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שֵׂעָר

𐤔𐤏𐤓

sêʻâr

H8181 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׂער to be bristly, to be rough, to be shaggy

Definition

Hair, generally referring to the collective hair on the head or body of humans or animals; by extension, can denote a single hair or hairiness, particularly as a physical trait. In specific contexts, also used metaphorically for something fine or bristly (e.g., the 'hair' of a goat or roughness of a garment). The term encompasses both the natural state of hair and, by extension, the attribute of hairiness or roughness as a distinguishing physical characteristic.

Semantic Range

hair (of head or body), hairiness, single hair, animal hair, bristliness, roughness; metaphor for fineness or roughness of texture

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root שָׂעַר (ś-ʿ-r), meaning 'to be bristly, rough, shaggy.' שֵׂעָר (sêʿār) derives from this verbal root, developing the concrete noun meaning of 'hair' in both a literal and sometimes a figurative sense. There is variation in vocalization, with שֵׂעָר and שַׂעַר attested; both forms are cognate and share the same etymological background.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שֵׂעָר is the standard biblical term for 'hair' on humans (e.g., Genesis 27:11, referring to Esau's bodily hair), as well as animals (e.g., goat's hair). In prophetic or poetic texts (like Isaiah 7:20), it is sometimes used in the context of shaving or cutting as an image of humiliation or judgment. The word is occasionally used with reference to animal skins or garments made from animal hair (see Exodus 26:7). The distinction between שֵׂעָר and similar sounding שָׂעַר (gate, H8179) is clear by context. Later translations (such as the Septuagint and Vulgate) usually render this directly as 'hair,' but English idioms ('hairy man,' 'rough garment') may not capture the nuance of bristling or natural coarseness inherent in the term. The usage does not carry religious or cultural connotations unless specified by context (e.g., Nazirite hair in Numbers 6).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שַׂעַר; (Isaiah 7:20), from שָׂעַר in the sense of dishevelling; hair (as if tossed or bristling); hair(-y), [idiom] rough.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׂער (ś-ʿ-r) — to be bristly, to be rough, to be shaggy

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8163 שָׂעִיר the shaggy male-goat
H8164 שָׂעִיר tempestuous downpours
H8165 שֵׂעִיר in Seir
H8166 שְׂעִירָה she-goat of
H8167 שְׂעִירָה to the Seirah

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8181-04 שֵׂעָ֑ר sear HNcmsa hair bristly hair 14
H8181-05 שְׂעָר֗/וֹ searo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his hair his bristly hair 3
H8181-09 וְ/שֵׂעָ֨ר vesear HC/Ncmsa and hair and bristly hair 3
H8181-06 וּ/שְׂעָרָ֖/ה usearah HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs and the hair of it and her hair 2
H8181-03 שַׂעְרֵ/ךְ֙ saerekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your hair your hair 2
H8181-01 לַ/שֵּׂעָ֥ר lasear HRd/Ncmsa for the hair to the bristly hair 1
H8181-02 מִ/שְּׂעַ֤ר misear HR/Ncmsc the hair from hair-of 1
H8181-07 וּ/שְׂעָרֵ֣/ךְ usearekhe HC/Ncmsc/Sp2fs and-your-hair and your hair 1
H8181-08 וְ/שַׂ֣עַר vesaar HC/Ncmsc and the hair and bristly hair of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8181-04 Genesis 25:25 שֵׂעָ֑ר sear HNcmsa of hair bristly hair
H8181-09 Leviticus 13:3 וְ/שֵׂעָ֨ר vesear HC/Ncmsa and hair and bristly hair
H8181-06 Leviticus 13:4 וּ/שְׂעָרָ֖/ה usearah HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs and the hair of it and her hair
H8181-04 Leviticus 13:10 שֵׂעָ֣ר sear HNcmsa hair bristly hair
H8181-06 Leviticus 13:20 וּ/שְׂעָרָ֖/הּ usearah HC/Ncmsc/Sp3fs and its hair and her hair
H8181-04 Leviticus 13:21 שֵׂעָ֣ר sear HNcmsa hair bristly hair
H8181-04 Leviticus 13:25 שֵׂעָ֨ר sear HNcmsa the hair bristly hair
H8181-04 Leviticus 13:26 שֵׂעָ֣ר sear HNcmsa hair bristly hair
H8181-04 Leviticus 13:30 שֵׂעָ֥ר sear HNcmsa hair bristly hair
H8181-09 Leviticus 13:31 וְ/שֵׂעָ֥ר vesear HC/Ncmsa and hair and bristly hair
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