Bible Word Study
אָטֵר
ʼÂṭêr · Ater, the name of three Israelites
אָטֵר
Ater, the name of three Israelites
Definition
Ater is a proper name given to three different individuals in the post-exilic biblical record. The primary Ater is listed among the heads of families who returned from Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:16, Nehemiah 7:21). A second Ater is noted among the gatekeepers who returned (Ezra 2:42, Nehemiah 7:45). A third Ater is recorded as one of the leaders who sealed the covenant of renewal under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:17). In each case, the name identifies a specific person within the restored community of Judah.
Biblical Usage
The name Ater is used exclusively in the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah to identify individuals among the returning exiles. It appears in two main contexts: first, in census lists detailing the families and temple servants who returned from Babylon (Ezra 2:16, 2:42; Nehemiah 7:21, 7:45), and second, among the signatories of the binding covenant in Nehemiah 10:17. The usage is consistently as a proper noun without narrative development.
Etymology
The name Ater (אָטֵר) derives from the Hebrew root אָטַר (ʼāṭar, H332), meaning 'to shut, to bind, or to be maimed.' As a proper name, it likely carries the sense of 'bound' or 'closed up,' possibly indicating a physical characteristic or a hope for divine protection. It is formed as an active participle from this root.
Semantic Range
While the name Ater itself is not theologically loaded, its bearers' contexts are significant. Their inclusion in the restoration lists (Ezra, Nehemiah) highlights God's faithfulness in preserving a remnant and re-establishing His covenant people after exile. The Ater in Nehemiah 10:17 specifically participates in a solemn renewal of the covenant, representing personal and communal commitment to God's law. Understanding these individuals as part of the returned community enriches the study of God's ongoing redemptive plan. In ancient Israelite culture, names often conveyed meaning or circumstance. Ater, meaning 'bound' or 'maimed,' may have originally described a physical condition or symbolized a hope that the person was 'bound' or protected by God. Its use in the post-exilic period shows the continuity of personal identity and family lineage even after the disruption of the Babylonian captivity, as precise genealogical records were maintained for religious and social restoration.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]