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H7003 · Hebrew · Old Testament
קִטְרוֹן
Qitron
Proper noun (place)
Kitron — a city not fully conquered by Zebulun

Definition

Qitron (קִטְרוֹן) is a city in the tribal allotment of Zebulun that Israel failed to fully possess, as recorded in Judges 1:30. The Canaanites of Kitron were subjected to forced labor but not driven out. The name may be related to the root qatar (incense/smoke) or may be of Canaanite origin.

Usage & Theological Significance

Kitron's mention in Judges 1 belongs to the tragic catalog of Israel's incomplete obedience in the conquest — cities that were supposed to be taken but where compromise prevailed. Instead of driving out the Canaanites, Zebulun put them to forced labor. This half-obedience became the seed of later syncretism and apostasy.

The theological lesson of Kitron is echoed throughout Scripture: partial obedience is disobedience. Saul's failure with Amalek (1 Samuel 15), Israel's tolerance of Baalism, and the church's accommodation of worldliness all stem from the same pattern. Jesus' call is total discipleship — "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). There is no Kitron compromise in the Kingdom.

Key Bible Verses

Judges 1:30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, so these Canaanites lived among them, but Zebulun did subject them to forced labor.
Judges 2:2-3 'And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.' But you have not obeyed me. What is this you have done? So now I say, I will not drive them out before you.
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: 'Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice.'
Luke 14:33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Joshua 1:3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

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