Original Word: קִיטוֹר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qiytowr
Pronunciation: kee-tor'
Phonetic Spelling: (kee-tore')
KJV: smoke, vapour
NASB: smoke, clouds
Word Origin: [from H6999 (קָטַר - burn incense)]

1. a fume, i.e. cloud

smoke, vapur

Or qiytor {kee-tore'}; from qatar; a fume, i.e. Cloud -- smoke, vapour.

see HEBREW qatar

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
thick smoke
NASB Translation
clouds (1), smoke (3).

קִיטוֺר (Lag^{BN 182}) noun masculine thick smoke; — קִיטֹר Genesis 19:28 (twice in verse) (J), טוֺר- Psalm 119:83; Psalm 148:8 (figurative of clouds in thouderstorm; Vrss. Apparently קֶדַה, compare Du).

Overview

קִיטוֹר denotes a rising column of smoke, mist, or vapor. While ordinary in imagery, Scripture employs the term to convey profound theological truths: the terrible reality of divine judgment, the fragile temporality of human life, and the obedience of creation to its Maker.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Genesis 19:28 – the ascending smoke that marks the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. Psalm 119:83 – the psalmist’s personal comparison to a smoke-blackened wineskin.
3. Psalm 148:8 – atmospheric vapor enlisted among the heavenly host that “fulfill His word.”

Meaning and Imagery

• Column of smoke: a visible, towering reminder that what has been consumed can never return to its former state.
• Vapor or mist: something insubstantial, fleeting, and quickly dissipated.
• Furnace-like ascent: heat-driven force, evoking both refining fire and destructive conflagration.

Themes of Divine Judgment

Genesis 19:28 anchors קִיטוֹר in the narrative of Sodom: “He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah… and he saw the smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace”. The term captures:
• Finality—no restoration is suggested; the land smolders under irrevocable verdict.
• Visibility—Abraham sees what God has done; judgment is never hidden.
• Echoes of future prophecy—later prophets describe God’s day in language of billowing smoke (e.g., Isaiah 34:10; Joel 2:30), showing continuity in imagery.

Perspective on Human Frailty

Psalm 119:83 personalizes קִיטוֹר: “Though I am like a wineskin dried by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes”. A skin hung above a hearth would dry, darken, and shrink. The psalmist:
• Confesses weakness and withering under affliction.
• Affirms steadfast loyalty to the Word despite apparent desiccation.
• Demonstrates that spiritual vitality depends not on external vigor but on covenant faithfulness.

Creation Praise

Psalm 148 calls vapor to join the cosmic choir: “lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful stormy wind, fulfilling His word”. Here קִיטוֹר:
• Highlights the obedient service of inanimate creation—the elements are subjects of the King.
• Completes the inclusio of heaven and earth; even that which seems amorphous is under divine command.
• Provides implicit assurance that the God who marshals clouds likewise orders human history.

Intertextual Connections

• Smoke of the altar (Leviticus 16:13) and incense (Revelation 8:4) contrast destructive smoke with worshipful ascent.
• James 4:14’s “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” mirrors קִיטוֹר’s transience, bridging Old and New Testament meditation on human brevity.

Historical and Ministry Significance

For preaching and teaching:

1. Judgment Realized—Genesis 19:28 warns that God’s patience has limits; moral collapse invites visible reckoning.
2. Perseverance in Affliction—Psalm 119:83 encourages believers to cling to Scripture when circumstances dry the soul.
3. Worship in Creation—Psalm 148:8 summons congregations to recognize that all meteorological phenomena serve divine purposes, fostering trust amid natural upheaval.

For pastoral care:
• Use the wineskin image to empathize with those feeling scorched by trials while guiding them back to the statutes that refresh.
• Emphasize the smoke of Sodom when counseling on the consequences of persistent sin, coupling warning with the offer of refuge in Christ.

Theological Reflections

קִיטוֹר unites seemingly disparate doctrines: justice, frailty, and praise. Smoke rising from judgment, from a suffering servant, and from the ordered skies each proclaims that the Lord is righteous, compassionate, and sovereign. The same God who judges evil sustains the weary and commands the elements, proving His unchanging character throughout redemptive history.

בְּקִיט֑וֹר בקיטור וְקִיט֑וֹר וקיטור כְּקִיטֹ֖ר כקיטר קִיטֹ֣ר קיטר bə·qî·ṭō·wr bekiTor bəqîṭōwr kə·qî·ṭōr kekiTor kəqîṭōr kiTor qî·ṭōr qîṭōr vekiTor wə·qî·ṭō·wr wəqîṭōwrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts