עֲטָרָה
𐤏𐤈𐤓𐤄
ʻăṭârâh
H5850 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A decorative or honorary headpiece, primarily signifying royal or priestly status and authority, but also used metaphorically for honor, victory, or blessing. In material terms, refers to a physical crown or wreath, usually of precious metal and sometimes adorned with jewels; in figurative uses, designates a symbol of preeminence, achievement, or the bestowal of dignity.
Semantic Range
crown, headpiece, headdress, wreath, garland, symbol of honor or victory, metaphor for dignity or blessing
Root / Etymology
From the root עטר (ʻ-ṭ-r), meaning 'to surround, encircle, crown.' עֲטָרָה is a feminine noun formation, indicating the object that encircles—thus, 'a crown' or 'wreath.' The root sense of 'surrounding' gives rise to the idea of a circular headpiece or something that compasses the head as a mark of status or honor.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested primarily in the context of royalty (e.g., the crown worn by a king or queen), priestly investiture (Exod 29:6; Zech 6:11), or as an image for honor (Prov 12:4, 14:24). In some texts, עֲטָרָה can also refer to a headdress or garland without direct reference to kingship. During the monarchy, it indicated the formal mark of sovereign or priestly dignity; in later writings, the metaphorical sense (honor, excellence, reward) becomes more prominent. Distinct from כֶּתֶר (keter), which in later Hebrew often comes to mean 'crown' with royal or divine associations, though there is overlap in some periods. English 'crown' communicates the basic meaning but may not fully convey the use of עֲטָרָה as a broader symbol of blessing or virtue in poetic or wisdom literature. Not used as a designation for the ruling office itself, but rather the symbolic or literal sign thereof.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָטַר; a crown; crown.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עטר (ʿ-ṭ-r) — surround, encircle, crown
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5849 | עָטַר | the crowning one |
| H5851 | עֲטָרָה | Crown-Woman |
| H5852 | עֲטָרוֹת | Crowns |
| H5854 | עַטְרוֹת בֵּית יוֹאָב | Crowns of Joab’s House |
| H5855 | עַטְרוֹת שׁוֹפָן | Encirclements of Shophan |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5850-02 |
עֲטֶֽרֶת | ateret | HNcfsc |
crown | crown | 14 |
H5850-06 |
וַ/עֲטֶ֥רֶת | vaateret | HC/Ncfsc |
and a crown | crown-of | 3 |
H5850-01 |
עֲטָר֑וֹת | atarot | HNcfpa |
as crowns | crowns | 2 |
H5850-03 |
בָּ/עֲטָרָ֗ה | baatarah | HRd/Ncfsa |
with the crown | in the crown | 1 |
H5850-07 |
וְ/הָ/עֲטָרֹ֗ת | vehaatarot | HC/Td/Ncfpa |
and-the-crowns | and the crowns | 1 |
H5850-05 |
לַ/עֲטֶ֣רֶת | laateret | HR/Ncfsc |
for a crown | for a crowning headpiece of | 1 |
H5850-04 |
הָֽ/עֲטָרָ֑ה | haatarah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the crown | the encircling crown | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
23 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5850-02 |
2 Samuel 12:30 | עֲטֶֽרֶת | ateret | HNcfsc |
crown | crown |
H5850-02 |
Isaiah 28:1 | עֲטֶ֤רֶת | ateret | HNcfsc |
crown | crown |
H5850-02 |
Isaiah 28:3 | עֲטֶ֥רֶת | ateret | HNcfsc |
crown | crown |
H5850-05 |
Isaiah 28:5 | לַ/עֲטֶ֣רֶת | laateret | HR/Ncfsc |
for a crown | for a crowning headpiece of |
H5850-02 |
Isaiah 62:3 | עֲטֶ֥רֶת | ateret | HNcfsc |
a crown | crown |
H5850-02 |
Jeremiah 13:18 | עֲטֶ֖רֶת | ateret | HNcfsc |
crown | crown |
H5850-06 |
Ezekiel 16:12 | וַ/עֲטֶ֥רֶת | vaateret | HC/Ncfsc |
and a crown | crown-of |
H5850-04 |
Ezekiel 21:31 | הָֽ/עֲטָרָ֑ה | haatarah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the crown | the encircling crown |
H5850-06 |
Ezekiel 23:42 | וַ/עֲטֶ֥רֶת | vaateret | HC/Ncfsc |
and-crowns | crown-of |
H5850-01 |
Zechariah 6:11 | עֲטָר֑וֹת | atarot | HNcfpa |
crowns | crowns |