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קְטוּרָה

𐤒𐤈𐤅𐤓𐤄

Qeturah

H6989 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קטר to make fragrant smoke, to burn incense, to cause to rise (as smoke or odor)

Definition

Proper name: Keturah, a woman named in the Hebrew Bible as Abraham's wife or concubine following the death of Sarah. The underlying word also carries the sense of 'incense' or 'perfume' by association with its root, but as a personal name its primary lexical meaning is that of a named individual, not a general noun.

Semantic Range

Keturah (proper name); etymologically: perfumed, incensed, fragrant; only as a personal name in the Hebrew Bible

Root / Etymology

The word is formed from the root קטר (qṭr), which means 'to make fragrant smoke, to offer incense.' 'Keturah' is a feminine passive participle construction, literally conveying the sense of 'perfumed' or 'incensed.' However, as a personal name, it functions as a designation rather than a descriptive term.

Historical & Contextual Notes

קְטוּרָה appears exclusively as a personal name in the Hebrew Bible, designating a woman who becomes Abraham's wife or concubine after Sarah (Genesis 25:1, 1 Chronicles 1:32). The form is consistent with a Hebrew passive participle (qṭûrâ), though there is no evidence in the narrative that the meaning 'perfumed' or 'incensed' is relevant to her character or suggests a literal association with incense burning. While some have speculated on symbolic meaning (e.g., denoting pleasantness or favor), the text does not elaborate. The name is distinct from general words for incense (קְטֹרֶת), though both share the same root. Later traditions (Midrash, Septuagint) preserve the form as a proper name. In most English translations, the name is transliterated as 'Keturah.' The usage does not imply specific ethnic or religious connotations beyond its immediate narrative context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine passive participle of קָטַר; perfumed; Keturah, a wife of Abraham; Keturah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קטר (q-ṭ-r) — to make fragrant smoke, to burn incense, to cause to rise as smoke

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4729 מִקְטָר incense-hearth of
H4730 מִקְטֶרֶת his incense-burning vessel
H6988 קְטוֹרָה smoke-offering incense
H6999 קָטַר the smoke-makers
H7000 קָטַר incense-burnings

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6989-01 קְטוּרָֽה qeturah HNp Keturah Keturah 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6989-01 Genesis 25:1 קְטוּרָֽה qeturah HNp Keturah Keturah
H6989-01 Genesis 25:4 קְטוּרָֽה qeturah HNp Keturah Keturah
H6989-01 1 Chronicles 1:32 קְטוּרָ֜ה qeturah HNp Keturah Keturah
H6989-01 1 Chronicles 1:33 קְטוּרָֽה qeturah HNp Keturah Keturah
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