סַנְוֵרִים (san.ver)
san.ver
blindness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sanverim refers specifically to a state of sudden blindness. It is not used for gradual loss of sight or chronic eye conditions, but rather describes an abrupt and unexpected dimming of vision. This precision distinguishes it from other biblical terms for visual impairment that might imply long-term disability or physical injury.
With only two occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, the word carries significant narrative weight. It appears in Genesis 27:11 when Isaac, old and frail, asks his son Jacob to bring him game so he can taste it before giving a blessing, fearing he might touch Jacob and curse him due to his "sanverim." The term also surfaces in 2 Kings 6:18, where the prophet Elisha prays for the Aramean soldiers blinded by God during their attack on Dothan. In both cases, the blindness serves as a divine intervention or a marker of human vulnerability.
Its rarity makes it a unique lexical tool for describing moments when physical perception is instantly overridden by spiritual reality or divine action. Translators often render it simply as "blindness," but the context always demands an awareness of its sudden, unexplained nature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sanverim describes a sudden, unexpected loss of sight, appearing only twice in Scripture. In Genesis 19, angels strike the men of Sodom with this blindness to protect Lot and his family from harm. This event shows God’s power to intervene directly in human affairs, shielding the vulnerable when earthly defenses fail.
Later, in 2 Kings 6, Elisha prays for Aramean soldiers to be struck blind so they cannot find their way back to their king. Here, spiritual blindness serves a protective purpose, leading enemies astray while preserving God’s prophet. Both instances highlight that physical perception can be overridden by divine will.
For believers today, this rare word reminds us that God sees what we cannot. When circumstances seem confusing or dangerous, His sovereignty remains active. We can trust that He guides our steps even when our own vision is limited or unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with <the>/ sudden blindness3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/סַּנְוֵרִ֖ים1×
- בַּ/סַּנְוֵרִ֔ים1×
- בַּ/סַּנְוֵרִ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 19:11
They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
This verse demonstrates the word's use in a protective context, where sudden blindness prevents violence against Lot's family.
-
II Kings 6:18
When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” He struck them with blindness according to Elisha’s word.
Here the term illustrates divine intervention, as Elisha’s prayer causes immediate disorientation to safeguard the prophet from capture.