אֲתַר (a.tar)
a.tar
place
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for place often points to more than just coordinates on a map. In Ezra, it describes the specific location where God’s house was built and where sacred vessels were returned. This highlights how God cares about the details of our lives, establishing order and purpose in physical spaces that become centers of worship and community.
When we look at Daniel, the word takes on a different weight. In the vision of the statue, the scattered metals vanish because no place is found for them, contrasting with the stone that becomes a mountain filling the earth. This reminds us that human empires may rise and fall without leaving a lasting mark, but God’s kingdom has an eternal foundation.
For your daily walk, this word invites you to see your current circumstances as part of a larger divine plan. Whether you are in a season of rebuilding or waiting for stability, trust that God is preparing a place for you. His purposes endure long after temporary structures crumble, offering a secure hope that remains unshaken by changing times.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- place/ its2×
- after2×
- to/ place/ its1×
- place1×
- and/ after/ you1×
- a place1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/אַתְרֵ֔/הּ1×
- וּ/בָתְרָ֗/ךְ1×
- בָּאתַ֨ר1×
- בָּאתַ֣ר1×
- אַתְרֵֽ/הּ\׃\ \ס1×
- אַתְרֵֽ/הּ\׃1×
- אֲתַר֙1×
- אֲתַ֖ר1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 5:15
He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in its place.’
This verse uses the word to emphasize restoring worship to its original, intended location after exile.
-
Daniel 2:35
Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Here the absence of a place for the scattered metals contrasts with the permanent expansion of God's kingdom.
-
Ezra 6:7
Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.
The decree commands that the rebuilding must happen in its proper place, showing God’s concern for order and continuity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word אתר (atar) mean?
How is this word different from other Hebrew words for place?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 2 books)
Ezra 4 verses
He said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let God’s house be built in…
Ezra 6:3In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house…
Ezra 6:5Also let the gold and silver vessels of God’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple which is at Jerusalem…
Ezra 6:7Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of…