סַגְרִיד
a pouring rain
Definition
The Hebrew noun סַגְרִיד (çagrîyd) refers to a heavy, continuous, and drenching downpour of rain. It describes not a gentle shower but a torrential rain that sweeps over the land. This specific term is used only once in the Old Testament, in Proverbs 27:15, where it metaphorically describes a quarrelsome wife as being as relentless and unpleasant as a ceaseless, driving rainstorm.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only in Proverbs 27:15. Its usage is entirely metaphorical, employed in wisdom literature to create a vivid, proverbial comparison. The context is a list of observations about human character and vexing situations. The word is used to poetically equate the constant annoyance of a contentious woman with the inescapable and disruptive nature of a heavy, pouring rain.
Etymology
סַגְרִיד is likely derived from the root סָגַר (sagar, H5462), which means 'to shut' or 'to close.' The connection may be in the sense of something being 'shut in' or confined, perhaps picturing rain clouds being shut up and then releasing their contents, or the rain itself shutting someone indoors. The development of meaning suggests a rain so heavy it confines people and sweeps things away.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is not central to major doctrines, its single, metaphorical use in Proverbs 27:15 offers significant theological insight into the biblical view of human relationships. It underscores the value of peace and harmony in the home, framing constant strife as a destructive natural force that wears down and isolates. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the deliberate poetic force of the proverb—the chosen word conveys relentless pressure and inescapable discomfort, not merely a minor irritation.
In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, rain was a vital yet double-edged phenomenon. Gentle rains in their season were a blessing from God (Deuteronomy 11:14), but a heavy, driving downpour (סַגְרִיד) could be destructive, damaging crops, causing flooding, and confining people to their homes. This cultural understanding of a torrential rain as a nuisance and a hindrance makes it a powerful metaphor for a contentious person who disrupts domestic peace and productivity.
גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, H1653) — the common, general term for rain. מָטָר (matar, H4306) — another general term for rain, often used for showers. זֶרֶם (zerem, H2230) — a downpour or flood of rain, often with a sense of storm or tempest (more violent than סַגְרִיד).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →