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עַתַּי

𐤏𐤕𐤉

Atay

H6262 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עית to set a time, to meet at an appointed time, to bring about at a specific moment

Definition

A personal name, presumably of Israelite men mentioned in genealogical and narrative materials. The name itself does not carry a lexical meaning in Biblical Hebrew beyond its use as a proper noun.

Semantic Range

proper name; possibly 'timely' or 'my time' if derived from עֵת (time), but only attested as a personal name

Root / Etymology

Formed on the root עית ('it), likely an adjectival or personal form. The precise derivation and meaning are uncertain; it may be related to time or opportunity (from עֵת), but this is not certain. Proper name formation in Hebrew often builds on familiar nouns or roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עַתַּי appears as the name of at least three individuals in biblical genealogies: (1) a descendant of Judah in the time of David (1 Chronicles 2:35–36), (2) an elite military leader under David (1 Chronicles 12:11–12 [Eng. vv. 10–11]), and (3) a Levite in the days of Ezra (Ezra 8:8). The recurrence of this name across historical contexts indicates the practice of reusing ancestral names among Israelites. English translations generally transliterate עַתַּי as Attai, but the name's meaning is seldom discussed, as it functions only as a personal identifier. There is no direct evidence the name כַּ reflects concepts of 'time' or 'appointed occasion' in these contexts, despite the likely root connection. The term 'Jew' is not appropriate for these figures, as they are Israelite or Judahite, not Judeans of the Persian or later periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

for עִתִּי; Attai, the name of three Israelites; Attai.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עית (ʿ-y-t) — to set a time, to appoint, to bring about at a specific moment

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6262-01 עַתָּֽי atay HNp Attai Attai Atay 3
H6262-02 וְ/עַתַּי֙ veatay HC/Np and Attai and Attai and Atay 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6262-01 1 Chronicles 2:35 עַתָּֽי atay HNp Attai Attai Atay
H6262-02 1 Chronicles 2:36 וְ/עַתַּי֙ veatay HC/Np and Attai and Attai and Atay
H6262-01 1 Chronicles 12:12 עַתַּי֙ atay HNp Attai Attai Atay
H6262-01 2 Chronicles 11:20 עַתַּ֔י atay HNp Attai Attai Atay
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