עָתַר

ʻâthar /aw-thar'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root (rather denominative from עֶתֶר)
Meaningto burn incense in worship, i.e. intercede (reciprocally, listen to prayer)
KJV usageintreat, (make) pray(-er).
Copy as

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.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 20 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms.

  • Niphal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 5×
  • Hiphil Imperative 2nd Plural Masculine 4×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 4×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Infinitive Absolute 1×
  • Niphal Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 19 verses across 9 books. Most frequent in Exodus (8 verses).

1
Genesis
8
Exodus
1
Judges
2
2 Samuel
1
1 Chronicles
2
2 Chronicles
1
Ezra
2
Job
1
Isaiah

Verse Explorer

Select a verse to begin.