a primitive root (rather denominative from עֶתֶר); to burn incense in worship, i.e. intercede (reciprocally, listen to prayer); intreat, (make) pray(-er).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻâthar**, represented by `{{H6279}}`, means to burn incense in worship, to intercede, or to be intreated. It appears **20 times** across **19 unique verses** in the Bible. Its definition highlights a reciprocal dynamic: both the act of making a plea and the act of God listening to that plea. The term signifies a successful petition that elicits a favorable response.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H6279}}` is used to describe specific, earnest prayers that are answered. It is used for a personal plea, as when Isaac **intreated** the Lord for his barren wife, and "the LORD was **intreated** of him" [[Genesis 25:21]]. It is also frequently used for intercession, such as when Pharaoh repeatedly asks Moses to **intreat** the Lord on his behalf to remove the plagues ([[Exodus 8:8]], [[Exodus 9:28]]). The term can also carry national significance, as seen after David built an altar, and "the LORD was **intreated** for the land" [[2 Samuel 24:25]], stopping a plague.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the specific meaning of entreaty:
* `{{H6419}}` **pâlal** (to intercede, pray): This is a broader term for prayer. Its connection to `{{H6279}}` is seen when Manasseh prayed to God, and as a result, God "was **intreated** of him" and heard his supplication [[2 Chronicles 33:13]].
* `{{H2199}}` **zâʻaq** (to shriek, cry out): This word denotes a desperate cry from anguish or danger. During a battle, the people "cried to God," and as a result, "he was **intreated** of them" because they trusted him [[1 Chronicles 5:20]].
* `{{H1245}}` **bâqash** (to search out, seek, request): This term describes the act of seeking or beseeching. In Ezra, the people fasted and "besought" God, leading to the outcome that "he was **intreated** of us" [[Ezra 8:23]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6279}}` is significant, highlighting specific aspects of the relationship between God and humanity.
* **Reciprocal Communication:** The word's usage in passages like [[Genesis 25:21]], where Isaac **intreated** and the Lord "was **intreated**," underscores that prayer is a two-way interaction. It is not merely a human monologue but a plea that God actively receives and responds to.
* **Answered Intercession:** The repeated requests from Pharaoh for Moses to **intreat** the Lord establish a clear biblical pattern of intercessory prayer, where one person stands in the gap to plead on behalf of another [[Exodus 8:29]].
* **Divine Favor and Action:** God being "intreated" is consistently linked to a positive, tangible outcome. This is seen when a prophecy of judgment against Egypt is paired with the promise that they will return to the Lord and "he shall be **intreated** of them, and shall heal them" [[Isaiah 19:22]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6279}}` is a precise term that moves beyond the general act of praying. It specifically captures the concept of a successful entreaty—a prayer or plea that is heard and favorably answered by God. Whether in the context of a personal need, an intercessor’s cry, or a nation’s repentance, **ʻâthar** signifies the powerful moment when a human petition is met with divine grace and action.
TRV