Addar is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Addar was a descendant of Benjamin, mentioned in the genealogies of the tribe. He appears in the record of the sons of Bela, who was himself a son of Benjamin. The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 8 traces the lineage of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and Addar is listed among the descendants of this tribe. His father was Bela, and his brothers, according to the same verse, were Gera and Abihud.
The setting of this mention is the extensive genealogical record found in 1 Chronicles, which was compiled to document the ancestral lines of the tribes of Israel, particularly as they related to the returning exiles and the organization of the nation. Addar appears only once in the King James Bible, in 1 Chronicles 8:3, where the text reads: “And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud.” This single verse is the entirety of what Scripture records about him.
Beyond his name, his father, and his brothers, the Bible says nothing further about Addar. He is not recorded as performing any deed, holding any office, or speaking any word. He is simply one link in the chain of Benjamin’s descendants, preserved in the sacred record as a member of the tribe. His inclusion in the genealogy testifies that he lived, belonged to God’s covenant people, and had a place in the family line of Israel.
The Name
The name Addar is of Hebrew origin. It is closely related to the name “Ard” and may be associated with the Hebrew root meaning “excellence” or “majesty,” though the precise meaning is not clearly recoverable from the text itself. Some scholars connect it to a word suggesting “high” or “exalted.” Because the name appears only once in the King James Bible and the exact etymology is uncertain, its meaning should not be asserted too confidently. What can be said is that it was a personal name borne by a Benjamite in the post-exilic genealogical record.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered by the wider world. Our names will not appear in histories or halls of fame. Yet Addar’s single verse reminds us that God keeps a record of His people. A man who did nothing noteworthy by human standards is still named in Scripture, counted among the tribe of Benjamin, and known to God. If your life feels hidden and small, take heart: the Lord knows His own by name, and being written in His book matters far more than being written in the world’s.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 8:3 — And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,