שָׂעִיר (H8163) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂעִיר

𐤔𐤏𐤉𐤓

sâʻîyr

H8163 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A male goat, typically one characterized by its shaggy or hairy appearance; figuratively, a term also used for wild, goat-like creatures in mythological or symbolic contexts. The word is used literally for both domesticated male goats and wild goats, and in some passages as a descriptor for supernatural beings associated with desolate or wilderness places.

Semantic Range

male goat, he-goat, shaggy goat, wild goat, mythological goat-like being, wilderness spirit

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׂעַר (sʿr), meaning 'to be hairy' or 'shaggy'. The noun שָׂעִיר is formed with a formant indicating one characterized by hairiness, i.e., 'hairy one; shaggy creature'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׂעִיר primarily denotes a male goat and can refer to both wild and domesticated animals, notably in sacrificial contexts (e.g., Leviticus 16, Numbers 7–15) and in descriptions of animal flocks. In wilderness or prophetic passages, especially in Isaiah 13:21 and 34:14, it is used for mythical or supernatural, goat-like beings said to dwell in desolate places (often translated as 'satyr' or 'demon' in English versions), reflecting ancient Near Eastern beliefs about the hauntings of wilderness spirits. Unlike the term עֵז ('ēz)—female goat—שָׂעִיר is specifically male. The association with 'devil' or 'satyr' in some English translations arises from post-biblical interpretive traditions and translation choices rather than direct lexical meaning; in biblical context, the term refers to animals or to their mythological counterparts rather than to personal demonic beings. Post-biblical Hebrew retained שָׂעִיר as 'he-goat' and occasionally in supernatural folklore. English translations often fail to capture its full range, especially the mythic dimension in poetic or prophetic texts.

Translation Consistency

primary "goat" 40 occurrences

שָׂעִיר most commonly denotes a goat (especially a male/shaggy or wild goat). "Goat" is the natural, flexible English headword that covers literal male/he-goats and can serve as the base for figurative or mythological senses (e.g., "goat-like" or "goat-demon"). It is more natural and broadly useful than less frequent forms like "male" or "shaggy."

Alternatives (19 occurrences):

"shaggy male-goat" (8x) "shaggy he-goats" (3x) "shaggy he-goat" (2x) "goat-demons" (2x) "i" (1x) "hairy" (1x) "he-goat" (1x) "shaggy he-goats of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שָׂעִר; from שָׂעַר; shaggy; as noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun; devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שׂער (s-ʿ-r) — to be hairy, to be shaggy, to have thick hair

Root שׂער to be hairy, to be shaggy, to have thick hair

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H8164	שָׂעִיר	tempestuous downpours
H8165	שֵׂעִיר	in Seir
H8166	שְׂעִירָה	she-goat of
H8167	שְׂעִירָה	to the Seirah
H8175	שָׂעַר	was storm-tossed
H8177	שְׂעַר	his hair
H8178	שַׂעַר	violent storm
H8181	שֵׂעָר	to the bristly hair
H8183	שְׂעָרָה	in a bristling storm
H8184	שְׂעֹרָה	the barley
H8185	שַׂעֲרָה	the single hair
H8188	שְׂעֹרִים	to Seorim

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H8163-05`	שְׂעִ֣יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat	25
`H8163-08`	וּ/שְׂעִיר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a male goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of	12
`H8163-01`	הַ/שָּׂעִ֔יר	hasair	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat	10
`H8163-02`	הַ/שְּׂעִירִ֑ם	haseirim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	goats	the shaggy he-goats	the shaggy he-goats	2
`H8163-06`	שְׂעִירֵ֥י	seirey	`HNcmpc`	male goats	shaggy he-goats of	shaggy goats of	2
`H8163-12`	וְ/לַ/שְּׂעִירִ֑ים	velaseirim	`HC/Rd/Ncmpa`	and for the goat demons	and to the shaggy he-goats	and to the goat-demons	1
`H8163-04`	שָׂעִ֔ר	sair	`HAamsa`	hairy	shaggy one	and I	1
`H8163-11`	וְ/הַ/שָּׂעִ֗יר	vehasair	`HC/Td/Ncmsa`	But the goat	and the shaggy he-goat	and the shaggy he-goat	1
`H8163-07`	שְׂעִרֹ֑ת	seirot	`HAafpa`	hairy	shaggy ones	hairy	1
`H8163-09`	וּ/שְׂעִירֵ֥י	useirey	`HC/Ncmpc`	and goats	shaggy he-goats of	and shaggy he-goats of	1
`H8163-13`	וְ/שָׂעִ֖יר	vesair	`HC/Ncmsa`	and the wild goat	shaggy he-goat	shaggy he-goat	1
`H8163-03`	לַ/שְּׂעִירִ֕ם	laseirim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to the goat-demons	to the shaggy he-goats	to the goat-demons	1
`H8163-10`	וּ/שְׂעִירִ֖ים	useirim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and shaggy goats	shaggy he-goats	and shaggy he-goats	1

Occurrences in Scripture

59 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H8163-04`	Genesis 27:11	שָׂעִ֔ר	sair	`HAamsa`	hairy	shaggy one	and I
`H8163-07`	Genesis 27:23	שְׂעִרֹ֑ת	seirot	`HAafpa`	hairy	shaggy ones	hairy
`H8163-05`	Genesis 37:31	שְׂעִ֣יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	a male goat
`H8163-05`	Leviticus 4:23	שְׂעִ֥יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	a goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	a goat
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 4:24	הַ/שָּׂעִ֔יר	hasair	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the goat
`H8163-05`	Leviticus 9:3	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	a he-goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	he-goat
`H8163-05`	Leviticus 9:15	שְׂעִ֤יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	goat
`H8163-05`	Leviticus 10:16	שְׂעִ֣יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-06`	Leviticus 16:5	שְׂעִירֵ֥י	seirey	`HNcmpc`	male goats	shaggy he-goats of	shaggy goats of
`H8163-02`	Leviticus 16:7	הַ/שְּׂעִירִ֑ם	haseirim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	goats	the shaggy he-goats	the shaggy he-goats
`H8163-02`	Leviticus 16:8	הַ/שְּׂעִירִ֖ם	haseirim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	goats	the shaggy he-goats	the shaggy he-goats
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 16:9	הַ/שָּׂעִ֔יר	hasair	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat
`H8163-11`	Leviticus 16:10	וְ/הַ/שָּׂעִ֗יר	vehasair	`HC/Td/Ncmsa`	But the goat	and the shaggy he-goat	and the shaggy he-goat
`H8163-05`	Leviticus 16:15	שְׂעִ֤יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	the male goat
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 16:18	הַ/שָּׂעִ֔יר	hasair	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the goat	the shaggy male-goat	of the goat
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 16:20	הַ/שָּׂעִ֥יר	hasair	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 16:21	הַ/שָּׂעִיר֮	hasair	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 16:21	הַ/שָּׂעִ֔יר	hasair-2	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 16:22	הַ/שָּׂעִ֥יר	hasair	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 16:22	הַ/שָּׂעִ֖יר	hasair-2	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat
`H8163-01`	Leviticus 16:26	הַ/שָּׂעִיר֙	hasair	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the goat	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat
`H8163-05`	Leviticus 16:27	שְׂעִ֣יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	the goat
`H8163-03`	Leviticus 17:7	לַ/שְּׂעִירִ֕ם	laseirim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	to the goat-demons	to the shaggy he-goats	to the goat-demons
`H8163-05`	Leviticus 23:19	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	a male goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:16	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:22	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	kid	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:28	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:34	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:40	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:46	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:52	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:58	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:64	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	kid	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:70	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:76	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Numbers 7:82	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-09`	Numbers 7:87	וּ/שְׂעִירֵ֥י	useirey	`HC/Ncmpc`	and goats	shaggy he-goats of	and shaggy he-goats of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 15:24	וּ/שְׂעִיר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a male goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 28:15	וּ/שְׂעִ֨יר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and-a-he-goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 28:22	וּ/שְׂעִ֥יר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a male goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-05`	Numbers 28:30	שְׂעִ֥יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:5	וּ/שְׂעִיר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and-one-goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-05`	Numbers 29:11	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:16	וּ/שְׂעִיר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and male goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:19	וּ/שְׂעִיר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a kid	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:22	וּ/שְׂעִ֥יר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a male goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:25	וּ/שְׂעִיר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and he-goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:28	וּ/שְׂעִ֥יר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a male goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:31	וּ/שְׂעִ֥יר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and a goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:34	וּ/שְׂעִ֥יר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and one he-goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-08`	Numbers 29:38	וּ/שְׂעִ֥יר	useir	`HC/Ncmsc`	and-a-goat	and shaggy he-goat of	and goat of
`H8163-10`	Isaiah 13:21	וּ/שְׂעִירִ֖ים	useirim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and shaggy goats	shaggy he-goats	and shaggy he-goats
`H8163-13`	Isaiah 34:14	וְ/שָׂעִ֖יר	vesair	`HC/Ncmsa`	and the wild goat	shaggy he-goat	shaggy he-goat
`H8163-05`	Ezekiel 43:22	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	a male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	a male goat
`H8163-05`	Ezekiel 43:25	שְׂעִיר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-05`	Ezekiel 45:23	שְׂעִ֥יר	seir	`HNcmsc`	male goat	Seir the Rough-Hill	Seir the Goat
`H8163-01`	Daniel 8:21	הַ/שָּׂעִ֖יר	hasair	`HTd/Aamsa`	the-shaggy	the shaggy male-goat	the shaggy male-goat
`H8163-12`	2 Chronicles 11:15	וְ/לַ/שְּׂעִירִ֑ים	velaseirim	`HC/Rd/Ncmpa`	and for the goat demons	and to the shaggy he-goats	and to the goat-demons
`H8163-06`	2 Chronicles 29:23	שְׂעִירֵ֣י	seirey	`HNcmpc`	male goats	shaggy he-goats of	shaggy goats of

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