עָתַר

From the study of Proverbs 27:6

Range of meaning

The standard dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (BDB) puts this word under a second root ʿ-t-r meaning 'be abundant', separate from the more common ʿ-t-r 'to pray, plead.' In this passive form it means 'be plentiful, be made many.' The same root appears in Ezekiel 35:13 ('you multiplied your words against me') and in the noun ʿateret, 'abundance', in Jeremiah 33:6. This verse is the only place the passive form occurs, so the meaning is worked out from those related words.

Against the English

KJV, BSB and NASB say 'deceitful.' WEB, YLT and ESV say 'profuse' or 'abundant.' NIV ('an enemy multiplies kisses') and NLT ('many kisses') bring out the idea of quantity. 'Deceitful' gives the conclusion the reader is meant to draw. It is not what the word itself says.

How it drifted

The Latin Vulgate translated it fraudulenta ('deceitful'), probably working from the contrast with 'trustworthy' in the first line. That reading passed into older English Bibles, including the KJV, and from there into modern ones that keep the KJV wording.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezekiel 35:13 (a form meaning 'multiply'); Jeremiah 33:6 (ʿateret, 'abundance'). The Greek Septuagint has hekousia, 'freely offered, voluntary' kisses. The Vulgate has fraudulenta. So the ancient translators were already guessing in different directions.