שַׂעֲרָה
hairiness
Definition
The Hebrew noun שַׂעֲרָה (saʻărâh) refers to a single hair or a small, fine strand. It is the feminine singular form of the more common word for 'hair' (שֵׂעָר, H8181), often emphasizing a single hair or a small, countable amount. In its biblical usage, it can denote literal hair, as in the description of the 700 left-handed Benjamite slingers who could sling a stone at a hair and not miss (Judges 20:16). It also appears in metaphorical contexts to signify something minute, insignificant, or overwhelming in number, such as the 'hairs of my head' representing great quantity in Psalm 40:12 and Psalm 69:4.
Biblical Usage
This word is used seven times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic, narrative, and legal/oath contexts. It appears in historical books (Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1 Kings) to describe literal hair, often in contexts of precision or oath-taking (e.g., 1 Samuel 14:45; 2 Samuel 14:11). In the poetic books (Job, Psalms), it is used metaphorically to convey vast, uncountable numbers (Job 4:15) or overwhelming troubles (Psalm 40:12; 69:4). The usage shifts from concrete physical description to figurative language emphasizing minute detail or immense quantity.
Etymology
שַׂעֲרָה (saʻărâh) is the feminine singular form derived from the masculine noun שֵׂעָר (seʻar, H8181), meaning 'hair.' The root שׂער is associated with hairiness or bristling. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Ugaritic and Arabic, with similar meanings related to hair. The feminine form often denotes a single, specific instance or a smaller unit of the masculine noun's general concept.
Semantic Range
While primarily a physical descriptor, שַׂעֲרָה gains theological weight in its metaphorical uses. In the Psalms, the 'hairs of my head' imagery (Psalm 40:12, 69:4) poetically expresses the psalmist's overwhelming distress and the innumerable nature of his troubles before God. This connects to themes of human frailty, divine omniscience (God's knowledge of even the smallest detail), and the plea for salvation. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the contrast between human insignificance (a single hair) and God's attentive care.
In ancient Israelite culture, hair held significance related to personal identity, vows, and mourning. The ability to target 'a hair' (Judges 20:16) was a proverbial expression of extreme precision and skill in warfare. Oaths sworn 'by the life' of someone, even down to a single hair (1 Samuel 14:45; 2 Samuel 14:11; 1 Kings 1:52), underscored the sacred inviolability of the person. This differs from a modern, purely biological understanding of hair, as it carried symbolic weight in social and ritual contexts.
שֵׂעָר (seʻar, H8181) — The general, collective term for 'hair' as a mass or covering. שַׂעֲרָה specifies a single hair or a small unit.
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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