שֵׂעָר (se.ar)
se.ar
hair
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun se’ar refers to hair, covering both human locks and the coarse fur of animals. Its basic sense is straightforward, yet it carries a distinct visual texture. The word derives from a root meaning to dishevel or bristle, suggesting that the Hebrew speakers associated hair with a wild, untamed quality rather than neat grooming.
This nuance appears clearly in how the text describes people and prophets. In 2 Kings 1:8, Elijah is called a man of hair, wearing a garment made of it, which marks him as rough and set apart from civilized society. Similarly, Samson’s strength was tied to his uncut hair in Judges 16, showing that this physical feature held significant symbolic weight.
The word also appears in ritual contexts, such as the laws in Leviticus regarding skin diseases or the Nazirite vow in Numbers 6. In these cases, the hair represents a state of separation or impurity that must be managed according to divine instruction. It serves as a visible marker of identity and status within the community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for hair carries a texture that feels both wild and deeply personal. In ancient Israel, it was never just about grooming or fashion. It served as a visible marker of identity, status, and even spiritual condition. Whether describing the rough mantle of a prophet or the ritual purity of a priest, this simple noun pointed to something far greater than appearance.
For your faith life, this word invites you to consider how outward signs reflect inward realities. Just as Elijah’s hairy garment marked him as set apart for God, our lives bear visible marks of our devotion. We do not need to seek extreme physical markers today, but we can ask God to help our daily actions show His love clearly to those around us.
When you read about hair in Scripture, remember it often signals a moment of decision or divine encounter. It reminds us that God sees the whole person and cares deeply about how we live out our calling in the world.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hair5×
- [the] hair of4×
- hair/ his3×
- hair/ your2×
- and/ hair/ its2×
- [the] hair2×
- [is] hair2×
- some of/ [the] hair of1×
- for the/ hair1×
- and/ hair1×
- and/ [the] hair of1×
- and/ [the] hair1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֵׂעָ֣ר4×
- שַׂעְרֵ/ךְ֙2×
- שְׂעָר֗/וֹ2×
- וְ/שֵׂעָ֨ר2×
- שֵׂעָ֨ר1×
- שֵׂעָ֥ר1×
- שֵׂעָ֖ר1×
- שֵׂעָ֔ר1×
- שֵׂעָ֑ר1×
- שְׂעָר֖/וֹ1×
- שְׂעַר֙1×
- שְׂעַר\־1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 1:8
They answered him, “He was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist.” He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”
This verse uses the word to describe Elijah’s distinctive appearance, marking him as a prophet set apart from ordinary society.
-
Numbers 6:5
“‘All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall come on his head, until the days are fulfilled in which he separates himself to Yahweh. He shall be holy. He shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long.
Here the uncut hair signifies a Nazirite’s vow of separation and holiness to God for a specific period.
-
Genesis 25:25
The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau.
The description of Esau as hairy at birth establishes his identity from the very beginning of his story.
-
Leviticus 13:3
The priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body. If the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin, it is the plague of leprosy; so the priest shall examine him and pronounce him unclean.
White hair in a skin lesion served as a diagnostic sign for priests to determine ritual uncleanness.