Atarah is a woman mentioned in the biblical genealogies who is remembered for her marriage into the royal line of Judah. Like many figures in the Books of Chronicles, her importance is tied directly to her place in the Messianic lineage of King David.
The name Atarah ($\text{‘Ăṭārāh}$) is a Hebrew word that carries a beautiful and regal meaning: “A Crown” or “Circlet.”
Her Place in the Lineage
Atarah is mentioned as the wife of Jerahmeel, a prominent figure in the tribe of Judah. Jerahmeel was the son of Hezron, who was the grandson of Judah (the son of Jacob).
The tribe of Judah was divided into key family branches, and Atarah is found within the records detailing this ancestry. Her primary, and only, mention in scripture is tied to her son, Onam.
The King James Version records her place in the family tree:
And the sons of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
And the sons of Jerahmeel were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah.
And he had another wife, whose name was Atarah; and she bare Onam. (1 Chronicles 2:25–26)
Significance to the Tribe of Judah
This brief, three-part entry in 1 Chronicles 2:25–26 establishes several key points:
- Marital Status: Atarah is specified as a “second wife” (or another wife) of Jerahmeel, indicating that she may have come into the family after his first set of children were born.
- Maternal Role: Her entire identity in the biblical record is focused on her role as the mother of Onam. This underscores the importance of the maternal role in preserving the lineage and the identity of the Hebrew people.
- The Royal Line: While Atarah’s son, Onam, is not in the direct line that leads to King David (that line follows Jerahmeel’s brother, Ram), she is firmly fixed within the expansive, royal tribe of Judah. The chronicler meticulously preserved the names of all the major families, recognizing the sovereignty of God over all the branches of His chosen people.
Atarah, whose name means “Crown,” is a quiet symbol of the noble heritage and importance of the women who sustained the family lines that ultimately formed the foundation of the royal house of Israel. Her name, though fleetingly mentioned, ensured the preservation of the family line of Onam for future generations.