שְׂעָרָה (se.a.rah)
se.a.rah
storm
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun se’arah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Job 38:1. It translates to "storm," but carries a heavier weight than a simple weather event. In this context, it describes the violent, swirling wind that answers Job’s questions from the whirlwind.
Its rarity makes its usage significant. The word is not used for gentle rain or typical seasonal winds, but for a chaotic, powerful force. By employing se’arah, the text emphasizes the overwhelming nature of God’s presence, contrasting human confusion with divine authority.
Translators often render it as "whirlwind" or "storm" to capture this intensity. The single occurrence anchors the scene in Job, marking the moment where abstract debate meets raw, natural power. It serves as a literary device to shift the narrative from human complaint to divine revelation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word se’arah appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, marking a pivotal moment in the book of Job. It describes not just wind or rain, but a violent, swirling force that answers human questioning with overwhelming power. When God speaks from this storm, He does not offer simple explanations for suffering. Instead, the chaos itself becomes the setting for revelation.
This rare term reminds us that divine presence is often experienced in ways that defy our neat categories. It is not a gentle breeze but a powerful whirlwind that shifts the narrative from complaint to awe. In moments where we feel lost or unheard, this imagery invites us to trust that God’s voice can cut through confusion with authority and purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ a storm1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בִּ/שְׂעָרָ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Job 9:17
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
This verse uses se'arah to describe how God's power can feel like an uncontrollable force that multiplies wounds, highlighting the terrifying aspect of divine judgment.