שַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar)
sha.ar
hundredfold
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun sha’ar functions as a specific unit of measure in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only once in Genesis 26:12. In this context, it describes the extraordinary agricultural yield of Isaac during a time of famine. The term denotes a ratio rather than a fixed volume, indicating that for every single measure sown, the harvest produced one hundred measures.
This "hundredfold" return highlights a dramatic reversal of fortune and divine blessing. While the word itself simply marks this multiplier, its singular usage underscores the uniqueness of the event. Translators typically render it as "a hundredfold" to capture the precise mathematical relationship between seed and crop, emphasizing the magnitude of the provision without needing further qualification.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Genesis 26:12 records a remarkable moment where Isaac sowed his crops during a famine and harvested a hundredfold return. This single instance in Scripture highlights how God can provide abundantly even when circumstances seem bleak. The word sha’ar does not merely describe a large harvest; it signifies a divine multiplier that defies natural expectations.
For your faith, this reminds us that God’s provision is not limited by the season or the soil. When you face uncertainty, remember that the same God who blessed Isaac can bring fruitfulness from small beginnings. His grace often exceeds what we can calculate or predict, turning scarcity into abundance for those who trust in Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- measures1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁעָרִ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 26:12
Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him.
This verse uniquely uses sha’ar to quantify Isaac’s extraordinary harvest, showing a direct correlation between divine blessing and agricultural yield during a famine.