שַׂהֲרֹן
a round pendant for the neck
Definition
The Hebrew word שַׂהֲרֹן (sahărôn) refers to a specific type of neck ornament, likely a crescent-shaped pendant or a round ornament resembling the moon. In its three biblical occurrences, it consistently denotes a valuable piece of jewelry. In Judges 8:21 and 8:26, it is part of the spoils taken from the defeated Midianite kings, listed among other golden items. In Isaiah 3:18, it appears in a list of luxurious adornments that the women of Jerusalem will have removed as a sign of God's coming judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, exclusively in poetic or narrative contexts describing valuable adornment. In Judges, it describes the spoils of war taken from the Midianite kings (Judges 8:21, 26), emphasizing their wealth. In Isaiah, it is used in a prophetic oracle of judgment against the prideful women of Jerusalem (Isaiah 3:18), where such ornaments symbolize vanity and luxury that will be stripped away.
Etymology
The noun שַׂהֲרֹן (sahărôn) is derived from the root שׂ-ה-ר, related to the noun סַהַר (sahar, H5469), meaning 'moon' or 'crescent moon.' This etymology directly informs its meaning as a 'moon-shaped ornament' or 'crescent pendant.'
Semantic Range
While primarily a physical object, the sahărôn gains theological significance in Isaiah 3:18. There, it is not merely jewelry but a symbol of pride, self-reliance, and misplaced trust in luxury, which God promises to remove in judgment. This connects to broader biblical themes where outward adornment can represent inner spiritual condition, contrasting human glory with divine judgment and the true beauty of a humble heart before God.
In the ancient Near East, crescent-shaped pendants were common jewelry, often associated with lunar deities or used as protective amulets. For Israel, wearing such an ornament, while potentially a simple fashion item, could carry pagan connotations. Its inclusion in war spoils (Judges 8) highlights its value as a trade commodity and status symbol. The prophetic condemnation in Isaiah reflects a critique of adopting foreign luxury and symbols that could lead to spiritual compromise.
נֶזֶם (nezem, H5141) — a general term for a ring, earring, or nose-ring, not specifically moon-shaped. עֲדִי (adi, H5716) — a general term for ornament, jewelry, or finery.
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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