סָמָר (sa.mar)
sa.mar
rough
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective samar describes something as bristling or rough to the touch. It appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Jeremiah 51:27. In this specific context, the word modifies the horses that will be raised up against Babylon. The imagery suggests animals with stiff, upright manes or coarse fur, conveying a sense of wild, untamed energy.
Its rarity makes it a unique lexical marker. Rather than describing general texture, samar evokes a sharp, prickly quality. This fits the prophetic tone of Jeremiah 51, where the nations are depicted as a chaotic force mobilized for judgment. The word captures the visceral, physical reality of the scene, emphasizing the raw power and unrest associated with the coming attack.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word samar paints a vivid picture of something bristling and rough, like the stiff mane of a wild horse. In Jeremiah 51:27, it describes the untamed energy of armies mobilized against Babylon. This imagery reminds us that God holds even the most chaotic and fierce forces in His sovereign hand.
When life feels overwhelming or out of control, this word offers a quiet comfort. The same God who commands these rough, bristling powers is also the One who brings peace to our hearts. You do not need to manage the chaos around you; He does.
Trust in His authority over every situation. Whether things seem wild or still, His purpose stands firm. Rest in the knowledge that nothing escapes His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bristly1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סָמָֽר\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 51:27
“Set up a standard in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her! Call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz! Appoint a marshal against her! Cause the horses to come up as the swarming locusts!
The word describes the horses as bristling and rough, emphasizing their wild, untamed power in God's judgment.