שָׂתַר

שָׂתַר

to break out (as an eruption)

Definition

The Hebrew verb שָׂתַר (sâthar) means 'to break out,' specifically describing a sudden, eruptive outbreak. In its sole biblical occurrence, it refers to a severe physical affliction—tumors or hemorrhoids—that broke out upon the Philistines as a divine judgment (1 Samuel 5:9). The imagery is of a violent, visible, and painful manifestation on the body. While used only once, its sense aligns with other Hebrew terms for sudden, divinely-sent plagues or outbreaks of disease.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel 5:9. It describes the affliction that struck the Philistines in the city of Gath after they captured the Ark of the Covenant. The context is one of divine retribution and judgment, where the 'breaking out' is a direct consequence of violating God's holiness by mishandling the sacred Ark. The usage is entirely within a narrative of God's power asserting itself against a foreign nation.

Etymology

It is a primitive root, meaning its origin is not clearly derived from another Hebrew word. Cognates in related Semitic languages suggest a basic meaning related to breaking or splitting open, which fits the context of a sudden eruption. The development of meaning from a general 'break out' to a specific medical or afflictive outbreak is seen directly in its biblical application.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it depicts God's active judgment in the historical narrative. The 'breaking out' is not a random illness but a direct, supernatural act of God defending His honor and punishing those who treat His holy presence with contempt (1 Samuel 5). It underscores the biblical theme that God is sovereign over health and disease, using them as instruments of justice. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the tangible, fearsome reality of divine intervention against idolatry. In the ancient Near East, tumors and sudden plagues were often viewed as signs of divine displeasure or curses from a deity. The Philistines, upon experiencing this outbreak, immediately interpreted it as the hand of the God of Israel (1 Samuel 5:7). Their cultural understanding did not separate the physical ailment from its spiritual cause, which the biblical narrative confirms. The specific affliction (often translated as 'tumors' or 'hemorrhoids') was a deeply shameful and debilitating condition in that cultural setting. נָגַע (nāgaʿ, H5060) — a broader term meaning to touch, strike, or plague, often used for divine afflictions. פָּרַח (pāraḥ, H6524) — to sprout or break out, used for skin diseases (leprosy) in Leviticus 13-14. יָצָא (yāṣāʾ, H3318) — to go out or come forth, sometimes used for utterances or decrees, less specific to physical eruptions.

Word Details