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סָרַר

𐤎𐤓𐤓

çârar

H5637 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ס־ר־ר to be stubborn, to turn aside, to be obstinate

Definition

To be stubborn, obstinate, or rebellious; to turn aside or away from proper conduct or authority. Used metaphorically for individuals, groups, or entire communities deviating from accepted norms, especially in a moral or religious context. It often connotes an active resistance or refusal to submit, rather than mere passive wandering.

Semantic Range

to depart from proper conduct or authority, to be stubborn or obstinate of character, to be rebellious or resistant (especially toward a parent, authority, or deity), to engage in defiant behavior, to refuse correction or reproof

Root / Etymology

Root: ס־ר־ר (סָרַר). The core sense is 'to be stubborn' or 'to turn aside/away.' The verb is considered a primitive root in Hebrew. The root supplies related nouns and adjectives translating the sense of obstinacy or rebelliousness (e.g., סוֹרֵר 'rebellious, stubborn').

Historical & Contextual Notes

סָרַר appears primarily in poetic and prophetic texts to characterize individuals (such as a wayward child) or groups (the people of Israel or Judah) who have turned away from YHWH or rejected social/religious expectations. The term has a strong connotation of active resistance—more than simply erring, it implies deliberate refusal to listen or conform. In Deuteronomy 21:18–21, the stubborn/rebellious son (בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה) demonstrates willful disobedience, forming an archetype for community defiance. Prophetic writings extend the term to collective behavior, especially with the prophetic critique of the nation's covenantal unfaithfulness. English translations frequently employ 'rebellious' or 'stubborn,' but the term's emphasis is on hard-headedness and intentional deviation. In later periods, especially post-exilic, cognate forms continue to describe obstinate behavior, but the legal applications recede. The term is distinct from related roots such as מרה (H4784, 'to rebel'), which emphasizes outright rebellion or revolt, whereas סָרַר stresses stubbornness or mulishness as a character trait. In translation history, the nuance may be lost in broader terms like 'backsliding.' The term's sense remains consistent across biblical periods, though its legal (Deuteronomy) and prophetic (Isaiah, Jeremiah) uses highlight different aspects (family discipline vs. covenant loyalty).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory; [idiom] away, backsliding, rebellious, revolter(-ing), slide back, stubborn, withdrew.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סרר (s-r-r) — stubbornness, obstinacy, rebellion, turning aside

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5493 סוּר rebellious one
H8323 שָׂרַר stubborn one

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5637-05 סוֹרֵ֣ר sorer HVqrmsa stubborn rebellious one 5
H5637-08 סוֹרְרִ֗ים sorerim HVqrmpa rebellious stubborn ones 5
H5637-04 ס֝וֹרֲרִ֗ים sorarim HVqrmpa rebellious stubborn ones 1
H5637-09 וְ/סֹרָ֑רֶת vesoraret HC/Vqrfsa and stubborn the stubborn woman 1
H5637-06 סֹֽרֵרָ֔ה sorerah HVqrfsa stubborn rebelling woman 1
H5637-07 סוֹרֶ֔רֶת soreret HVqrfsa stubborn stubborn woman 1
H5637-03 סֹרָ֑רֶת soraret HVqrfsa stubborn stubborn woman 1
H5637-02 סָרַ֖ר sarar HVqp3ms has-rebelled he was stubborn 1
H5637-01 הַ/סּוֹרְרִ֓ים hasorerim HTd/Vqrmpa the-rebels the rebellious ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5637-05 Deuteronomy 21:18 סוֹרֵ֣ר sorer HVqrmsa stubborn rebellious one
H5637-05 Deuteronomy 21:20 סוֹרֵ֣ר sorer HVqrmsa stubborn rebellious one
H5637-08 Isaiah 1:23 סוֹרְרִ֗ים sorerim HVqrmpa are rebels stubborn ones
H5637-08 Isaiah 30:1 סֽוֹרְרִים֙ sorerim HVqrmpa rebellious stubborn ones
H5637-05 Isaiah 65:2 סוֹרֵ֑ר sorer HVqrmsa rebellious rebellious one
H5637-05 Jeremiah 5:23 סוֹרֵ֣ר sorer HVqrmsa stubborn rebellious one
H5637-08 Jeremiah 6:28 סֽוֹרְרִ֔ים sorerim HVqrmpa rebellious stubborn ones
H5637-06 Hosea 4:16 סֹֽרֵרָ֔ה sorerah HVqrfsa stubborn rebelling woman
H5637-02 Hosea 4:16 סָרַ֖ר sarar HVqp3ms has-rebelled he was stubborn
H5637-08 Hosea 9:15 סֹרְרִֽים sorerim HVqrmpa rebels stubborn ones
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