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שֵׂעִיר (se.ir)

se.ir

Seir; (Mount) Seir

H8165 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 32 verses

N:N--L

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
32 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
N:N--L

Word Overview

The name se’ir means "hairy" or "shaggy," and it appears in Scripture as both a person and a place. In Genesis 36, Seir is identified as a Horite patriarch whose descendants inhabited the region before Esau’s family moved in. This personal name likely reflects a physical trait or perhaps a tribal totem, linking the ancestor directly to the rugged landscape he occupied.

The term also designates the mountainous land of Edom, stretching from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Deuteronomy and Chronicles frequently reference "Mount Seir" as the territory allotted to Esau’s descendants (Deuteronomy 2:4-5). The geographical name preserves the etymological sense of roughness or texture, mirroring the arid, rocky terrain that characterizes this southern region.

Translators usually keep the name "Seir" rather than translating it as "Hairy Mountain," preserving its identity as a proper noun. This dual usage—referring to both the Horite leader and his land—highlights how ancient Israelites viewed territory through the lens of its original inhabitants, marking Edom’s history as distinct from Judah’s.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

Seir stands as a reminder that God’s sovereignty extends over every corner of the earth, including lands once held by others. The name itself points to a rugged, rocky terrain, yet it was also the inheritance given to Esau. This shows us that God assigns territory and destiny with precision, even when those paths differ from our own.

For your faith, this word invites trust in His timing. When you feel surrounded by obstacles or uncertain about your next step, remember that God guided Israel around Seir rather than through conflict. He protects His people by directing their journey, ensuring they arrive where He intends them to be.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • Seir21×
  • in/ Seir5×
  • from/ Seir3×
  • Seir/ towards3×
  • and/ in/ Seir1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • שֵׂעִ֔יר7×
  • שֵׂעִ֖יר5×
  • שֵׂעִיר֙2×
  • שֵׂעִֽירָ/ה\׃2×
  • שֵׂעִֽיר\׃2×
  • שֵׂעִ֑יר2×
  • מִ/שֵּׂעִיר֙2×
  • בְּ/שֵׂעִ֔יר2×
  • בְּ/שֵׂעִ֑יר2×
  • שֵׂעִֽיר\׃\ \פ1×
  • שֵׂעִ֛יר1×
  • שֵׂעִ֗יר1×

Key Verses

  • Deuteronomy 2:5
    Don’t contend with them; for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession.

    This verse clarifies that God specifically reserved Seir for Esau’s descendants, teaching us that divine boundaries are set with purpose and must be respected.

  • Genesis 36:8
    Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.

    Here the text explicitly links Esau to the hill country of Seir, establishing it as his permanent home and distinguishing his lineage from Jacob’s.

  • Judges 5:4
    “Yahweh, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the sky also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water.

    In Deborah’s song, God marching out of Seir highlights His majestic power in battle, showing that He fights for Israel even from distant mountain strongholds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Seir mean in the Bible?

Seir generally refers to a mountainous region south of Judah, also known as Edom. The name may relate to the rough, hairy texture of the landscape or to Seir the Horite, an early inhabitant of the area.

Who was Seir?

Seir was both a person and a place. Genesis 36 identifies him as a Horite patriarch whose descendants lived in the land before Esau’s family arrived. The region was later named after this lineage or its rugged nature.

Why did Israel go around Mount Seir?

God commanded Israel to bypass Seir because it belonged to Esau’s descendants. Deuteronomy 2:5 states that God had given the land to Esau as a possession, so Israel was not to provoke conflict or take the territory.

Every Occurrence (32 verses across 8 books)

Genesis 8 verses
Genesis 14:6

and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to El Paran, which is by the wilderness.

Genesis 33:14

Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the livestock that…

Genesis 33:16

So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Genesis 36:8

Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.

Genesis 36:9

This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir:

Genesis 36:20

These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,

Genesis 36:21

Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.

Genesis 36:30

chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in…

Numbers 1 verse
Deuteronomy 10 verses
Joshua 4 verses
Judges 1 verse
I Chronicles 2 verses
II Chronicles 5 verses
Isaiah 1 verse