Atarah (H5850) means a crown or wreath — a circular ornament placed on the head as a symbol of honor, royalty, or victory. It appears 23 times in the OT. Distinguished from the royal keter (crown of the king), atarah has a broader application including crowns of beauty, wisdom, and divine reward.
The crown is a central image in biblical theology. Atarah appears in Proverbs as the crown that wise children are to their parents (Prov 17:6) and that a virtuous wife is to her husband (Prov 12:4). In Zechariah, Joshua the high priest is crowned (Zech 6:11) as a prophetic sign of the coming Messiah who will be both Priest and King. The NT develops this into the 'crown of righteousness' (stephanos, 2 Tim 4:8).
Atarah derives from the verb atar (to encircle, surround). The crown encircles, protecting and honoring. Isaiah 28:5 presents YHWH Himself as an atarah for His people — the ultimate crown of glory. The NT stephanos (wreath crown) and diadema (royal crown) both reflect this OT imagery.