7786. sur
Lexical Summary
sur: To turn aside, depart, remove, take away

Original Word: שׂוּר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: suwr
Pronunciation: soor
Phonetic Spelling: (soor)
KJV: make princes, have power, reign See H5493
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to vanquish
2. (by implication) to rule
3. (causatively) to crown

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
make princes, have power, reign

A primitive root; properly, to vanquish; by implication, to rule (causatively, crown) -- make princes, have power, reign. See cuwr.

see HEBREW cuwr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
the same as sur, q.v.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[שָׂרַר] verb denominative (Gerber20) be, or act as, prince, rule; —

Qal Imperfect3masculine singular וַיָּ֫שַׂר עַלֿ יִשְׂרָאֵל Judges 9:22 Abimelech ruled over Israel three years; 3 masculine plural שָׂרִים ֗֗֗ יָשׂ֑רוּ Isaiah 32:1 princes shall govern (prince it) justly ("" יִמְלָךְמֶֿלֶךְ), compare Proverbs 8:16; Participle לִהְיוֺת֗֗֗ שׂרֵר Esther 1:22 that every man should bear rule בְּבֵיתוֺ.

Hithpa`el Imperfect, 2 masculine singular + Infinitive absolute כִּיתִֿשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּםהִֿשְׂתָּרֵר Numbers 16:13 that thou shouldst also keep playing the prince over us.יָסֹר 1 Chronicles 15:22 see יָסַר

Qal and שַׂר

4b. Hiph`il Perfect3plural metaplastic הֵשִׂירוּ (Ges§ 67v) Hosea 8:4 they made princes (absolute; "" הִמְלִיכוּ). p. 415f, 978

Topical Lexicon
Essential Sense

שׂוּר (Strong’s 7786) speaks of exercising princely power, prevailing, or acting as ruler. In both of its canonical appearances the verb underscores determined control—first by a human tyrant, then by a patriarch wrestling for blessing.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Judges 9:22 — “After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years,”.
2. Hosea 12:4 — “He wrestled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept and begged for His favor.”.

Historical Setting

Judges 9:22 records the brief reign of Abimelech, a self-appointed king whose authority was gained through violence and intrigue. The verb שׂוּר marks his tenure as one of sheer force rather than covenantal legitimacy. In Hosea 12:4 Jacob’s night-long struggle at Penuel is recalled, presenting the same root in a redemptive light: Jacob “prevails” not by coercion but through clinging dependence on the Angel of the LORD. The contrast highlights Scripture’s recurring theme that true rule is grounded in submission to God, unlike Abimelech’s self-exalting grasp for power.

Theological Trajectory

1. Divine Sovereignty versus Human Usurpation
• Abimelech’s שׂוּר ends in judgment (Judges 9:56-57), illustrating the futility of authority detached from divine mandate.
• Jacob’s שׂוּר results in blessing and a new name, Israel, signaling that genuine princely status is bestowed, not seized.

2. Persistence in Prayer

Hosea interprets Jacob’s prevailing as weeping and pleading. The verb therefore encompasses spiritual striving—intercession that lays hold of God’s promises (see also Luke 18:1-8).

3. Foreshadowing the Messianic King

The Old Testament anticipates a ruler who exercises perfect, righteous שׂוּר. Isaiah 9:6-7 looks to the Son upon whose shoulders government will rest. In stark contrast to Abimelech, Christ’s authority is granted by the Father (Matthew 28:18) and secured by humble obedience (Philippians 2:5-11).

Intertextual Connections

Genesis 32:28 (root 8280) parallels Hosea 12:4, revealing a thematic link between contending with God and covenantal transformation.
Psalm 110:1-2 portrays the LORD extending the Messiah’s scepter—an everlasting, God-given rule, the ultimate antidote to human usurpation pictured in Judges 9.

Ministry Implications

1. Leadership Character

Christian leaders are cautioned against Abimelech-style domination. Authority in the church is derivative, servant-oriented, and accountable to Christ (1 Peter 5:2-4).

2. Prevailing Prayer

Believers are summoned to “strive together with me in prayers” (Romans 15:30), echoing Jacob’s earnest שׂוּר. Persistence before God precedes prevailing in ministry.

3. Assurance of Christ’s Reign

The failure of human rule in Judges drives hope toward the perfect King. This confidence fuels evangelism and discipleship, anchoring ministry in the certainty that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15).

Summary

שׂוּר encapsulates both the ambition of fallen rulers and the victorious perseverance of faith. Its sparse but strategic appearances contrast illegitimate human authority with God-granted dominion, culminating in the ultimate kingship of Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
וַיָּ֧שַׂר וָיָּ֤שַׂר וישר vaiYasar way·yā·śar wāy·yā·śar wayyāśar wāyyāśar
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Englishman's Concordance
Judges 9:22
HEB: וַיָּ֧שַׂר אֲבִימֶ֛לֶךְ עַל־
KJV: When Abimelech had reigned three years
INT: had reigned now Abimelech over

Hosea 12:4
HEB: וָיָּ֤שַׂר אֶל־ מַלְאָךְ֙
KJV: Yea, he had power over the angel,
INT: had power with the angel

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7786
2 Occurrences


way·yā·śar — 2 Occ.

7785
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