Lexical Summary Qitron: Qitron Original Word: קִטְרוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kitron From qatar; fumigative; Kitron, a place in Palestine -- Kitron. see HEBREW qatar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as qitor Definition a city in Zebulun NASB Translation Kitron (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קִטְרוֺן proper name, of a location in Zebulun Judges 1:30, Κεδρων, AΧεβρων; = קַטָּת Joshua 19:15 ? site unknown. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Kitron is named once, in Judges 1:30: “Zebulun failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or those of Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and were put to forced labor”. The verse places the town inside Zebulun’s inheritance and highlights Israel’s pattern of incomplete obedience after the conquest. Historical Context 1. Conquest Aftermath Joshua’s campaigns subdued many Canaanite centers, but fortified enclaves persisted. Kitron belonged to that remnant, reflecting the transitional tension between divine promise and human compromise (Joshua 13:1). Instead of expulsion, Zebulun imposed corvée labor, mirroring decisions by several tribes (Judges 1:28–35). What appeared economically shrewd later drew divine rebuke (Judges 2:1–3), linking Kitron’s survival to Israel’s spiritual decline. Geographic Considerations Exact location is uncertain. Suggestions include Tell Qitrun near Mount Carmel, modern Kattûnâ west of the Jezreel Valley, or identification with Kartah (Joshua 21:34) or Kedesh (Joshua 19:25) via Septuagint variants. All lie along strategic trade routes, explaining why Zebulun preferred subjugation to siege. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Partial Obedience Kitron epitomizes the cost of half-measures; tolerated pockets of disobedience become future snares (Judges 2:3; Romans 6:12-14). A seemingly minor town illustrates that the LORD weighs every act of obedience (Luke 16:10). Allowing Canaanite culture within Kitron diluted Israel’s witness (Deuteronomy 4:6–8). The New Testament echoes the danger: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Later Tradition Rabbinic sources occasionally equate Kitron with Sepphoris, and medieval pilgrims located it near Yokneam. Christian commentators, from early Church Fathers to modern expositors, cite Kitron as a caution against compromise. Application for Discipleship • Identify and confront “Kitron” areas—small compromises tolerated for convenience. Forms and Transliterations קִטְר֔וֹן קטרון kitRon qiṭ·rō·wn qiṭrōwnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 1:30 HEB: אֶת־ יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י קִטְר֔וֹן וְאֶת־ יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י NAS: out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants KJV: the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants INT: drive the inhabitants of Kitron the inhabitants of Nahalol 1 Occurrence |
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