5591. ca'ar
Lexical Summary
ca'ar: To storm, to rage, to be tempestuous

Original Word: סַעַר
Part of Speech: Noun
Transliteration: ca`ar
Pronunciation: sah-ahr'
Phonetic Spelling: (sah'-ar)
KJV: storm(-y), tempest, whirlwind
Word Origin: [from H5590 (סָעַר - blown away)]

1. a hurricane

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
stormy, tempest, whirlwind

Or (feminine) ctarah {seh-aw-raw'}; from ca'ar; a hurricane -- storm(-y), tempest, whirlwind.

see HEBREW ca'ar

Brown-Driver-Briggs
סַ֫עַר noun masculineJeremiah 23:19 tempest; — absolute ׳ס Amos 1:14 5t.; סָ֑עַר Psalm 55:9; plural suffix סַעֲרֶיךָ Psalm 83:16; — tempest, especially figurative: of passionate acts ofmen, מֵרוּחַ סֹעָה מִסָּ֑עַר Psalm 55:9 (׳מִסּ here awkward, without ו); of ׳יs wrath Jeremiah 23:19 (מִתְחוֺלֵל ׳ס), compare Jeremiah 25:32; Jeremiah 30:23; tempest as instrument of ׳יs wrath, Psalm 83:16 ("" סוּפָה); see also בְּסַעַר בְּיוֺם סוּפָה Amos 1:14 and Joel 1:4,12.

סְעָרָה noun feminine tempest, storm-wind; — absolute סְעָרָה Isaiah 29:6 + (so also 2 Kings 2:1,11 Ginsb; Baer בַּסֳּעָרָה); construct סַעֲרַת Jeremiah 23:19; Jeremiah 30:23; plural סְעָרוֺת Ezekiel 13:11,13 construct סַעֲרוֺת Zechariah 9:14; — tempest, storm-wind, as instrument of ׳יs wrath, Isaiah 29:6 (+ סוּפָה), compare Isaiah 40:24; Isaiah 41:16, also רוּחַ סְעָרוֺת Ezekiel 13:11,13 (against nation under figure of wall); storm-wind of Elijah's translation 2 Kings 2:1,11; of theophany Ezekiel 1:4 (רוּחַ סְעָרָה), Job 38:1; Job 40:6, and סַעֲרוֺת תֵּימָן Zechariah 9:14; ׳סַעֲרַת י as figurative of ׳יs wrath Jeremiah 23:19; Jeremiah 30:23; of ordinary tempests only in late Psalms: רוּחַ סְעָרָה Jer 107:25; Jer 148:8, ׳ס opposed to דְּמָמָה Jer 107:29.

I, II, III. סַף see ספף.

ספא (√ of following; compare Late Hebrew סָפָא, ספי give to eat, ᵑ7 סְפִי id.; perhaps Palmyrene ספא feed, nourish, Lzb330 Cook85).

II. שַׂ֫עַר noun [masculine] storm (= סַ֫עַר); — only construct קָ֑טֶב ׳שׂ Isaiah 28:2 a storm of destruction (in simile; "" זֶרֶם בָּרָד).

שְׂעָרָה noun feminine id. (= סְעָרָה); — of way of ׳י ׳בְּסוּפָה וּבִשׂ Nahum 1:3; figurative of ׳יs judgments; יְשׁוּפֵנִי ׳אֲשֶׁרבִּֿשׂ Job 9:17.

Topical Lexicon
Primary Imagery

סַעַר consistently evokes the violence and suddenness of a whirlwind or tempest. Whether it tears across land (Jeremiah 25:32) or churns the sea (Psalm 107:25), the word keeps the reader’s imagination fixed on irresistible power unleashed from above.

Theophany and Revelation

1. Voice of God – “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1; 40:6). Here the storm frames divine self-disclosure, underscoring that human wisdom is silenced when God speaks.
2. Transport of a Prophet – “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). The same term that frightens mortals becomes the vehicle of translation, showing that what destroys can also exalt at God’s command.
3. Visionary Gateway – Ezekiel’s inaugural vision begins with “a whirlwind coming from the north” (Ezekiel 1:4). The storm functions as a curtain rising on the glory of the LORD, linking earthly turbulence with the order of the heavenly throne.

Instrument of Divine Judgment

• National judgment: “Behold, the storm of the LORD has gone out in fury—a whirlwind swirling down upon the heads of the wicked” (Jeremiah 23:19; 30:23).
• City-wide devastation: “I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah…it shall be devoured in the midst of a storm” (Amos 1:14).
• Eschatological terror: “The LORD of Hosts will come…with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and storm” (Isaiah 29:6).

In every instance the whirlwind is not random weather but targeted retribution. The repetition of Jeremiah 23:19 and 30:23 cements the theme: judgment is swift, circular, and inescapable.

Deliverance and Protection

Contrasted with judgment, the same phenomenon can showcase salvation:

• “He stilled the storm to a whisper” (Psalm 107:29).
• Jonah, hurled into the sea to calm the storm (Jonah 1:12), prefigures substitutionary atonement: one life given so many may live.
• David longs to “take refuge…from the raging storm” (Psalm 55:8), teaching believers to run toward, not away from, the God who commands the tempest.

Prophetic and Eschatological Outlook

Zechariah 9:14 pictures the LORD appearing “with whirlwinds of the south.” The imagery anticipates the Day of the LORD when divine presence, judgment, and victory converge. Isaiah 40:24 and 41:16 add agricultural metaphors—whirlwinds uproot princes and scatter chaff—hinting that human power structures are as fragile as straw before God’s wind.

Historical Background

Ancient Near Eastern cultures credited storm-deities such as Baal with fertility and warfare. Scripture appropriates storm language to declare that YHWH alone wields atmospheric chaos. This polemic is especially clear in Psalms 83:15, where the psalmist asks God to “pursue them with Your tempest,” deliberately echoing Canaanite storm motifs while denying their autonomy.

Ministry Significance

1. Sovereignty – The whirlwind reminds congregations that no force in creation operates outside God’s decree.
2. Holiness and Judgment – Preaching the whirlwind passages confronts complacency; sin invites a storm no human can withstand.
3. Comfort – The God who sends the storm also stills it; believers may trust Him amid personal or national upheaval.
4. Christological Foreshadowing – Jesus’ rebuke of the wind and waves (Mark 4:39) answers Psalm 107:29, revealing the incarnate LORD of the whirlwind.
5. Evangelism – Jeremiah’s doubled warning (23:19; 30:23) turns storms into gospel opportunities: flee the coming wrath by taking refuge in Christ.

Summary

סַעַר weaves together revelation, judgment, and deliverance. It is the roar that hushes pride, the blast that topples empires, and, when stilled by divine mercy, the hush that brings peace.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּסַ֖עַר בְּסַעֲר֥וֹת בְּסַעֲרֶ֑ךָ בַּֽסְּעָרָ֖ה בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה בסער בסערה בסערות בסערך הַסַּ֧עַר הַסְּעָרָ֗ה הסער הסערה וְסַ֖עַר וְסַ֣עַר וּסְעָרָ֔ה וּסְעָרָ֖ה וסער וסערה מִסָּֽעַר׃ מסער׃ סְ֝עָרָ֗ה סְ֭עָרָה סְעָר֖וֹת סְעָרָ֑ה סְעָרָ֗ה סְעָרָ֜ה סַ֖עַר סַֽעַר־ סַעֲרַ֣ת סער סער־ סערה סערות סערת bas‘ārāh bas·‘ā·rāh bas·sə·‘ā·rāh basaRah bassə‘ārāh basseaRah bə·sa·‘ă·re·ḵā bə·sa·‘ă·rō·wṯ bə·sa·‘ar bəsa‘ar bəsa‘ăreḵā bəsa‘ărōwṯ beSaar besaaRecha besaaRot has·sa·‘ar has·sə·‘ā·rāh hassa‘ar hasSaar hassə‘ārāh hasseaRah mis·sā·‘ar missā‘ar misSaar sa‘ar sa‘ar- sa‘ăraṯ sa·‘ă·raṯ sa·‘ar sa·‘ar- Saar saaRat sə‘ārāh sə‘ārōwṯ sə·‘ā·rāh sə·‘ā·rō·wṯ seaRah seaRot ū·sə·‘ā·rāh ūsə‘ārāh useaRah veSaar wə·sa·‘ar wəsa‘ar
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Englishman's Concordance
2 Kings 2:1
HEB: אֶת־ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ
NAS: up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven,
KJV: into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah
INT: the LORD Elijah A whirlwind to heaven went

2 Kings 2:11
HEB: וַיַּ֙עַל֙ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְּעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
NAS: went up by a whirlwind to heaven.
KJV: went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
INT: went and Elijah A whirlwind to heaven

Job 38:1
HEB: (מִ֥ן ק) (הַסְּעָרָ֗ה ק) וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
NAS: Job out of the whirlwind and said,
KJV: Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
INT: Job at storm and said

Job 40:6
HEB: (מִ֥ן ק) (סְעָרָ֗ה ק) וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
NAS: Job out of the storm and said,
KJV: unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
INT: Job at storm and said

Psalm 55:8
HEB: מֵר֖וּחַ סֹעָ֣ה מִסָּֽעַר׃
NAS: From the stormy wind [and] tempest.
KJV: from the windy storm [and] tempest.
INT: wind the stormy tempest

Psalm 83:15
HEB: כֵּ֭ן תִּרְדְּפֵ֣ם בְּסַעֲרֶ֑ךָ וּבְסוּפָתְךָ֥ תְבַהֲלֵֽם׃
NAS: pursue them with Your tempest And terrify
KJV: So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid
INT: So pursue your tempest your storm and terrify

Psalm 107:25
HEB: וַֽ֭יַּעֲמֵד ר֣וּחַ סְעָרָ֑ה וַתְּרוֹמֵ֥ם גַּלָּֽיו׃
NAS: and raised up a stormy wind,
KJV: and raiseth the stormy wind,
INT: and raised wind A stormy lifted the waves

Psalm 107:29
HEB: יָקֵ֣ם סְ֭עָרָה לִדְמָמָ֑ה וַ֝יֶּחֱשׁ֗וּ
NAS: He caused the storm to be still,
KJV: He maketh the storm a calm,
INT: caused the storm to be still were hushed

Psalm 148:8
HEB: וְקִיט֑וֹר ר֥וּחַ סְ֝עָרָ֗ה עֹשָׂ֥ה דְבָרֽוֹ׃
NAS: and clouds; Stormy wind,
KJV: and vapour; stormy wind
INT: and clouds wind Stormy fulfilling his word

Isaiah 29:6
HEB: גָּד֑וֹל סוּפָה֙ וּסְעָרָ֔ה וְלַ֖הַב אֵ֥שׁ
NAS: [With] whirlwind and tempest and the flame
KJV: with storm and tempest, and the flame
INT: and loud whirlwind and tempest and the flame fire

Isaiah 40:24
HEB: בָּהֶם֙ וַיִּבָ֔שׁוּ וּסְעָרָ֖ה כַּקַּ֥שׁ תִּשָּׂאֵֽם׃
NAS: on them, and they wither, And the storm carries
KJV: upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take
INT: blows wither and the storm stubble carries

Isaiah 41:16
HEB: וְר֣וּחַ תִּשָּׂאֵ֔ם וּסְעָרָ֖ה תָּפִ֣יץ אוֹתָ֑ם
NAS: will carry them away, And the storm will scatter
KJV: shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter
INT: and the wind will carry and the storm will scatter you

Jeremiah 23:19
HEB: הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ סַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה חֵמָה֙
NAS: Behold, the storm of the LORD
KJV: Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD
INT: Behold the storm of the LORD wrath

Jeremiah 23:19
HEB: חֵמָה֙ יָֽצְאָ֔ה וְסַ֖עַר מִתְחוֹלֵ֑ל עַ֛ל
NAS: Even a whirling tempest; It will swirl down
KJV: even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously
INT: wrath has gone tempest A whirling on

Jeremiah 25:32
HEB: אֶל־ גּ֑וֹי וְסַ֣עַר גָּד֔וֹל יֵע֖וֹר
NAS: And a great storm is being stirred
KJV: and a great whirlwind shall be raised up
INT: to nation storm great stirred

Jeremiah 30:23
HEB: הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ סַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֗ה חֵמָה֙
NAS: Behold, the tempest of the LORD! Wrath
KJV: Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD
INT: Behold the tempest of the LORD Wrath

Jeremiah 30:23
HEB: חֵמָה֙ יָֽצְאָ֔ה סַ֖עַר מִתְגּוֹרֵ֑ר עַ֛ל
NAS: A sweeping tempest; It will burst
KJV: a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain
INT: Wrath has gone tempest A sweeping on

Ezekiel 1:4
HEB: וְהִנֵּה֩ ר֨וּחַ סְעָרָ֜ה בָּאָ֣ה מִן־
NAS: behold, a storm wind
INT: behold wind A storm was coming from

Ezekiel 13:11
HEB: תִּפֹּ֔לְנָה וְר֥וּחַ סְעָר֖וֹת תְּבַקֵּֽעַ׃
NAS: will fall; and a violent wind
KJV: shall fall; and a stormy wind
INT: will fall wind violent will break

Ezekiel 13:13
HEB: וּבִקַּעְתִּ֥י רֽוּחַ־ סְעָר֖וֹת בַּֽחֲמָתִ֑י וְגֶ֤שֶׁם
NAS: GOD, I will make a violent wind
KJV: I will even rend [it] with a stormy wind
INT: break wind A violent my wrath rain

Amos 1:14
HEB: בְּי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּסַ֖עַר בְּי֥וֹם סוּפָֽה׃
NAS: of battle, And a storm on the day
KJV: of battle, with a tempest in the day
INT: the day of battle storm the day of tempest

Jonah 1:4
HEB: הַיָּ֔ם וַיְהִ֥י סַֽעַר־ גָּד֖וֹל בַּיָּ֑ם
NAS: and there was a great storm on the sea
KJV: and there was a mighty tempest in the sea,
INT: the sea become storm A great the sea

Jonah 1:12
HEB: כִּ֣י בְשֶׁלִּ֔י הַסַּ֧עַר הַגָּד֛וֹל הַזֶּ֖ה
NAS: great storm [has come] upon you.
KJV: this great tempest [is] upon you.
INT: on account storm great this

Zechariah 9:14
HEB: יִתְקָ֔ע וְהָלַ֖ךְ בְּסַעֲר֥וֹת תֵּימָֽן׃
NAS: And will march in the storm winds of the south.
KJV: and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
INT: will blow and will march the storm of the south

24 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5591
24 Occurrences


bas·‘ā·rāh — 1 Occ.
bas·sə·‘ā·rāh — 1 Occ.
bə·sa·‘ar — 1 Occ.
bə·sa·‘ă·re·ḵā — 1 Occ.
bə·sa·‘ă·rō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
has·sa·‘ar — 1 Occ.
has·sə·‘ā·rāh — 1 Occ.
mis·sā·‘ar — 1 Occ.
sa·‘ar — 2 Occ.
sa·‘ă·raṯ — 2 Occ.
sə·‘ā·rāh — 5 Occ.
sə·‘ā·rō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
ū·sə·‘ā·rāh — 3 Occ.
wə·sa·‘ar — 2 Occ.

5590
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