שַׂ֫עַר (sa.ar)
sa.ar
shuddering; storm
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 sa’ar describes a violent storm or tempest, evoking the chaos of nature’s fury. In its primary usage, it refers to the physical phenomenon of a raging wind or gale that brings destruction and disorder. This sense appears in Isaiah 28:2, where the prophet uses the image of a devastating storm to illustrate the sudden and overwhelming judgment coming upon Ephraim.
Less commonly, the word carries an emotional weight, translating to terror or horror. This psychological dimension captures the paralyzing fear that accompanies such uncontrollable forces. While it appears in only two verses, its impact is significant, linking the external violence of nature with the internal dread it inspires in those who witness it.
Translators often render this word as "tempest" or "storm" to preserve its visceral intensity. The rarity of the term highlights its specific function: when Scripture uses sa’ar, it is not describing a gentle breeze but a catastrophic event that demands attention and reverence for God’s power over creation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sa’ar describes a violent storm or tempest, evoking the chaos of nature’s fury. In its primary usage, it refers to the physical phenomenon of a raging wind or gale that brings destruction and disorder. This sense appears in Isaiah 28:2, where the prophet uses the image of a devastating storm to illustrate the sudden and overwhelming judgment coming upon Ephraim.
Less commonly, the word carries an emotional weight, translating to terror or horror. This psychological dimension captures the paralyzing fear that accompanies such uncontrollable forces. While it appears in only two verses, its impact is significant, linking the external violence of nature with the internal dread it inspires in those who witness it.
Translators often render this word as "tempest" or "storm" to preserve its visceral intensity. The rarity of the term highlights its specific function: when Scripture uses sa’ar, it is not describing a gentle breeze but a catastrophic event that demands attention and reverence for God’s power over creation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a tempest of1×
- a shudder1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָֽׂעַר\׃1×
- שַׂ֣עַר1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 28:2
Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand.
This verse uses sa’ar to depict the Lord's judgment as a devastating storm of hail and mighty waters, showing how God employs natural chaos to accomplish His purposes.
-
Job 18:20
Those who come after will be astonished at his day, as those who went before were frightened.
Here the related sense of terror is implied as observers are frightened by the sudden destruction, linking the external violence of the storm with internal dread.