שֵׂעָר

hair (as if tossed or bristling)

Definition

The Hebrew noun שֵׂעָר (sêʻâr) primarily means 'hair,' specifically referring to the hair of the head or body. It often describes hair in a natural, untrimmed, or disheveled state, emphasizing its physical appearance and texture, as seen in the description of Esau's hairy body at birth (Genesis 25:25). In the ritual laws of Leviticus, the word is used diagnostically to describe the hair within a skin disease, where its color (turning white) is a key sign of impurity (Leviticus 13:3-4). The term can also denote something 'hairy' or 'rough' in a more general sense.

Biblical Usage

שֵׂעָר appears 27 times in the Old Testament, with its usage concentrated in two main contexts. First, it is used in narrative to describe physical hairiness, most famously for Esau (Genesis 25:25; 27:11, 23). Second, and most frequently, it is a technical term in the priestly diagnostic procedures for skin diseases (צָרַעַת, *tsaraʻath*) in Leviticus 13-14, appearing over 20 times in chapters 13-14. Here, the condition of the hair (e.g., whether it has turned white) within a sore is a primary criterion for declaring a person clean or unclean.

Etymology

The noun שֵׂעָר derives from the root שָׂעַר (śāʻar, H8175), which means 'to shudder' or 'to be horrified.' This connection suggests the core idea of the noun is hair standing on end, as from terror or bristling. Thus, שֵׂעָר inherently carries the sense of hair that is tossed, bristling, or disheveled, not merely hair as a passive substance. A variant form, שַׂעַר (saʻar), is used in Isaiah 7:20.

Semantic Range

While primarily a physical descriptor, שֵׂעָר gains theological significance within the Levitical purity system. The transformation of hair to white within a skin lesion was a divinely ordained sign (Leviticus 13:3) that rendered a person ritually unclean, requiring examination by a priest. This underscores the biblical theme that physical conditions could have spiritual and communal consequences, separating individuals from the worshiping community until cleansed. The word's link to the root for 'horror' also subtly connects physical appearance to deeper states of alarm or dread.

In ancient Israelite culture, hair was a significant marker of identity, strength (e.g., Samson), and sometimes mourning or consecration (e.g., Nazirites). The diagnostic use of שֵׂעָר in Leviticus reflects a pre-scientific medical and ritual practice where priests, not physicians, were the authorities on certain skin conditions. The focus on hair color change as a key symptom would have been a visible, communal marker of a person's ritual status, directly impacting their participation in social and religious life.

שַׂעַר (saʻar, H8185) — A less common variant form of the same word, used interchangeably (e.g., Isaiah 7:20). מִשְׂרָעוֹת (misraʻoth, H4553) — Refers specifically to 'locks' or 'braids' of hair (Song of Solomon 5:11), a more styled form versus the natural hair denoted by שֵׂעָר.

Word Details

Scripture References