שֹׁעָר
harsh or horrid, i.e. offensive
Definition
The Hebrew word שֹׁעָר (shôʻâr) describes something that is harsh, horrid, or offensive. It conveys a sense of moral and physical repulsiveness, often linked to something rotten or spoiled. In its sole biblical occurrence in Jeremiah 29:17, it is used by God to describe the 'vile' figs, symbolizing King Zedekiah and those left in Jerusalem who are destined for destruction due to their rebellion. The term thus carries a strong connotation of being utterly rejected and offensive in God's sight.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the prophetic book of Jeremiah. It appears in Jeremiah 29:17 within the metaphor of the good and bad figs, where God declares He will make those in Jerusalem like 'vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.' The usage is entirely negative, describing a state of being so morally corrupt and offensive that it warrants divine judgment and rejection.
Etymology
שֹׁעָר (shôʻâr) derives from the root שָׁעַר (shāʻar, H8176), which means 'to storm or rage,' and by extension, 'to be horrid or foul.' This root connection suggests the word's meaning evolved from describing a violent, stormy condition to characterizing something as morally repulsive and offensive. The semantic development points to an intensity of negative quality, akin to something rotten or storm-tossed.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it underscores God's holy judgment against persistent sin. In Jeremiah 29:17, it visually portrays the spiritual state of those who rebel against God—they become 'vile' and unfit for His purposes. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Jeremiah's prophecy by highlighting the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness and the certainty of divine rejection for unrepentant hearts.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, particularly for an agrarian society, the metaphor of inedible, rotten fruit was a powerful image of worthlessness and rejection. Bad figs were not merely subpar; they were utterly useless and often symbolized curse or decay. This cultural understanding amplifies the prophetic warning in Jeremiah, communicating that the people's rebellion had rendered them spiritually rotten and destined for disposal.
רַע (raʻ, H7451) — A broader term for 'bad' or 'evil,' encompassing moral wickedness and misfortune, whereas שֹׁעָר specifies a horrid, offensive rottenness. תּוֹעֵבָה (tôʻēḇâ, H8441) — Means 'abomination,' often for idolatry or practices detestable to God, focusing on religious violation, while שֹׁעָר emphasizes a repulsive, spoiled condition.
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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