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עֲטָרוֹת

𐤏𐤈𐤓𐤅𐤕

Atarot

H5852 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עטר to surround, to crown, to encircle

Definition

Proper name designating at least two distinct locations in the southern Levant, documented in the Hebrew Bible as part of tribal territorial listings and boundary descriptions. The name likely carries the sense of 'crowns' or 'diadems,' reflecting the underlying meaning of the root though in these cases, refers specifically to placenames rather than literal or metaphorical crowns.

Semantic Range

Ataroth (placename), literal crowns or wreaths (in other contexts), sites associated with Israelite territorial boundaries, settlements in tribal allotments

Root / Etymology

Derived from the noun עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭārāh), meaning 'crown' or 'wreath,' from the root עטר (ʻ-ṭ-r), meaning 'to surround, encircle, crown.' The name עֲטָרוֹת is the plural form, indicating 'crowns' or 'wreaths.' The usage as a placename represents a semantic shift from literal object to figurative or symbolic designation of a location. May imply features of the landscape (e.g., hills encircling a site) or symbolic status, though the precise reasoning for the placename is not documented.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical texts, עֲטָרוֹת identifies at least two places: 1) Ataroth near the territory defined for the tribe of Ephraim, often associated with Ataroth-Addar (Joshua 16:2, 5; 18:13); 2) Ataroth in the territory allotted to Gad, east of the Jordan (Numbers 32:3, 34; Joshua 13:25). The plural form is unusual for place names and may imply a region comprised of several settlements, multiple features, or could reflect the grandeur or status of the place. In English translations, the name is often left as 'Ataroth' without further interpretation; however, the term 'crowns' is not used in translation tradition for these place names. Later Jewish tradition and post-biblical literature do not provide further clarification on the identification or symbolic meaning of these sites. The locations are referenced mainly in tribal and boundary lists, lacking narrative elaboration on their significance. The relationship between the two sites is only nominal and not otherwise attested. The common English rendering 'Ataroth' reflects Hebrew pronunciation but omits the underlying meaning suggested by the root. No theological significance is attached to the placenames in the biblical context; their importance is primarily geographical and administrative.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עֲטָרֹת; plural of עֲטָרָה; Ataroth, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine; Ataroth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עטר (ʿ-ṭ-r) — to surround, to encircle, to crown

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5849 עָטַר the crowning one
H5850 עֲטָרָה crowns
H5851 עֲטָרָה Crown-Woman
H5854 עַטְרוֹת בֵּית יוֹאָב Crowns of Joab’s House
H5855 עַטְרוֹת שׁוֹפָן Encirclements of Shophan

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5852-01 עֲטָר֤וֹת atarot HNp Ataroth Crowns 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5852-01 Numbers 32:3 עֲטָר֤וֹת atarot HNp Ataroth Crowns
H5852-01 Numbers 32:34 עֲטָרֹ֑ת atarot HNp Ataroth Crowns
H5852-01 Joshua 16:2 עֲטָרֽוֹת atarot HNp Ataroth Crowns
H5852-01 Joshua 16:7 עֲטָר֣וֹת atarot HNp Ataroth Crowns
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