שַׂעַר
a tempest; also a terror
Definition
The Hebrew noun שֶעַר (saʻar) primarily denotes a 'tempest' or 'storm,' a violent, destructive force of nature. In Isaiah 28:2, it describes a 'mighty and strong' storm used as a metaphor for God's judgment. A second, closely related meaning is 'terror' or 'dread,' referring to the intense fear such a storm inspires. This sense is vividly seen in Job 18:20, where the fate of the wicked horrifies those who come after, and in Ezekiel 27:35, where the terror of Tyre's fall stuns the surrounding nations. Both meanings intertwine, as the word captures both the physical phenomenon and its psychological impact.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only four times in the Old Testament, appearing in poetic and prophetic literature (Job, Isaiah, Ezekiel). It consistently describes overwhelming, catastrophic events that provoke awe and fear. In Isaiah 28:2 and Ezekiel 32:10, it is a metaphor for divine judgment—a storm of God's wrath. In Job 18:20 and Ezekiel 27:35, it describes the profound human terror and horror resulting from witnessing such devastation, whether personal (Job) or national (Ezekiel).
Etymology
Derived from the root שָעַר (saʻar, H8175), which means 'to storm' or 'to be horribly afraid.' This root connection directly links the external storm and the internal terror. It is a distinct root from שֵׁעָר (seʻar, H8181), which means 'hair,' though they are homographs in some forms.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it powerfully connects God's acts of judgment with human emotional response. It portrays God's intervention not as a mild correction but as a terrifying storm that shakes nations and individuals, revealing His awesome power and holiness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by showing that biblical 'terror' is often not a vague anxiety but a direct, overwhelming reaction to encountering the raw force of God's will in judgment, evoking both fear and awe.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, storms were often seen as manifestations of divine power and displeasure. The word שֶעַר captures this dual reality of a natural disaster and a theological event. The terror it describes is not merely personal fear but a communal, existential dread in the face of perceived divine action, a concept more integrated into their worldview than in modern secular thought.
סופָה (suphah, H5492) — a whirlwind or storm-wind, often destructive. צָרָה (tsarah, H6869) — distress or trouble, more general, not specifically a storm. אֵימָה (eymah, H367) — terror or dread, the emotional effect, without the storm connotation.
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 →