אֲתָרִים
𐤀𐤕𐤓𐤉𐤌
Atarim
H871 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring to a specific geographic location encountered by the Israelites during their wilderness journey, most likely signifying 'the Atharim,' the inhabitants or region targeted for reconnaissance. Used in the Hebrew Bible as a place name related to Israelite encounters with local populations, and sometimes glossed as 'the spies' or 'scouts' by virtue of narrative context, though not as the core lexical meaning.
Semantic Range
proper name of a locality, designation of a region or group identified with Israelite reconnaissance; possibly used metonymically for tracks, routes, or pathways (speculative; not attested beyond this context)
Root / Etymology
Derived from a presumed but unattested root א־ת־ר (possibly meaning 'to step,' 'to travel,' or 'to search out'), though no such verb is used elsewhere in biblical Hebrew. The word exists only in a plural form, indicating a place inhabited or associated with a group, or possibly denoting 'tracks' or 'routes'; etymology uncertain and based on later comparative Semitic evidence.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term אֲתָרִים (Atharim) appears only in Numbers 21:1, where it is used as a proper name. In context, it likely refers to either a place where the Israelites encountered Canaanite opposition or the people themselves. Some modern translations and commentators, based on Septuagint and Vulgate readings, interpret it as 'the way of the spies,' connecting it with the Israelite reconnaissance mission in Numbers 13. However, the lexical evidence points to its use as a place or group designation, rather than an occupational noun (i.e., 'spies'). The connection with the root 'to step' or 'to trace a path' is speculative and not directly attested in Hebrew, though similar formations exist in Aramaic and Arabic. No evidence connects this term directly with the English term 'spy' as used in postbiblical or modern contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
plural from an unused root (probably meaning to step); places; Atharim, a place near Palestine; spies. b
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אתר (ʾ-t-r) — to step, to trace, to search out
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H871-01 |
הָ/אֲתָרִ֑ים | haatarim | HTd/Np |
of the Atharim | the Atharim | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H871-01 |
Numbers 21:1 | הָ/אֲתָרִ֑ים | haatarim | HTd/Np |
of the Atharim | the Atharim |