What does עָתַר (ʿātar) mean in the Bible?
עָתַר (ʿātar): Incense-burning as symbolic mediation: intercession rises before God like fragrant smoke, effecting divine hearing.
Hebrew · H6279
עָתַר
To burn incense in worship, i.e. intercede (reciprocally, listen to prayer)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
עָתַרH6279
Pronunciationʿātar
What does עָתַר (ʿātar) mean in the Bible?
עָתַר (ʿātar): Incense-burning as symbolic mediation: intercession rises before God like fragrant smoke, effecting divine hearing.
Full entry for עָתַר (H6279) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6279?
The BSB source-word alignment has 20 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Pray (2), prayed (2), and [how God] received his plea (1), and appeal (1), and He granted our request (1).
Where does עָתַר (ʿātar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 25:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (8), 2 Chronicles (2), 2 Samuel (2), Genesis (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItPray2×Exodus 8:8, Exodus 9:28
prayed2×Genesis 25:21, Judges 13:8
and [how God] received his plea1×2 Chronicles 33:19
and appeal1×Exodus 10:17
and He granted our request1×Ezra 8:23
and He will hear their prayers1×Isaiah 19:22
and prayed1×Exodus 8:30
answered the prayers1×2 Samuel 24:25
answered their prayers1×2 Samuel 21:14
He answered their prayers1×1 Chronicles 5:20
He prays1×Job 33:26
heard his prayer1×Genesis 25:21
I will pray1×Exodus 8:29
Now pray1×Exodus 8:28
presence and appealed1×Exodus 10:18
shall I pray1×Exodus 8:9
the LORD received his plea1×2 Chronicles 33:13
You will pray1×Job 22:27
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 25:21וַיֶּעְתַּ֨רtoprayedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 25:21וַיֵּעָ֤תֶרtoheard his prayerConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 8:8הַעְתִּ֣ירוּtoPrayVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralExodus 8:9אַעְתִּ֣ירtoshall I prayVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularExodus 8:28הַעְתִּ֖ירוּtoNow prayVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralExodus 8:29וְהַעְתַּרְתִּ֣יtoI will prayConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularExodus 8:30וַיֶּעְתַּ֖רtoand prayedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 9:28הַעְתִּ֙ירוּ֙toPrayVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralExodus 10:17וְהַעְתִּ֖ירוּtoand appealConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralExodus 10:18וַיֶּעְתַּ֖רtopresence and appealedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 25:21
Aligned rows20
Books represented9
Genesis2Exodus8Judges12 Samuel21 Chronicles12 Chronicles2Ezra1Job2Isaiah1
Source forms
וַיֵּעָ֤תֶר2xway·yê·‘ā·ṯerGenesis 25:21, 2 Chronicles 33:13
וַיֶּעְתַּ֖ר2xway·ye‘·tarExodus 8:30, Exodus 10:18
אַעְתִּ֣יר1x’a‘·tîrExodus 8:9
הַעְתִּ֣ירוּ1xha‘·tî·rūExodus 8:8
הַעְתִּ֖ירוּ1xha‘·tî·rūExodus 8:28
הַעְתִּ֙ירוּ֙1xha‘·tî·rūExodus 9:28
וְהַעְתִּ֖ירוּ1xwə·ha‘·tî·rūExodus 10:17
וְהֵֽעָתֶר־1xwə·hê·‘ā·ṯer-2 Chronicles 33:19
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular5xGenesis 25:21, 2 Samuel 21:14, 2 Samuel 24:25, 2 Chronicles 33:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular4xGenesis 25:21, Exodus 8:30, Exodus 10:18, Judges 13:8
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural3xExodus 8:8, Exodus 8:28, Exodus 9:28
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xExodus 8:29
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural1xExodus 10:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 19:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute1x1 Chronicles 5:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct1x2 Chronicles 33:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Incense-burning as symbolic mediation: intercession rises before God like fragrant smoke, effecting divine hearing.
Strong'sH6279
Lexical occurrences20 versesWord forms2 forms6 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkExodus 8:8-15Source Gloss
to burn incense in worship, i.e. intercede (reciprocally, listen to prayer)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Incense-burning as symbolic mediation: intercession rises before God like fragrant smoke, effecting divine hearing.
to burn incense in worship, i.e. intercede (reciprocally, listen to prayer) BDB: pray Usage: intreat, (make) pray(-er).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms6
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action5×
Sequential imperfectExod 8:4 · Exod 8:24 · Exod 9:283×
ImperfectExod 8:5 · Job 22:272×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
ImperfectJob 33:261×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Pharaoh requests Moses to petition God to remove the plague of frogs
General reference to prayer or intercession in wisdom literature context
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 20 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עָתַר is built from this root:
עֶתֶרH6281
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.