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Pitum HaKetoret

The full text as it is said in the morning service, from Ata Hu Adonai Eloheinu through the closing verses. Every word carries its transliteration, and the edition the text was copied from is named at the foot of the page.

Ata Hu Adonai Eloheinu

אַתָּהA-taהוּאhuה'AdonaiאֱלֹהֵינוּE-lo-hei-nuשֶׁהִקְטִירוּshe-hik-ti-ruאֲבוֹתֵינוּa-vo-tei-nuלְפָנֶיךָle-fa-ne-khaאֶתetקְטֹרֶתke-to-retהַסַּמִּיםha-sa-mimבִּזְמַןbiz-manשֶׁבֵּיתshe-beitהַמִּקְדָּשׁha-mik-dashקַיָּם,ka-yam,כַּאֲשֶׁרka-a-sherצִוִּיתָtsi-vi-taאוֹתָםo-tamעַלalיַדyadמֹשֶׁהMo-sheנְבִיאָךְne-vi-akhכַּכָּתוּבka-ka-tuvבְּתוֹרָתָךְ:be-to-ra-takh:

The Torah verses

Exodus 30:34-36 and Exodus 30:7-8.

וַיֹּאמֶרVa-yo-merה'AdonaiאֶלelמֹשֶׁהMo-sheקַחkakhלְךָle-khaסַמִּיםsa-mimנָטָףna-tafוּשְׁחֵלֶתu-she-khe-letוְחֶלְבְּנָהve-khel-be-naסַמִּיםsa-mimוּלְבֹנָהu-le-vo-naזַכָּהza-kaבַּדbadבְּבַדbe-vadיִהְיֶה:yih-ye:וְעָשִׂיתָve-a-si-taאֹתָהּo-taקְטֹרֶתke-to-retרֹקַחro-kakhמַעֲשֵׂהma-a-seרוֹקֵחַro-ke-akhמְמֻלָּחme-mu-lakhטָהוֹרta-horקֹדֶשׁ:ko-desh:וְשָׁחַקְתָּve-sha-khak-taמִמֶּנָּהmi-me-naהָדֵקha-dekוְנָתַתָּהve-na-ta-taמִמֶּנָּהmi-me-naלִפְנֵיlif-neiהָעֵדֻתha-e-dutבְּאֹהֶלbe-o-helמוֹעֵדmo-edאֲשֶׁרa-sherאִוָּעֵדi-va-edלְךָle-khaשָׁמָּהsha-maקֹדֶשׁko-deshקָדָשִׁיםka-da-shimתִּהְיֶהtih-yeלָכֶם:la-khem:וְנֶאֱמַר:Ve-ne-e-mar:וְהִקְטִירve-hik-tirעָלָיוa-lavאַהֲרֹןA-ha-ronקְטֹרֶתke-to-retסַמִּיםsa-mimבַּבֹּקֶרba-bo-kerבַּבֹּקֶרba-bo-kerבְּהֵיטִיבוֹbe-hei-ti-voאֶתetהַנֵּרֹתha-ne-rotיַקְטִירֶנָּה:yak-ti-re-na:וּבְהַעֲלֹתu-ve-ha-a-lotאַהֲרֹןA-ha-ronאֶתetהַנֵּרֹתha-ne-rotבֵּיןbeinהָעַרְבַּיִםha-ar-ba-yimיַקְטִירֶנָּהyak-ti-re-naקְטֹרֶתke-to-retתָּמִידta-midלִפְנֵיlif-neiה'Adonaiלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם:le-do-ro-tei-khem:

Tanu Rabanan: how was the incense compounded

The baraita, Keritot 6a.

תָּנוּTa-nuרַבָּנָן,ra-ba-nan,פִּטּוּםpi-tumהַקְּטֹרֶתha-ke-to-retכֵּיצַד,kei-tsad,שְׁלֹשׁshe-loshמֵאוֹתme-otוְשִׁשִּׁיםve-shi-shimוּשְׁמוֹנָהu-she-mo-naמָנִיםma-nimהָיוּha-yuבָהּ,va,שְׁלֹשׁshe-loshמֵאוֹתme-otוְשִׁשִּׁיםve-shi-shimוַחֲמִשָּׁהva-kha-mi-shaכְּמִנְיַןke-min-yanיְמוּתye-motהַחַמָּהha-kha-maמָנֶהma-neבְכָלve-kholיוֹם,yom,מַחֲצִיתוֹma-kha-tsi-toבַבֹּקֶרva-bo-kerוּמַחֲצִיתוֹu-ma-kha-tsi-toבַעָרֶב,va-a-rev,וּשְׁלֹשָׁהu-she-lo-shaמָנִיםma-nimיְתֵרִיםye-te-rimשֶׁמֵּהֶםshe-me-hemמַכְנִיסmakh-nisכֹּהֵןko-henגָּדוֹלga-dolוְנוֹטֵלve-no-telמֵהֶםme-hemמָלֵאma-leחָפְנָיוkhof-navבְּיוֹםbe-yomהַכִּפּוּרִים,ha-ki-pu-rim,מַחֲזִירָןma-kha-zi-ranלְמַכְתֶּשֶׁתle-makh-te-shetבְּעֶרֶבbe-e-revיוֹםyomהַכִּיפוּרִיםha-ki-pu-rimכְּדֵיke-deiלְקַיֵּםle-ka-yemמִצְוַתmits-vatדַּקָּהda-kaמִןminהַדַּקָּהha-da-kaוְאַחַדve-a-khadעָשָׂרa-sarסַמָּנִיםsa-ma-nimהָיוּha-yuבָהּvaוְאֵלּוּve-e-luהֵן:hen:

The eleven spices

הַצֳּרִיHa-tso-riוְהַצִּפּוֹרֶןve-ha-tsi-po-renוְהַחֶלְבְּנָהve-ha-khel-be-naוְהַלְּבוֹנָה,ve-ha-le-vo-na,מִשְׁקַלmish-kalשִׁבְעִיםshiv-imשִׁבְעִיםshiv-imמָנֶה.ma-ne.מוֹר,Mor,וּקְצִיעָהu-ke-tsi-aוְשִׁבֹּלֶתve-shi-bo-letנֵרְדְּnerdוְכַרְכֹּם,ve-khar-kom,מִשְׁקַלmish-kalשִׁשָּׁהshi-shaעָשָׂרa-sarשִׁשָּׁהshi-shaעָשָׂרa-sarמָנֶה.ma-ne.הַקֹשְׂטHa-koshetשְׁנֵיםshe-neimעָשָׂר,a-sar,קִלּוּפָהki-lu-faשְׁלֹשָׁה,she-lo-sha,קִנָּמוֹןki-na-monתִּשְׁעָה,tish-a,בּוֹרִיתbo-ritכַּרְשִינָהkar-shi-naתִּשְׁעָהtish-aקַבִּין,ka-bin,יֵיןyeinקַפְרִיסִיןkaf-ri-sinסְאִיןse-inתְּלָתte-latוְקַבִּיןve-ka-binתְּלָתָא,te-la-ta,וְאִםve-imלֹאloמָצָאma-tsaיֵיןyeinקַפְרִיסִין,kaf-ri-sin,מֵבִיאme-viחֲמַרkha-marחִוָרkhi-varעַתִּיק.a-tik.מֶלַחMe-lakhסְדוֹמִיתse-do-mitרוֹבַע,ro-va,מַעֲלֶהma-a-leעָשָׁןa-shanכָּלkolשֶׁהוּא.she-hu.רִבִּיRi-biנָתַןNa-tanהַבַּבְלִיha-Bav-liאוֹמֵר:o-mer:אַףafכִּפַּתki-patהַיַּרְדֵּןha-Yar-denכָּלkolשֶׁהִיא,she-hi,אִםimנָתַןna-tanבָּהּbaדְּבַשׁde-vashפְּסָלָהּ,pe-sa-la,וְאִםve-imחִסֵּרkhi-serאַחַתa-khatמִכָּלmi-kolסַמְמָנֶיהָ,sa-me-ma-ne-ha,חַיָּבkha-yavמִיתָה:mi-ta:

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says

רַבָּןRa-banשִׁמְעוֹןShim-onבֶּןbenגַּמְלִיאֵלGam-li-elאוֹמֵר:o-mer:הַצֳּרִיha-tso-riאֵינוֹei-noאֶלָּאe-laשְׁרָףshe-rafהַנּוֹטֵףha-no-tefמֵעֲצֵיme-a-tseiהַקְּטָף.ha-ke-taf.בּוֹרִיתBo-ritכַּרְשִׁינָהkar-shi-naלְמָהle-maהִיאhiבָאָה,va-a,כְּדֵיke-deiלְשַׁפּוֹתle-sha-potבָּהּbaאֶתetהַצִּפּוֹרֶן,ha-tsi-po-ren,כְּדֵיke-deiשֶׁתְּהֵאshe-te-heנָאֶה.na-e.יַיִןYa-yinקַפְרִיסִיןkaf-ri-sinלְמַהle-maהוּאhuבָא,va,כְּדֵיke-deiלִשְׁרוֹתlish-rotבּוֹboאֶתetהַצִּפּוֹרֶן,ha-tsi-po-ren,כְּדֵיke-deiשֶׁתְּהֵאshe-te-heעַזָּה.a-za.וַהֲלֹאVa-ha-loמֵיmeiרַגְלַיִםrag-la-yimיָפִיןya-finלָהּ,la,אֶלָּאe-laשֶׁאֵיןshe-einמַכְנִיסִיןmakh-ni-sinמִיmeiרַגְלַיִםrag-la-yimבַּמִּקְדָּשׁba-mik-dashמִפְּנֵיmip-neiהַכָּבוֹד:ha-ka-vod:

It was taught, Rabbi Natan says

תַּנְיָא,Tan-ya,רִבִּיRi-biנָתַןNa-tanאוֹמֵר:o-mer:כְּשֶׁהוּאke-she-huשׁוֹחֵק,sho-khek,אוֹמֵרo-merהָדֵקha-dekהֵיטֵב,hei-tev,הֵיטֵבhei-tevהָדֵק,ha-dek,מִפְּנֵיmip-neiשֶׁהַקּוֹלshe-ha-kolיָפֶהya-feלַבְּשָׂמִים.la-be-sa-mim.פִּטְּמָהּPi-te-maלַחֲצָאִיןla-kha-tsa-inכְּשֵׁרָה:ke-she-ra:לְשָׁלִישׁle-sha-lishוּלְרָבִיעַ,u-le-ra-vi-a,לֹאloשָׁמַעְנוּ.sha-ma-nu.אָמַרA-marרִבִּיRi-biיְהוּדָה:Ye-hu-da:זֶהzeהַכְּלָלha-ke-lalאִםimכְּמִדָּתָהּke-mi-da-taכְּשֵׁרָהke-she-raלַחֲצָאִין,la-kha-tsa-in,וְאִםve-imחִסֵּרkhi-serאַחַתa-khatמִכָּלmi-kolסַמְמָנֶיהָ,sa-me-ma-ne-ha,חַיָּבkha-yavמִיתָה.mi-ta.

Bar Kappara taught

תָּנֵיTa-neiבַרvarקַפָּרָא:Ka-pa-ra:אַחַתa-khatלְשִׁשִּׁיםle-shi-shimאוֹoלְשִׁבְעִיםle-shiv-imשָׁנָהsha-naהָיְתָהhai-taבָּאָהba-aשֶׁלshelשִׁירַיִםshi-ra-yimלַחֲצָאִין.la-kha-tsa-in.וְעוֹדVe-odתָּנֵיta-neiבַרvarקַפָּרָא:Ka-pa-ra:אִלּוּi-luהָיָהha-yaנוֹתֵןno-tenבָּהּbaקָרְטוֹבkor-tovשֶׁלshelדְּבַשׁ,de-vash,אֵיןeinאָדָםa-damיָכוֹלya-kholלַעֲמֹדla-a-modמִפְּנֵיmip-neiרֵיחָהּ.rei-kha.וְלָמָּהVe-la-maאֵיןeinמְעָרְבִיןme-ar-vinבָּהּbaדְּבַשׁ,de-vash,מִפְּנֵיmip-neiשֶׁהַתּוֹרָהshe-ha-to-raאָמְרָה:am-ra:כִּיkiכָלkholשְׂאֹרse-orוְכָלve-kholדְּבַשׁde-vashלֹאloתַקְטִירוּtak-ti-ruמִמֶּנּוּmi-me-nuאִשֶּׁהi-sheלַה':l'Adonai:ה'AdonaiצְבָאוֹתTse-va-otעִמָּנוּi-ma-nuמִשְׂגָּבmis-gavלָנוּla-nuאֱלֹהֵיE-lo-heiיַעֲקֹבYa-a-kovסֶלָה:se-la:ה'AdonaiצְבָאוֹתTse-va-otאַשְׁרֵיash-reiאָדָםa-damבֹּטֵחַbo-te-akhבָּךְ:bakh:ה'Adonaiהוֹשִׁיעָהho-shi-aהַמֶּלֶךְha-me-lekhיַעֲנֵנוּya-a-ne-nuבְיוֹםve-yomקָרְאֵנוּ:kor-e-nu:וְעָרְבָהVe-ar-vaלַה'l'Adonaiמִנְחַתmin-khatיְהוּדָהYe-hu-daוִירוּשָׁלִָםvi-ru-sha-la-yimכִּימֵיki-meiעוֹלָםo-lamוּכְשָׁנִיםu-khe-sha-nimקַדְמֹנִיּוֹת:kad-mo-ni-yot:

What the Pitum HaKetoret means, and why eleven spices

Where this text comes from

Siddur Edot HaMizrach, weekday Shacharit, the incense offering, Torat Emet 357 edition, cross-checked word by word against the Shaliehsaboo edition. The two agree consonantally apart from full and defective spelling. In three places where Torat Emet stands alone with a pointing that is not possible, the other reading is given: haarbayim, sammaneha and uketoret. Nothing else was changed, and where the source is under-pointed, as in karshina, it is reproduced as it stands.

When is Pitum HaKetoret said?

In the Edot HaMizrach rite it is said in Shacharit, after the offerings and before Hodu, and again at Mincha. Some communities also say it on Friday evening. What to do in practice is a question for your rabbi.

How many spices are in the ketoret?

Eleven, listed in the baraita: balsam, onycha, galbanum, frankincense, myrrh, cassia, spikenard, saffron, costus, cinnamon bark and cinnamon. The borit karshina and the Cyprus wine are not spices; they are used in the preparation.

What are the 368 maneh?

The weight of the incense for a year. Three hundred and sixty-five, one for each day of the solar year, a maneh a day, and three more from which the High Priest took his handfuls on Yom Kippur.

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