Original Word: אַדָּר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Addar
Pronunciation: ad-dawr'
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-dawr')
KJV: Addar
NASB: Addar
Word Origin: [intensive from H142 (אָדַר - majestic)]

1. ample
2. Addar, a place in Israel
3. (also) an Israelite

Addar

Intensive from 'adar; ample; Addar, a place in Palestine; also an Israelite -- Addar.

see HEBREW 'adar

Word Origin
from adar
Definition
a desc. of Benjamin, also a city in Judah
NASB Translation
Addar (2).

אַדָּר proper name, masculine (noble ?).

1 son of Bela, grandson of Benjm. 1 Chronicles 8:3 (perhaps error — compare Be — for אַרְדְּ q. v. Numbers 26:40; Genesis 46:21).

2 city in Judah Joshua 15:3 (אַדָּ֫רָה); = חֲצַר אַדָּר (q. v.) Numbers 34:4.

Meaning and Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 146 designates the proper noun Addar, a term connoting “majestic” or “ample.” Scripture applies the name to both a town on the southern border of Judah and to a descendant in the tribe of Benjamin. Though appearing only twice, these references illuminate the reliability of Israel’s tribal records and the precision with which the land of promise was apportioned.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Joshua 15:3
2. 1 Chronicles 8:3

Addar as a Border Town in Judah (Joshua 15:3)

In delineating Judah’s inheritance, Joshua records: “Then it went southward to the ascent of Akrabbim, passed along to Zin, went up on the south of Kadesh Barnea, passed along to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka” (Joshua 15:3).

Addar stands among a chain of sites marking Judah’s southern frontier, separating covenant land from the wilderness. Each landmark underscores the Lord’s detailed faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). The inclusion of even minor locales such as Addar shows that the allotments were anything but arbitrary; they were geographic testimonies to divine order.

Addar among the Sons of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:3)

Within the genealogy of Benjamin, Scripture lists: “The sons of Bela were Addar, Gera, Abihud” (1 Chronicles 8:3). The presence of an individual named Addar early in Israel’s history reflects a practice of commemorating God’s greatness through personal names. The record also preserves the family line through which King Saul would emerge (1 Chronicles 8:33), demonstrating that God concerned Himself with Israel’s lineage long before the monarchy arose.

Theological and Ministry Implications

1. Covenant Precision: Addar’s placement in both land and lineage underscores that God’s covenant faithfulness extends to specific people and precise places. Nothing in the biblical narrative is superfluous.
2. Value of Genealogies: Modern readers may skim genealogies, yet passages like 1 Chronicles 8 affirm the continuity of God’s redemptive plan—tracing promise through generations until Christ, “the Son of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).
3. Faithful Boundaries: Physical borders remind believers that spiritual boundaries matter as well (Proverbs 4:23). Just as Judah’s territory was clearly marked, so the life of the church is to be ordered by the clear teaching of Scripture.

Archaeological and Historical Considerations

The exact location of Addar remains uncertain, though some scholars relate it to sites in the Negev near Kadesh. Ongoing excavations in the region often corroborate the Bible’s geographic accuracy. Even without a firmly identified ruin, Addar’s mention alongside verifiable locales like Zin and Kadesh Barnea strengthens confidence in the biblical itinerary.

Lessons for Today

• Trustworthy Details: If God is attentive to border stones and forgotten names, believers can rest assured He is equally attentive to the details of their lives (Matthew 10:29–31).
• Stewardship of Inheritance: Israel was expected to inhabit the land within God-given limits. Likewise, the church is called to exercise its mission within the boundaries of sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13–14).
• Remembered by Name: Addar’s brief appearance demonstrates that every servant of God, however obscure, is known and recorded by Him (Malachi 3:16).

Though Addar surfaces only twice, its dual role in territory and genealogy magnifies the meticulous integrity of God’s Word, encouraging believers to cherish every line of Scripture.

אַדָּ֔רָה אַדָּ֥ר אדר אדרה ’ad·dā·rāh ’ad·dār ’addār ’addārāh adDar adDarahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts