שֹׁעָר (sho.ar)
sho.ar
disgusting
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective sho’ar describes something that is horrid or disgusting. It conveys a strong sense of revulsion, pointing to actions or behaviors that are vile and deeply offensive. This word does not merely suggest unpleasantness; it signals a moral repugnance that provokes disgust in the observer.
In Scripture, this term appears only once, in Jeremiah 29:17. The prophet uses it to describe the fate of those who oppose God’s people, characterizing their actions as abominable. The singular occurrence highlights its specific weight in this context, where it serves as a stark warning against persistent rebellion and moral corruption.
Translators typically render sho’ar as "horrid" or "disgusting," capturing the visceral reaction such behavior demands. Its rarity in the biblical text underscores the severity of the condition it describes, marking it as a distinct category of evil that stands apart from ordinary wrongdoing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sho’ar conveys a deep sense of moral repugnance, describing actions or behaviors that are truly horrid and offensive to God. It is not used for minor flaws but for serious corruption that provokes disgust. In Jeremiah 29:17, this term highlights the severity of persistent rebellion against God’s people.
For your faith, this word serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God’s ways. It invites us to examine our own hearts and actions, ensuring they align with His righteousness rather than leading to such moral decay. Understanding this gravity helps us appreciate the depth of God’s holiness and the importance of living in obedience.
May this insight encourage you to seek God’s guidance daily, fostering a life that reflects His love and justice. Trust in His wisdom to lead you away from anything that might provoke such divine displeasure.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ rotten1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שֹּׁ֣עָרִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 29:17
Yahweh of Armies says: “Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like rotten figs that can’t be eaten, they are so bad.
This verse uses sho’ar to describe the fate of those opposing God’s people, emphasizing the moral repugnance of their actions through the metaphor of rotten figs.