סָרָה (sa.rah)
sa.rah
revolt
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sārâ describes a decisive turning away from an established path, covenant, or authority. It carries the weight of defection or apostasy, marking a shift that is both moral and relational. In the Old Testament, it rarely refers to a simple mistake; instead, it points to a willful withdrawal from loyalty, often in the context of breaking agreements with God.
Lexical sources highlight three primary shades: general turning aside, specific defection involving moral or legal offenses, and outright apostasy. This distinction matters because sārâ implies a breach of trust rather than mere ignorance. The word appears seven times in Scripture, prominently in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Deuteronomy, where prophets use it to diagnose Israel’s spiritual decline as a conscious rejection of divine instruction.
Interestingly, the term is sometimes used in negative constructions to denote faithful adherence, effectively meaning "no turning aside." This double usage underscores its core idea: stability versus deviation. Translators typically render it as "rebellion" or "apostasy," capturing the gravity of a people who choose their own direction over divine guidance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sārâ describes a decisive turning away from an established path or covenant. It is not merely a mistake but a willful withdrawal from loyalty, often marking a breach of trust with God. In the Old Testament, prophets used it to diagnose spiritual decline as a conscious rejection of divine instruction.
Understanding this term helps us see that faithfulness requires active commitment. When we drift from our values or commitments, we are not just passive; we are making a choice. Recognizing this tendency allows us to pause and realign with what matters most in our lives.
This word reminds us that stability comes from staying connected to our foundational beliefs. It invites reflection on where we might be turning away from truth or love. By acknowledging these moments, we can choose to return to a path of integrity and trust.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- rebellion5×
- ceasing1×
- and/ rebellion1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סָרָ֥ה2×
- סָרָ֑ה2×
- סָרָֽה\׃1×
- סָרָ֖ה1×
- וְ/סָרָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 31:6
Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel.
This verse directly calls for a return from deep revolt, highlighting the possibility of restoration after turning away.
-
Jeremiah 28:16
Therefore Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will send you away from off the surface of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken rebellion against Yahweh.’”
Here, speaking rebellion is linked to severe consequences, showing the gravity of rejecting divine authority.
-
Isaiah 59:13
transgressing and denying Yahweh, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
The word appears alongside transgression and denial, illustrating how revolt manifests in both speech and action.