אַדָּר

Addar, a place in Palestine; also an Israelite

Definition

אַדָּר (ʼAddâr) is a proper noun with two distinct biblical referents. First, it designates a geographical location in the southern border of the tribe of Judah, appearing as a place name in the territorial description of Joshua 15:3. Second, it serves as the name of an individual, a son of Bela from the tribe of Benjamin, as recorded in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 8:3. The name itself carries the connotation of 'ample' or 'majestic,' likely describing the character of the person or the nature of the place.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, each time as a proper name in distinct contexts. In Joshua 15:3, it functions as a toponym (place name) in a detailed list of Judah's southern boundary markers. In 1 Chronicles 8:3, it is used as a personal name within a genealogical record of Benjamin's descendants. There is no narrative usage; it appears solely in descriptive lists.

Etymology

The name אַדָּר is derived from the Hebrew root אָדַר (ʼādar, H142), which means 'to be majestic' or 'wide.' It is an intensive form of this root, giving the sense of 'ample,' 'majestic,' or 'glorious.' This suggests the name was given to signify prominence or nobility.

Semantic Range

As a place name in Joshua 15:3, Addar was part of defining tribal inheritance, reflecting the importance of land and borders in Israelite identity. As a personal name in 1 Chronicles 8:3, it follows a common cultural practice of using names with positive, aspirational meanings ('majestic') for children, often reflecting hoped-for character or divine blessing.

אָדַר (ʼādar, H142) — the root verb meaning 'to be majestic,' from which the proper name is derived.

Word Details

Scripture References