סוּר
to turn off (literal or figurative)
Definition
The Hebrew verb סוּר (çûwr) fundamentally means 'to turn aside, depart, or remove.' In its literal sense, it describes physical turning away or departure, such as God causing the flood waters to recede (Genesis 8:13) or Lot urging the angels to 'turn aside' into his house (Genesis 19:2-3). Figuratively, it encompasses a wide range of meanings from moral and spiritual departure—like turning aside from evil (e.g., Proverbs 3:7) or God's commands—to the act of removing objects, as seen when Jacob removes the speckled goats (Genesis 30:32, 35). It can also imply rebellion or revolt against authority.
Biblical Usage
סוּר is used approximately 280 times across the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, legal, prophetic, and wisdom literature. In historical books, it often denotes physical movement or removal (Genesis, Exodus). In the prophets, it frequently carries a strong moral charge, describing Israel's spiritual apostasy (e.g., Isaiah 30:11, Jeremiah 6:28). Wisdom literature, like Proverbs, uses it for exhortations to turn from evil paths (Proverbs 4:15). Its usage with prepositions (e.g., 'from' or 'aside') is key to determining its specific nuance in context.
Etymology
סוּר is a primitive root. Its basic meaning relates to turning or deviating. A variant form שׂוּר (śûwr) appears in Hosea 9:12. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'surru' (to turn away) and Arabic 'sāra' (to walk, go), supporting the core idea of movement or change in direction.
Semantic Range
This verb is theologically significant as it captures the fundamental human condition of turning away from God. It describes both physical separation and the spiritual rebellion of sin. Key concepts include repentance (turning back to God, often expressed by its opposite), divine judgment (God 'turning away' His favor, e.g., Jeremiah 15:6), and covenantal faithfulness (the call not to 'turn aside' from God's law, Deuteronomy 5:32). Understanding its range enriches readings of calls to holiness, warnings against idolatry, and descriptions of relational breach.
In a nomadic and agrarian culture, the concept of 'turning aside' from a path had immediate, practical implications related to safety, direction, and community. Spiritually, this physical imagery powerfully communicated the idea of deliberate choice to leave the prescribed way of covenant life for unknown or forbidden territory. The act of removing objects (Genesis 30:32) ties to economic and social practices of separation and distinction.
שׁוּב (šûb, H7725) — emphasizes turning back or returning, often used for repentance. עָזַב (‘āzab, H5800) — focuses on forsaking or abandoning, with a stronger sense of leaving behind. סָרַר (sārar, H5627) — denotes stubbornness or rebellion, a more intense state of turning away.
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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