סָעַר (sa.ar)
sa.ar
to rage
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sa‘ar describes the violent, chaotic force of a storm or rage. It conveys more than simple anger; it implies a turbulent, overwhelming power that scatters and drives with irresistible intensity. In its basic form, it depicts winds howling or foes attacking with destructive fury, creating a sense of disorder and danger.
This word appears in key moments where human emotion meets divine judgment or natural chaos. For instance, in Jonah 1:4, God sends a "great storm" (s‘arah) to sea, using the noun form to illustrate His sovereign control over nature’s most violent elements. Similarly, in Zechariah 9:14, Yahweh is described as going out "like a man of war" whose arrows are like a flaming fire, with the people trembling before His storm-like wrath.
The range of usage highlights both physical tempests and intense emotional states. In Isaiah 29:6, God’s judgment comes against enemies "with thunder and earthquake and great noise," echoing the violent imagery of sa‘ar. The verb can also describe internal rage, as when a king’s heart is stirred to fury. Translators often render it as "rage," "storm," or "tremble," capturing the raw energy that disrupts peace and demands attention.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb sa‘ar paints a picture of overwhelming force, whether it is the violent tossing of the sea or the fierce anger of an enemy. In Jonah’s story, the sailors watch as the sea grows more and more stormy, a tangible sign that human efforts cannot calm what God has set in motion. This imagery reminds us that some situations in life feel beyond our control, much like a ship caught in a gale.
Yet this word also carries a promise of stability. When Isaiah 54:11 addresses those 'tossed with storms,' it is followed by a declaration of God’s firm foundation. The chaos does not have the final say. Even when we feel scattered or overwhelmed, the same power that commands the wind is capable of setting our foundations with sapphires.
This reality invites us to rest in His sovereignty rather than striving to control the uncontrollable. We are not left to drift in the turbulence alone. The One who calms the storm also builds a secure home for those who trust in Him, turning moments of fear into opportunities to witness His sustaining grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ storming2×
- they storm1×
- it is storm tossed1×
- and/ it was enraged1×
- and/ I will storm away/ them1×
- [which] it is storm-driven1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סֹעֲרָ֖ה1×
- יִסְעֲר֖וּ1×
- יְסֹעֵ֣ר1×
- וַ/יִּסָּעֵר֙1×
- וְ/סֹעֵֽר\׃1×
- וְ/סֹעֵ֖ר1×
- וְ/אֵ֣סָעֲרֵ֗/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Jonah 1:11
Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to us?” For the sea grew more and more stormy.
This verse captures the escalating intensity of the sea as a direct response to disobedience, showing how sa‘ar describes nature reacting to divine command.
-
Jonah 1:13
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them.
Here the storm’s power is depicted as irresistible, highlighting human inability to overcome spiritual consequences through physical effort alone.
-
Isaiah 54:11
“You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires.
The phrase 'tossed with storms' uses the noun form of this word to describe affliction, which God immediately counters with a promise of enduring stability.