8177. sear

Lexical Summary

sear: Hair

Original Word: שְׂעַר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: s`ar
Pronunciation: seh-ahr'
Phonetic Spelling: (seh-ar')
KJV: hair
NASB: hair
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H8181 (שֵׂעָר שַׂעַר - hair)]

1. hair

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

hair

(Aramaic) corresponding to se'ar; hair -- hair.

see HEBREW se'ar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to sear
Definition
hair
NASB Translation
hair (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

שְׂעַר noun masculine^{Daniel 3:27} hair, of head (ᵑ7 ׳ס, Syriac ; see Biblical Hebrew I. שׂער); — construct Daniel 3:27; Daniel 7:9; suffix שַׁעְרֵהּ Daniel 4:30.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The Hebrew noun שְׂעַר (seʿar) appears three times in the Book of Daniel. Each occurrence highlights the inviolability, judgment, or majesty of the person described, making hair a vivid marker of divine involvement in human affairs.

Canonical Context in Daniel

1. Daniel 3:27 presents un-singed hair on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego after the furnace: “the fire had no power over the bodies of those men; nor was the hair of their heads singed”. Their untouched hair underscores the totality of God’s protection, mirroring His promise that “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30).
2. Daniel 4:33 depicts Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation: “His hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws”. The growth of hair testifies to God’s sovereignty in humbling kings, fulfilling the dream’s warning and affirming that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17).
3. Daniel 7:9 describes the Ancient of Days: “His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool”. Here hair communicates absolute purity and eternal wisdom, setting a contrast with the beastly kingdoms of the vision.

Theological Symbolism

• Preservation: Unsinged hair in the furnace exemplifies complete deliverance.
• Humiliation and Restoration: Unkempt hair on Nebuchadnezzar signals divine discipline that leads to repentance and praise (Daniel 4:34–37).
• Purity and Eternity: Wool-like hair on the Ancient of Days conveys holiness and timeless authority, foreshadowing Revelation 1:14, where the glorified Christ bears similar attributes.

Cultural and Historical Background

In Ancient Near Eastern cultures, hair often symbolized honor, vitality, and social status. Shaving or disorder signified mourning or disgrace, whereas well-kept hair communicated dignity. Daniel exploits these conventions: the protected Judean exiles retain honor, the chastened monarch loses it, and the eternal Judge embodies transcendent splendor beyond cultural norms.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Assurance in Trials: Believers can trust God to guard every detail of their lives, even “a hair of your head will not perish” (Luke 21:18).
• Warning Against Pride: Nebuchadnezzar’s disheveled hair serves as a caution to leaders who exalt themselves.
• Worshipful Awe: The vision of the Ancient of Days invites reverence and confident hope in the ultimate triumph of righteousness.

Christological Connections

Daniel 7:9 links the Ancient of Days with Jesus Christ in Revelation 1:14, affirming Christ’s deity and eternal kingship. The consistent imagery binds Old and New Testaments together, evidencing a unified canon.

Related Scripture for Further Study

• Judges 16:17 – Samson’s hair and consecration.
• 2 Samuel 14:26 – Absalom’s hair and vanity.
• 1 Corinthians 11:15 – Hair as a covering.

Summary

Though appearing only three times, שְׂעַר in Daniel powerfully portrays divine protection, humbling judgment, and supreme holiness. Each instance invites readers to trust God’s care, heed His sovereignty, and worship His eternal majesty.

Forms and Transliterations

וּשְׂעַ֤ר ושער שַׂעְרֵ֛הּ שערה śa‘·rêh śa‘rêh saReh ū·śə·‘ar ūśə‘ar useAr

Englishman's Concordance

Daniel 3:27
HEB: נוּרָ֜א בְּגֶשְׁמְה֗וֹן וּשְׂעַ֤ר רֵֽאשְׁהוֹן֙ לָ֣א
NAS: of these men nor was the hair of their head
KJV: nor was an hair of their head
INT: the fire the bodies was the hair of their head nor

Daniel 4:33
HEB: עַ֣ד דִּ֥י שַׂעְרֵ֛הּ כְּנִשְׁרִ֥ין רְבָ֖ה
NAS: until his hair had grown
KJV: till his hairs were grown
INT: till forasmuch his hair eagles' had grown

Daniel 7:9
HEB: כִּתְלַ֣ג חִוָּ֗ר וּשְׂעַ֤ר רֵאשֵׁהּ֙ כַּעֲמַ֣ר
NAS: snow And the hair of His head
KJV: as snow, and the hair of his head
INT: snow white and the hair of his head wool

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8177
3 Occurrences

śa‘·rêh — 1 Occ.
ū·śə·‘ar — 2 Occ.