Lexical Summary atar: To crown, to encircle, to surround Original Word: עָטַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance compass, crown A primitive root; to encircle (for attack or protection); especially to crown (literally or figuratively) -- compass, crown. Brown-Driver-Briggs [עָטַר] verb surround (Late Hebrew id., and derivatives; Phoenician עטרת wreath, עטר Pi`el denominative crown Lzb339; Aramaic עֲטַר; Assyrian etêru, spare, rescue); — Qal Imperfect2masculine singular suffix כַּצִּנָּה רָצוֺן תַּעְטְרֶנּוּ Psalm 5:13 as with a shield, with favour will thou surround him; Participle plural עֹטְרִים אֶלדָּֿוִד 1 Samuel 23:26 Saul and his men were surrounding (closing in) upon David. [עָטַר] verb denominative crown; — Pi`el Perfect3feminine singular שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֺ Songs 3:11 with which his mother crowned him (see I. עֲטָרָה 1); elsewhere figurative: 2 masculine singular טוֺבָתֶ֑ךָ עִטַּרְתָּ שְׁנִת Psalm 65:12 thou (׳י) hast crowned the year of thy goodness; Imperfect2masculine singular suffix וְכַבוֺד וְהָדָר תְּעַטְּרֵהוּ Psalm 8:6; Participle suffix הַמְעַטְּרֵכִי חֶסֶד וְרַחֲמִים Psalm 103:4 (of ׳י). Hiph`il Participle feminine צֹר הַמַּעֲטִירָה Isaiah 23:8 usually Tyre the crown-bestower (Ges Ew De CheComm. Di Du GuKau Skinner), but dubious; < the crown-wearer Hi Gr (after ᵑ6), so Ren CheHpt. (reading הַמְּעֻטָּרָה). Topical Lexicon Overview of the MotifThe verb עָטַר traces a rich biblical motif of crowning and encircling. Whether used of literal royal investiture, divine favor that surrounds the righteous, or ironic acknowledgment of worldly power, each appearance points to the Lord as the ultimate Giver and Defender of honor. Occurrences in Canonical Setting 1 Samuel 23:26 introduces the term in narrative form, where Saul “was closing in” on David. The hostile encirclement heightens the tension of the account and sets a backdrop for later psalmic uses in which God—not an enemy—surrounds His chosen one. In the Psalms the verb moves from danger to delight. Psalm 5:12 proclaims, “Surely You bless the righteous; You surround them with favor like a shield.” Psalm 8:5 celebrates humanity’s exalted place: “You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor.” Psalm 65:11 applies the verb to the agricultural year: “You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with abundance.” Psalm 103:4 personalizes the experience: the Lord “redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with loving devotion and compassion.” These varied contexts weave together God’s protective, royal, and providential grace. Song of Songs 3:11 shifts to a nuptial procession: “See King Solomon wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding.” The imagery portrays joy fulfilled, prefiguring the ultimate union of Christ and the Church. Isaiah 23:8 presents the lone prophetic use: Tyre is “bestower of crowns,” granting commercial or political advantage. The fleeting glory of the nations stands in contrast to the durable crown God places on His people. Historical and Cultural Background In the Ancient Near East, crowning involved diadems, garlands, or wreaths that signified victory, status, or covenantal bonds. Mothers could confer royal headpieces (Song of Songs 3:11), priests consecrated kings (2 Kings 11:12), and foreign powers granted vassal crowns (Isaiah 23:8, by implication). The biblical writers adopt this cultural practice as a theological statement: every crown ultimately issues from the Lord, and every sphere He encircles belongs to Him. Theology of Divine Crowning 1. Royal Honor: Psalm 8 links humanity’s crown to Genesis dominion and anticipates the Last Adam (Hebrews 2:6-9). Jesus fulfills the psalm both in His humiliation “crowned with thorns” and in His exaltation “crowned with glory and honor.” 2. Protective Favor: Psalm 5:12 presents crowning as an encircling shield, an image echoed in Zechariah 2:5 where the Lord is “a wall of fire.” Believers experience this security in Christ, who “keeps them by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5). 3. Covenant Provision: Psalm 65:11 embodies agricultural blessing, showing that the Lord encircles the entire year. The faithful may labor confidently, knowing “every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). 4. Redemption and Compassion: Psalm 103:4 places crowning at the center of personal salvation. The same mercy that rescued Israel from Egypt now rescues individual lives from the grave and sets a new emblem of steadfast love upon them. Contrasting Crowns: Human versus Divine Isaiah 23:8 exposes the transience of human-bestowed crowns. Tyre’s commercial empire may elevate rulers for a season, yet it cannot grant lasting security. In stark contrast, God’s crowning work is eternal. Revelation 4:10 pictures the redeemed casting their crowns before the throne, recognizing the Source of all honor. Christological and Eschatological Trajectory The verb’s trajectory moves from historical kingship to the Messianic King. Solomon’s wedding crown hints at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). The psalms prepare the way for the Servant-King who will both suffer and reign. His people, having been “surrounded with favor,” will “receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). Practical Ministry Applications • Assurance: Psalm 5:12 arms believers against fear. Pastoral counseling can point anxious hearts to the palpable promise that God encircles His own. • Worship: Psalm 65:11 invites congregational gratitude at harvest, fiscal year-end, or any season of fruitfulness. Liturgical emphasis on divine bounty counters the culture of self-reliance. • Identity Formation: Teaching on Psalm 103:4 shapes personal identity around redemption rather than past failure. The believer wears a crown of steadfast love, not shame. • Mission: Isaiah 23 warns against false security in economic power. The church proclaims a higher citizenship whose crown cannot perish. Intercanonical Connections The Septuagint often renders the verb with Greek verbs that later relate to στέφανος (stephanos). New Testament writers pick up the crown imagery for eternal reward (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4). Thus, a single Hebrew verb becomes a thread that spans from Saul’s encirclement of David to the eschatological triumph of the saints. Summary עָטַר gathers into one concept God’s surrounding protection, royal appointment, covenant blessing, and eschatological hope. Each Old Testament occurrence enriches the portrait of a God who not only saves but also crowns, who not only delivers from foes but encircles with love, who grants honor that neither time nor tyrant can take away. Forms and Transliterations הַֽ֝מְעַטְּרֵ֗כִי הַמַּֽעֲטִירָ֑ה המעטירה המעטרכי עִ֭טַּרְתָּ עֹֽטְרִ֛ים עטרים עטרת שֶׁעִטְּרָה־ שעטרה־ תְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ׃ תַּעְטְרֶֽנּוּ׃ תעטרהו׃ תעטרנו׃ ‘iṭ·ṭar·tā ‘iṭṭartā ‘ō·ṭə·rîm ‘ōṭərîm ham‘aṭṭərêḵî ham·‘aṭ·ṭə·rê·ḵî ham·ma·‘ă·ṭî·rāh hamatteRechi hamma‘ăṭîrāh hammaatiRah Ittarta oteRim še‘iṭṭərāh- še·‘iṭ·ṭə·rāh- sheitterah ta‘·ṭə·ren·nū ta‘ṭərennū tateRennu tə‘aṭṭərêhū tə·‘aṭ·ṭə·rê·hū teatteRehuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 23:26 HEB: וְשָׁא֣וּל וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו עֹֽטְרִ֛ים אֶל־ דָּוִ֥ד NAS: and his men were surrounding David KJV: and his men round about to take INT: Saul and his men were surrounding about David Psalm 5:12 Psalm 8:5 Psalm 65:11 Psalm 103:4 Songs 3:11 Isaiah 23:8 7 Occurrences |
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