שַׂעֲרָה (sa.a.rah)
sa.a.rah
hair
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun sha’arah refers to a single hair. It is not used for hair in general, but specifically for one individual strand. This precision makes it a powerful unit of measurement in biblical texts.
It appears only five times in the Old Testament, primarily in Judges, Job, and 2 Samuel. In these contexts, the word emphasizes extreme smallness or fragility. When God speaks through Job about counting hairs, the image is not of a full head of hair, but of each distinct strand being known and numbered.
The specificity of sha’arah highlights divine attention to detail. It suggests that nothing is too minor to escape notice. This focus on the individual unit reinforces themes of care and sovereignty in passages where human life feels vulnerable or insignificant.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sha’arah refers to a single strand of hair, not hair in general. This precision makes it a powerful image for God’s attention to detail. In Job 4:15, the hair on Job’s flesh stands up, showing how deeply he feels fear and vulnerability. Yet even in that moment of terror, God is present.
This word reminds us that nothing is too small or insignificant for God to notice. When we feel fragile or overlooked, sha’arah assures us that every detail of our lives is known. It is not about counting hairs, but about recognizing a God who cares for the smallest parts of our existence.
Whether in fear or in peace, this word invites trust. We are held by One who sees the individual strands and knows our hearts. That knowledge brings comfort, especially when life feels uncertain or overwhelming.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- one of/ [the] hair[s] of2×
- the/ single hair1×
- one of/ hair[s]/ his1×
- [the] hair of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שַֽׂעֲרַ֥ת1×
- מִ/שַּׂעֲרָת֖/וֹ1×
- מִ/שַּׂעֲרַ֥ת1×
- מִ/שַּׂעֲרַ֤ת1×
- הַֽ/שַּׂעֲרָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Job 4:15
Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.
The hair standing up vividly illustrates Job’s physical reaction to fear, showing how deeply he felt the presence of something terrifying.
-
Judges 20:16
Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
This verse uses a single hair as a target to demonstrate extreme precision and skill, highlighting human ability in a moment of conflict.
-
II Samuel 14:11
Then she said, “Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.”
The king’s promise that not one hair will fall emphasizes the seriousness of his oath and the value placed on the child’s life.