סַנְוֵר
(in plural) blindness
Definition
The Hebrew noun סַנְוֵר (sanver) specifically denotes a state of blindness, particularly a sudden, divinely inflicted blindness. It appears only in the plural form (סַנְוֵרִים, sanverim), which intensifies the sense of complete or overwhelming blindness. In Genesis 19:11, God strikes the men of Sodom with sanverim to protect Lot, rendering them unable to find the door. In 2 Kings 6:18, Elisha prays for God to strike the Aramean army with sanverim, which leads to their confusion and capture. In both instances, this is not a natural, medical condition but a supernatural act of judgment or protection.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in two narrative contexts where God supernaturally intervenes. Both occurrences describe God striking a hostile group with blindness as a direct act of divine power. In Genesis 19:11, it is an act of protection for Lot and his family against the men of Sodom. In 2 Kings 6:18, it is an act of military deliverance for Israel against the Aramean army. The pattern shows God using this specific form of blindness to thwart human aggression and demonstrate His sovereignty over human sight and perception.
Etymology
The etymology of סַנְוֵר (sanver) is uncertain. Some scholars suggest it may be related to an Akkadian word meaning 'to be dazzled' or 'blinded by light,' which fits the context of a sudden, overwhelming loss of sight. Its derivation remains unclear, but its exclusive biblical use for divinely caused blindness gives it a distinct semantic range separate from more common Hebrew words for blindness.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's direct intervention in human affairs through a specific, supernatural act. The blindness it describes is an instrument of divine judgment (Genesis 19) and deliverance (2 Kings 6), showcasing God's power to confound the wicked and protect His people. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches Bible reading by clarifying that these are not stories of random misfortune but recorded instances of God's active, sovereign control over human perception and physical reality.
In the ancient Near East, blindness was often seen as a severe disability and sometimes as a divine punishment. The specific, sudden nature of sanverim in these biblical accounts would have been understood by the original audience as a clear and dramatic sign of God's direct action. It differed from common blindness, emphasizing an immediate, supernatural cause rather than a gradual, natural one.
עִוְרוֹן (ivaron, H5787) — The more general, common term for physical blindness or dimness of sight, used in various contexts (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:28).
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.
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