שׂוּר (sur)
sur
to saw
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sur, Strong’s H7787, carries the straightforward meaning of "to saw." It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, located in 1 Chronicles 20:3. In this specific instance, the text describes the actions taken against the king of the Ammonites after his defeat.
Lexical sources note that the precise etymological root and full semantic range of this word remain somewhat uncertain to scholars. Despite this ambiguity, its usage here is concrete and physical, referring to the act of cutting wood or metal with a saw. The rarity of the term makes this single occurrence particularly significant for understanding ancient labor and warfare practices in Israel.
Translators consistently render this rare verb as "saw," reflecting the literal action described in the narrative. The word’s isolation in the biblical text highlights its specialized nature, serving as a direct record of a specific historical event rather than a recurring theological concept.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sur appears only once in Scripture, recording a moment of severe judgment against the Ammonites in 1 Chronicles 20:3. This rare verb describes the brutal act of sawing people apart, a punishment reserved for kings and cities that resisted God’s chosen leader. It stands as a stark reminder of the seriousness with which God views rebellion and the weight of justice.
While this image is unsettling, it helps us understand the gravity of sin in the ancient world. The text does not dwell on violence for its own sake but highlights the consequences of turning away from God’s authority. For believers today, it underscores the need for humility and obedience, trusting that God’s judgments are always just, even when they are hard to comprehend.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he sawed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יָּ֨שַׂר1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 20:3
He brought out the people who were in it, and had them cut with saws, with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
This is the sole occurrence of the word, describing the specific method of execution used against the Ammonite people after their defeat.