Lexical Summary kathith: Beaten, pounded Original Word: כָּתִית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pure oil From kathath; beaten, i.e. Pure (oil): see HEBREW kathath NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kathath Definition beaten NASB Translation beaten (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs כָּתִית adjective beaten; — only in combination שֶׁמֶן כָּתִית beaten oil, i.e. oil made by beating or pounding the olives in a mortar; especially fine and costly (compare LevyNHWB ii. 443 below כָּתִית); — 1 Kings 5:25; Exodus 29:40; Numbers 28:5; לַמָּאוֺר ׳שֶׁמֶן זַית זָךְ כ Exodus 27:20 pure beaten olive oil for the lamp = Leviticus 24:2 (Hexateuch only H, P). Topical Lexicon OverviewThe term כָּתִית denotes olive oil expressed by pounding or pressing, yielding a first-rate product prized for purity and clarity. Scripture restricts this “beaten oil” to contexts that highlight holiness, continual worship and covenant blessing. Beaten Oil as a Symbol of Purity Exodus 27:20 commands, “bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually”. Only oil produced without sediment or residue could stand in the Holy Place before the LORD. The process of gentle pounding rather than harsh crushing prevented contamination, portraying the moral perfection required in service to God. Illumination in the Tabernacle and Temple Leviticus 24:2 repeats the charge so that the menorah’s flames would never be extinguished. This perpetual light reflected God’s abiding presence among His people (compare Exodus 25:31–40) and pointed forward to Jesus Christ, who proclaimed, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12). The unwavering glow testified to divine faithfulness through every night of Israel’s wilderness pilgrimage and beyond. Role in the Continual Burnt Offering Exodus 29:40 and Numbers 28:5 place כָּתִית oil in the daily grain offering that accompanied each morning and evening sacrifice. Mixed with fine flour, the offering signified consecrated labor and thanksgiving. The beaten oil blended unity and fragrance into the oblation, illustrating how pure devotion must saturate every act of worship (Romans 12:1). Economic and Diplomatic Use In 1 Kings 5:11 “Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household and twenty thousand baths of pressed olive oil”. The gift of כָּתִית became a token of covenant partnership, enabling materials for the temple. Thus the same oil that lit Israel’s sanctuary also advanced its construction by forging bonds with Gentile allies, foreshadowing the gathering of the nations into the worship of the true God. Prophetic and Christological Insight The Mount of Olives, location of Gethsemane (“oil press”), frames the Messiah’s suffering. As olives are pressed to yield their finest oil, so the Lord was “crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). The menorah’s constant light, fed by beaten oil, anticipates the unquenchable life of the risen Christ and the Spirit He pours out on believers (Acts 2:17). Application for the Church 1. Purity precedes power. Only consecrated lives can sustain gospel witness amid prevailing darkness (Philippians 2:15). Summary Wherever כָּתִית appears, Scripture links it to purity, perpetual worship, covenant provision and foreshadowing of the Messiah. The beaten oil’s brilliance invites every generation to present unblemished service, live in the Spirit’s illumination and shine the light of Christ to the ends of the earth. Forms and Transliterations כָּתִ֑ית כָּתִ֖ית כָּתִית֙ כתית kā·ṯîṯ kaTit kāṯîṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 27:20 HEB: זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת NAS: oil of beaten olives KJV: olive beaten for the light, INT: olives clear of beaten the light burn Exodus 29:40 Leviticus 24:2 Numbers 28:5 1 Kings 5:11 5 Occurrences |
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