Lexical Summary sarar: To be stubborn, to rebel, to be obstinate Original Word: סָרַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance away, backsliding, rebellious, revolting, slide back, stubborn, withdrew A primitive root; to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory -- X away, backsliding, rebellious, revolter(-ing), slide back, stubborn, withdrew. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root. Definition stubborn or rebellious NASB Translation rebellious (6), rebels (2), stubborn (8), stubbornly rebellious (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סָרַר verb be stubborn, rebellious (usually towards ׳י) (Late Hebrew id., (rare); Assyrian sarâru); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular יִשְׂרָאֵל ׳ס Hosea 4:16 Israel is stubborn; Participle active בֵּן סוֺרֵר וּמוֺרֶה Deuteronomy 21:18, compare Deuteronomy 21:20; בָּנִים סוֺרְרִים Isaiah 30:1, עַם סוֺרֵר Isaiah 65:2, וּמֹרֶה ׳דּוֺר ס Psalm 78:8 (all of Israel); וּמוֺרֶה ׳לֵב מ Jeremiah 5:23; מָּרָה סֹרֵרָ֔ה Hosea 4:16 (simile of Israel, see above); as predicate שָׂרֵיהֶם סוֺרְרִים Hosea 9:15 compare Isaiah 1:23; סָרֵי סוֺרְרִים Jeremiah 6:28 revolters among the rebellious (? compare סור Qal near the end, and סַר below); of loose woman הֹמִיָּסה הִיא וְסוֺרָ֑רֶת Proverbs 7:11; as substantive = the stubborn, Psalm 66:7; Psalm 68:7; Psalm 68:19; feminine singular וַיִּתְּנוּ כָתֵף סֹרֶ֫רֶת Nehemiah 9:29 and they presented a stubborn shoulder (of Israel) = Zechariah 7:11 (סֹרָ֑רֶת). Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Thematic Thread The verb denotes willful resistance against rightful authority. Whether expressed by an individual son, a nation, or corrupt leaders, it always carries moral culpability. The stubbornness is not mere temperament but conscious rejection of God-given instruction, therefore inviting covenantal judgment. Covenantal Setting From its first appearance in Deuteronomy 21:18−20, the word stands inside Israel’s covenant life. The stubborn son refuses both parental and divine Torah, exposing himself to sanctions designed to preserve community holiness. The same dynamic surfaces in national history (Nehemiah 9:29), where corporate rebellion against the Law is confessed as the root of exile. Portraits of Rebellion in the Writings • Psalm 66:7 warns the nations: “Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.” God’s universal sovereignty ensures that stubborn revolt will never overturn His rule. Wisdom Literature Proverbs 7:11 uses the term of the adulteress whose noisy defiance breaks household order. Her rebellion embodies sin’s seductive pull and foreshadows national unfaithfulness condemned by the prophets. Prophetic Indictments Isaiah links rebellion with social injustice: “Your princes are rebels, companions of thieves” (Isaiah 1:23). Political leadership becomes morally illegitimate when it casts off covenant obligations. Isaiah 30:1 and 65:2 expand the charge to policy and piety—a nation forming alliances without the Spirit and walking “in paths of their own.” Jeremiah deepens the critique: “But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts” (Jeremiah 5:23), revealing that the problem is spiritual rather than merely political. Zechariah 7:11 pictures post-exilic Judah repeating pre-exilic sins, proving that time alone cannot cure a rebellious heart. Hosea’s Pastoral Imagery Hosea 4:16 compares Israel to “a stubborn cow,” stressing how rebellion frustrates the shepherding care of God. Hosea 9:15 locates this obstinacy at Gilgal, once a place of covenant renewal, now infamous for apostasy. Rebellion thus turns sacred history into indictment. Consequences and Divine Response Rebellion leads to separation (Psalm 68:6), barren exile (Deuteronomy’s sanction), and fiery judgment (Jeremiah 6:28). Yet the Lord’s persistence in grace is equally evident. Isaiah 65:2 portrays God stretching out His hands “all day long” to the obstinate. Psalm 68:18 anticipates the Messiah who conquers rebellion and bestows gifts—a text Paul applies to Jesus Christ in Ephesians 4:8, revealing ultimate resolution in the gospel. Ministry and Discipleship Implications 1. Parental Discipline: Deuteronomy 21 warns that unchecked rebellion destroys families and societies. Faithful instruction and loving correction remain vital. Summary The term traces a consistent biblical motif: rebellion resists covenant order, erodes community, and provokes divine judgment, yet God’s steadfast purpose is to overcome obstinacy through redemptive mercy. The exhortation for every generation is clear—“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Forms and Transliterations הַסּוֹרְרִ֓ים ׀ הסוררים וְסֹרָ֑רֶת וסררת ס֝וֹרְרִ֗ים ס֝וֹרֲרִ֗ים סָרַ֖ר סֹֽרֵרָ֔ה סֹרְרִֽים׃ סֹרָ֑רֶת סֽוֹרְרִ֔ים סֽוֹרְרִים֙ סוֹרְרִ֗ים סוֹרֵ֑ר סוֹרֵ֣ר סוֹרֵ֪ר סוֹרֶ֔רֶת סורר סוררים סוררת סרר סררה סררים׃ סררת has·sō·wr·rîm hassorRim hassōwrrîm sā·rar saRar sārar sō·rā·reṯ sō·rê·rāh sō·rə·rîm sō·w·ră·rîm sō·w·re·reṯ sō·w·rêr sō·wr·rîm soRaret sōrāreṯ soraRim soRer soreRah sōrêrāh soReret soreRim sōrərîm sorRim sōwrărîm sōwrêr sōwrereṯ sōwrrîm vesoRaret wə·sō·rā·reṯ wəsōrāreṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 21:18 HEB: לְאִ֗ישׁ בֵּ֚ן סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֣נּוּ NAS: has a stubborn and rebellious KJV: If a man have a stubborn and rebellious INT: any son A stubborn and rebellious even Deuteronomy 21:20 Nehemiah 9:29 Psalm 66:7 Psalm 68:6 Psalm 68:18 Psalm 78:8 Proverbs 7:11 Isaiah 1:23 Isaiah 30:1 Isaiah 65:2 Jeremiah 5:23 Jeremiah 6:28 Hosea 4:16 Hosea 4:16 Hosea 9:15 Zechariah 7:11 17 Occurrences |