What does the Bible say about…
crowns

also known as: diadems

nezer

Hebrew: נֶזֶר —transliteration: nezer —meaning: crown

Inscribed “Holy to the Lord”

The crown of the Levite high priest denotes the plate of gold in the front of the high priest’s mitre (Exodus 29:6; 39:30)

The same Hebrew word so rendered (ne'zer) denotes the diadem worn by King Saul in battle (2 Samuel 1:10), and also that which was used at the coronation of King Joash (2 Kings 11:12).

atarah

Hebrew: עֲטָרָה —transliteration: `atarah —meaning: crown

The more general name in Hebrew for a crown is 'atarah, meaning a “circlet.”

This is used of crowns and head ornaments of diverse kinds, including royal crowns. Such was the crown taken from the king of Ammon by David (2 Samuel 12:30).

The crown worn by the Assyrian kings was a high mitre, sometimes adorned with flowers.

There are sculptures also representing the crowns worn by the early Egyptian and Persian kings. Sometimes a diadem surrounded the royal head-dress of two or three fillets. This probably signified that the wearer had dominion over two or three countries. In Rev. 12:3; 13:1, we read of “many crowns,” a token of extended dominion.

kether

Hebrew: כֶּתֶר —transliteration: kether —meaning: crown

The ancient Persian crown (Esther 1:11; 2:17; 6:8) was called kether; i.e., “a chaplet,” a high cap or tiara.

Crowns were worn sometimes to represent honor and power (Ezek. 23:42).

They were worn at marriages (Song of Songs 3:11; Isaiah 61:10, “ornaments;” Revised King James Version, “a garland”), and at feasts and public festivals.

The crown was among the Romans and Greeks a symbol of victory and reward. The crown or wreath worn by the victors in the Olympic games was made of leaves of the wild olive; in the Pythian games, of laurel; in the Nemean games, of parsley; and in the Isthmian games, of the pine.

The Romans bestowed the “civic crown” on him who saved the life of a citizen. It was made of the leaves of the oak.

stephanos

The Greek New Testament usually uses stephanos (a victor’s wreath) for the reward crowns and diadema (a royal diadem) for sovereign rule.

Wisdom literature frequently treats a crown as a picture of honor or blessing

Wisdom “will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor” (Proverbs 4:9).
“A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown” (Proverbs 12:4).
“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31).
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged” (Proverbs 17:6).
Psalm 103:4 says God “crowns you with love and compassion.”
God Himself is described as “a crown of glory” and “a royal diadem” for His people (Isaiah 28:5; 62:3).

Crown of Life

In opposition to all these fading crowns the apostles speak of the incorruptible crown, the crown of life (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10) “that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4, Greek: amarantinos; compare 1:4). Probably the word amaranth was applied to flowers we call “everlasting,” the “immortal amaranth.”

More information

Article Version: September 2, 2026