Bible Word Study
שָׂעִיר
sâʻîyr · a shower (as tempestuous)
שָׂעִיר
a shower (as tempestuous)
Definition
The Hebrew word שָׂעִיר (sâʻîyr) primarily means a light, drizzling rain or a fine shower. In its single biblical occurrence in Deuteronomy 32:2, it is used metaphorically by Moses to describe his teaching descending gently and beneficially upon the people, like a soft rain upon tender grass. This contrasts with heavier, potentially destructive rains. The word is formed identically to H8163 (שָׂעִיר), meaning 'hairy' or 'goat,' but in this context, the meaning is derived from the concept of something fine or small, akin to fine hair or a light drizzle.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 32:2, within Moses's song. It appears in a poetic, prophetic context where natural elements (rain, dew) metaphorically represent divine instruction and wisdom. The usage is specifically for a gentle, nourishing type of precipitation, not a storm.
Etymology
The noun שָׂעִיר (H8164) is formed from the same root as שָׂעִיר (H8163), meaning 'hairy' or 'goat.' The connection likely stems from the idea of fineness or smallness—like fine hair or the fine droplets of a light rain. It is a distinct word from the more common terms for rain (גֶּשֶׁם, geshem) and shower (רְבִיבִים, revivim).
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries significant theological weight in its context. In Deuteronomy 32:2, it illustrates the gentle, life-giving nature of God's revelation through His servant Moses. It enriches the reading by contrasting God's gracious instruction (a fine, soaking shower) with His potential judgment (often depicted as a destructive storm or downpour elsewhere in Scripture), highlighting His desire to nourish and teach His people. In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, a light, steady rain (שָׂעִיר) was highly valued for nurturing crops without causing erosion or flood damage. This cultural understanding makes Moses's metaphor in Deuteronomy 32:2 powerfully resonant: effective teaching, like a gentle rain, soaks in deeply to produce growth, unlike a torrent that runs off wastefully. גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, H1653) — a general term for rain, often heavier. רְבִיבִים (revivim, H7241) — showers of rain, typically in plural form for abundant, fertilizing rain.
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]