שָׂקַר
to ogle, i.e. blink coquettishly
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׂקַר (sâqar) means to look or gaze with a specific, often negative, intent. In its single biblical occurrence, it describes a coquettish or seductive glance, specifically the 'ogling' or 'wanton' eyes of the daughters of Zion in Isaiah 3:16. This action is portrayed as a deliberate, alluring look meant to attract attention and entice. The word carries a connotation of pride and immodesty, fitting the context of divine judgment on the haughty behavior of Jerusalem's women.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 3:16. It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment against Judah, specifically targeting the pride and vanity of the women of Jerusalem. The word describes a key element of their condemned behavior: their seductive and haughty manner of looking. The context is a list of their luxurious adornments and arrogant actions, which together provoke God's coming judgment.
Etymology
A primitive root, its exact derivation is uncertain. It is related to the idea of looking or gazing. Some lexicons connect it by meaning to other roots for seeing (like רָאָה, rā'â, H7200), but שָׂקַר carries a more specific, negative nuance of a beguiling or enticing look.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights a specific sin that provokes God's judgment. In Isaiah 3:16-26, the 'ogling' eyes are not a minor social faux pas but an outward manifestation of deep-seated pride, rebellion, and a turning away from God to self-adornment and seduction. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by showing that God's judgment addresses both external actions and the inward heart attitudes they reveal, connecting personal morality with national covenant consequences.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a woman's gaze and demeanor were powerful non-verbal communicators. A deliberate, seductive look (as opposed to a modest, downward glance) was a recognized symbol of promiscuity and social disorder. Isaiah uses this culturally understood signal of impropriety to symbolize the moral decay and covenant unfaithfulness of God's people, where even the women's glances reflected the nation's spiritual adultery.
נָבַט (nāḇaṭ, H5027) — to look, gaze, or regard, often more neutral or contemplative. רָאָה (rā'â, H7200) — the general verb for to see, perceive, or experience, without the specific negative connotation of seduction.
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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