' (44:17–25), whose cult also involved cakes and drink offerings. Archaeologists have found small limestone altars for burning substances at Judean sites.