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שַׁעֲרוּרָה

𐤔𐤏𐤓𐤅𐤓𐤄

shaʻărûwrâh

H8186 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁער to be shaggy, to bristle, to be disorderly

Definition

A shocking, appalling, or abominable act or situation; something that causes horror or outrage due to its egregiousness. The term connotes scandal, moral outrage, or an act regarded as egregiously offensive or detestable, especially in the context of social or religious conduct.

Semantic Range

horrible thing, appalling act, shocking event, abomination, moral outrage, scandal, atrocity

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שׁער (sh-ʿ-r), with the probable semantic development from the concept of being 'shaggy' or 'unruly' (cf. שָׂעַר, hair), transferred metaphorically to that which is shocking or disorderly. The precise etymological pathway is debated: some see a connection to 'hair-raising,' while others suggest an extension from 'gate' (שַׁעַר) in the sense of something 'conspicuous' or 'openly scandalous.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

שַׁעֲרוּרָה and its variants (שַׁעֲרִירִיָּה, שַׁעֲרֻרִת) occur primarily in exilic and post-exilic literature, notably in usage by the prophet Jeremiah to describe acts or conditions that provoke communal shock or outrage, often in ethical or religious contexts (e.g., idolatry, injustice, or covenantal infidelity). Unlike more neutral terms for 'thing' or 'event,' שַׁעֲרוּרָה is loaded with negative evaluative meaning, aligning with ideas such as 'abomination' (תּוֹעֵבָה) but distinct in emphasizing communal scandal or public outcry more than cultic defilement. English translations often render it as 'horror,' 'appalling thing,' or 'outrage,' which approximate but may not fully convey the term's nuance of public scandal. In post-biblical Hebrew, the word continues to bear strong connotations of shock and moral repugnance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שַׁעֲרִירִיָּה; or שַׁעֲרֻרִת; feminine from שָׁעַר in the sense of שָׂעַר; something fearful; horrible thing.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁער (sh-ʿ-r) — to be shaggy, to bristle, to be disorderly

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7778 שׁוֹעֵר the gate-guard
H8179 שַׁעַר in the gate
H8180 שַׁעַר reckoned measures
H8182 שֹׁעָר the detestable ones
H8187 שְׁעַרְיָה and Yahweh-has-opened

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8186-03 שַׁעֲרֽוּרִיָּ֑ה shaaruriyah HAafsa a horrible thing appalling atrocity 1
H8186-05 וְ/שַׁ֣עֲרוּרָ֔ה veshaarurah HC/Ncfsa and a shameful thing and a bristling atrocity 1
H8186-01 שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה shaarurah HNcfsa a horrible thing appalling outrage 1
H8186-04 שעריריה shryryh HAafsa a horrible thing appalling outrage 1
H8186-02 שַֽׁעֲרֻרִת֙ shaarurit HNcfsa horrible thing appalling outrage 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8186-05 Jeremiah 5:30 וְ/שַׁ֣עֲרוּרָ֔ה veshaarurah HC/Ncfsa and a shameful thing and a bristling atrocity
H8186-02 Jeremiah 18:13 שַֽׁעֲרֻרִת֙ shaarurit HNcfsa horrible thing appalling outrage
H8186-01 Jeremiah 23:14 שַׁעֲרוּרָ֗ה shaarurah HNcfsa a horrible thing appalling outrage
H8186-04 Hosea 6:10 שעריריה shryryh HAafsa a horrible thing appalling outrage
H8186-03 Hosea 6:10 שַׁעֲרֽוּרִיָּ֑ה shaaruriyah HAafsa a horrible thing appalling atrocity
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