קטורת

Hebrew

Root
ק־ט־ר (q-ṭ-r)

Etymology

From the Hebrew root ק־ט־ר (q-t-r), related to burning or smoking. Compare Ugaritic 𐎖𐎉𐎗 (qṭr, “smoke”) and Akkadian 𒆪𒌓𒊒 (qutru, “smoke”), and Arabic قُتَار (qutār, “the smell of roast”).

Noun

קטורת / קְטֹרֶת • (któret) f (plural indefinite קְטוֹרוֹת)

incense
- Tanach, Leviticus 16:13, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:
  וְנָתַן אֶת־הַקְּטֹרֶת עַל־הָאֵשׁ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְכִסָּה עֲנַן הַקְּטֹרֶת אֶת־הַכַּפֹּרֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל־הָעֵדוּת וְלֹא יָמוּת׃
  v-na´tan ha-q'tóret al ha-esh lifnéi Adonái v-khissá anán ha-q'tóret et ha-kappóret ashér 'al ha-'edút v-lo yamút.
  And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the ark-cover that is upon the testimony, that he die not.
- a. 500 C.E., Babylonian Talmud, Keritot 6b:
  אָמַר רַב חָנָא בַּר בִּזְנָא אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן חֲסִידָא כָּל תַּעֲנִית שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ מִפּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָהּ תַּעֲנִית שֶׁהֲרֵי חֶלְבְּנָה רִיחָה רַע וּמְנָאָה הַכָּתוּב עִם סַמְמָנֵי קְטֹרֶת.
  Amár Rav Ḥána bar Bízna amár Rabi Shim'ón Ḥasída, kol ta'anít she-ein bah mi-posh'éi Yisrael einah ta'anit, she-haréi ḥelb'ná riḥá ra' u-m'na'áh ha-katúv im sam'manei q'tóret.
  Rav Hana bar Bizna said that Rav Shimon the Pious said every fast that does not include the sinners of Israel does not count as a fast, for look, galbanum has a foul smell, but the verse counts it among the spices of the incense.

Yiddish

Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew קְטֹרֶת (q'tóret).

Noun

קטורת • (któyres) f

incense