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עֲתֶרֶת

𐤏𐤕𐤓𐤕

ʻăthereth

H6283 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עתר to pray, intercede; to be abundant, to heap up, to bestow abundantly

Definition

A crown, diadem, or wreath used as an ornamental headdress, especially of royalty, high status individuals, or in ceremonial contexts; also, figuratively, a symbol of honor, dignity, or rejoicing. While the primary lexical meaning is a physical or symbolic headdress signifying status or joy, it can be extended to poetic or metaphorical usage, such as describing a person as the 'crown' or pride of another.

Semantic Range

crown, diadem, wreath, ornamental headdress, symbol of honor, source of pride, object of joy

Root / Etymology

Root: עתר (ʿ-ṭ-r). The verbal root עָתַר primarily means 'to pray, entreat, intercede,' or in other forms, 'to be rich, to abound, to be copious.' The noun עֲתֶרֶת derives from the latter sense of the root, indicating 'an abundance' or 'copiousness,' and by extension, refers to an ornate headdress (i.e., a crown or wreath) signifying abundance or fullness (of dignity, joy, or beauty). The leap from the root's meaning of 'abundance' to the sense of 'crown' reflects the idea of a head adorned with something lavish or full.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, עֲתֶרֶת primarily denotes a crown or ceremonial headdress, often worn by royalty or by individuals in especially honored positions (e.g., 2 Samuel 12:30; 1 Chronicles 20:2; Zechariah 6:11, 14). In poetic contexts (Proverbs 4:9; Isaiah 28:1, 3, 5), it may take on metaphorical value, designating something or someone as a source of pride, joy, or honor. The term is distinct from other Hebrew words for crown: כֶּתֶר (keter), more common in later Hebrew, is less frequent in the Hebrew Bible; נֵזֶר (nezer) generally stresses consecration or a Nazarite’s dedication; עֲטָרָה (ʿătārāh) is another related, but different, term. The English rendering 'crown' is usually appropriate, but 'wreath' or 'diadem' can also fit depending on context. The application of עֲתֶרֶת to non-royal contexts is most developed in the poetic and prophetic books. In post-exilic usage, there is some semantic overlap with later honorific headdresses, but direct continuity is difficult to establish. Later Jewish tradition uses different terminology for crowns in ritual contexts, such as the Torah crown (keter Torah).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָתַר; copiousness; abundance. p

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5849 עָטַר the crowning one
H5850 עֲטָרָה crowns
H5851 עֲטָרָה Crown-Woman
H5852 עֲטָרוֹת Crowns
H5854 עַטְרוֹת בֵּית יוֹאָב Crowns of Joab’s House

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6283-01 עֲתֶ֥רֶת ateret HNcfsc abundance crown-of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6283-01 Jeremiah 33:6 עֲתֶ֥רֶת ateret HNcfsc abundance crown-of
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