סָמָר
𐤎𐤌𐤓
çâmâr
H5569 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Refers to the visual and tactile characteristic of being bristling, standing up stiffly, or rough to the touch, especially describing hair, fur, or other filament-like coverings standing upright as from fear or intensity. The primary meaning is the state of being erect, rigid, or spiky in appearance, generally used to convey the literal experience of hair standing up on end from emotion or effect.
Semantic Range
bristling, hair standing on end, spiky, rigid or upright filaments, rough or shaggy (as a result of bristling), emotional or fearful reaction as expressed by hair/fur standing up
Root / Etymology
From the root סמר (samekh-mem-resh), meaning 'to bristle, stand up stiffly, be rigid.' The noun form סָמָר directly derives from this root and denotes the state or quality of bristling or roughness, particularly as applied to hair or fibers. The verbal root expresses the action or process, while the noun describes the resulting state or the object characterized by this quality.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term is sparsely attested in the Hebrew Bible, found notably in poetic and wisdom literature (such as Job 4:15), where it describes the involuntary reaction of hair standing on end, often under intense fear, awe, or supernatural experience. The image of bristling hair is used figuratively to convey deep emotional disturbance. While later translations sometimes render this term as 'shaggy' or 'rough,' in biblical usage the emphasis is on the upright, rigid orientation of filaments (hair, fur, etc.), not simply their length or untidiness. There is overlap in meaning with related roots such as עֵ֫רֶב (erev, 'mixed') and שָׂעִיר (sa'ir, 'hairy, goat'), but סָמָר uniquely emphasizes the erectness or stiffness. The term does not carry a moral or cultic implication, and its rare usage means its semantic boundaries remain narrowly focused on literal or vivid emotional description. Modern English translations may understate the physicality implied in ancient usage. The English word 'rough' captures tactile quality but not fully the erect, bristling aspect that is central in Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from סָמַר; bristling, i.e. shaggy; rough.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סמר (s-m-r) — to bristle, to stand up stiffly, to be rigid
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4548 | מַסְמֵר | with projecting pegs |
| H4930 | מַשְׂמְרָה | and like pointed pegs |
| H5568 | סָמַר | bristling |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5569-01 |
סָמָֽר | samar | HAamsa |
bristling | bristling | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5569-01 |
Jeremiah 51:27 | סָמָֽר | samar | HAamsa |
bristling | bristling |