Bible Word Study
סָמַר
çâmar · to be erect, i.e. bristle as hair
סָמַר
to be erect, i.e. bristle as hair
Definition
The Hebrew verb סָמַר (çâmar) means to stand up or bristle, specifically describing hair standing on end due to intense emotion. In Job 4:15, it depicts the physical reaction of terror, as a spirit's presence causes Elihu's hair to stand on end. In Psalm 119:120, the same physical sensation is used metaphorically to express the psalmist's profound fear and awe before God's righteous judgments. Thus, the word conveys a visceral, involuntary response to overwhelming fear or divine majesty.
Biblical Usage
This verb occurs only twice in the Old Testament, both times describing a physiological reaction to an awe-inspiring or terrifying encounter. In Job 4:15, it is used in a narrative context of a visionary experience. In Psalm 119:120, it is employed in a poetic, devotional context to express reverent fear of God. The usage consistently links an external, hair-raising stimulus with an internal state of dread or awe.
Etymology
A primitive root, סָמַר is related to the idea of standing erect or bristling. It is cognate with the Hebrew noun סֶמֶר (semer, H5569), meaning 'wool' or 'fleece,' which also carries the sense of hair. The semantic development moves from the physical act of hair standing upright to the emotional cause behind it.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly connects the physical and spiritual dimensions of human experience before God. It illustrates that genuine reverence for God (Psalm 119:120) is not merely an intellectual assent but can involve a profound, bodily reaction. It enriches the reading of these passages by highlighting the tangible, awe-inspiring reality of encountering the divine, whether directly or through His word. In ancient Near Eastern culture, hair standing on end was a recognized, universal sign of extreme terror or supernatural awe. This physical reaction was seen as an involuntary, honest indicator of a person's inner state when confronted with the divine or the uncanny, differing little from the modern understanding of the phenomenon. פָּחַד (pāḥaḏ, H6342) — a more general term for fear or dread, lacking the specific physical connotation of bristling hair. יָרֵא (yārē', H3372) — often means to fear, revere, or be in awe, focusing more on the emotional/relational response than the physical symptom.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]