שְׂעָרָה
𐤔𐤏𐤓𐤄
sᵉʻârâh
H8183 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A violent atmospheric phenomenon characterized by high winds, often accompanied by rain, thunder, lightning, or other disturbance; specifically, a storm, tempest, or gale. The term conveys the sense of a sudden, forceful outburst of wind or weather, sometimes associated with divine action or theophany in biblical narrative.
Semantic Range
storm, whirlwind, tempest, violent wind, divine storm, gale; metaphor for divine power or manifestation
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שׂ-ע-ר (שׂער), which at the root level carries concepts of bristling, hair, or roughness. The word שְׂעָרָה is a feminine derivative, moving from the idea of physical bristling or roughness (as with hair standing on end) to metaphorically describing the agitated, turbulent character of a storm.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שְׂעָרָה designates a violent natural storm or whirlwind, frequently appearing in poetic and prophetic passages, often as a symbol of divine power or judgment (e.g., Job 38:1; Ezekiel 1:4). The association with the root for 'hair' may evoke the image of storm winds swirling or bristling, but the word always refers to meteorological phenomena rather than to something physical or anatomical. The term is distinct from רוּחַ (ruaḥ, 'wind' or 'spirit'), which denotes wind more generally and is often used metaphorically for breath, spirit, or movements of God, whereas שְׂעָרָה specifically emphasizes violence, intensity, or destructive force. In post-biblical Hebrew and modern usage, forms of the word continue to mean 'storm.' English translation as 'tempest' or 'storm' generally captures the sense, but sometimes English may not reflect the nuance of divine manifestation associated with some biblical uses. The term does not refer to tornadoes or hurricanes in the modern meteorological sense, though it can carry a sense of whirlwind or violent storm.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of שַׂעַר; a hurricane; storm, tempest.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂער (ś-ʿ-r) — bristling, roughness, hairiness
| 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
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8183-02 |
וּ/בִ/שְׂעָרָה֙ | uvisearah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and in storm | and in a bristling storm | 1 |
H8183-01 |
בִּ/שְׂעָרָ֥ה | bisearah | HR/Ncfsa |
with a tempest | in a bristling storm | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences