H5620 H5620
sullen, resentful; in a mood of stubborn displeasure or gloom
This adjective describes a sullen, resentful, or gloomy emotional state—stubborn displeasure that withdraws inward. King Ahab went home 'resentful and sullen' (1 Kings 20:43) after the prophet condemned him for releasing Ben-hadad. First Kings 21:4-5 repeats the pattern: Ahab lies down 'sullen and resentful' because Naboth refused to sell his vineyard. Jezebel asks 'Why is your spirit so sullen?'—recognizing his mood of stubborn, brooding anger. The word captures that toxic combination of thwarted desire, wounded pride, and resentful withdrawal—refusing comfort, nursing grievance, stewing in disappointed entitlement.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Both contexts show Ahab's characteristic response to not getting his way: sullen withdrawal rather than healthy acceptance. After the prophet's rebuke (20:43), he goes home in this mood—offended at being confronted. When Naboth refuses the vineyard deal (21:4-5), Ahab takes to his bed sullen and petulant—the powerful king pouting like a child. Jezebel's question identifies the spirit as 'sar'—stubborn resentfulness. Cross-linguistic renderings use 'sullen/sombrío/triste'—capturing the dark, brooding quality. The adjective diagnoses a dangerous spiritual state: when legitimate authority or boundary offends our will, do we submit or sulk? 3×
AR["مُكْتَئِبًا", "مُكْتَئِبَةٌ"]·ben["বিরক্ত"]·DE["sullen"]·EN["sullen"]·FR["sullen"]·heb["סר", "סרה"]·HI["उदास"]·ID["cemberut", "sedih"]·IT["scontroso"]·jav["sedhih"]·KO["슬픈", "심란"]·PT["triste"]·RU["угрюм", "угрюмый"]·ES["sombrío", "triste"]·SW["akiudhika", "imekasirika"]·TR["kötü", "somurtkan"]·urd["بیزار-ہے", "ناخوش"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† סַר adj. stubborn, resentful, sullen, implacable;—סַר וְזָעֵף 1 K 20:43; 21:4; f. מַה־זֶּה רוּחֲךָ סָרָ֫ה v 5 why then is thy spirit sullen? poss. also pl. cstr. סָרֵי סוֹרְרִים Je 6:28 revolters (stubborn ones) among, etc. (v. supr. and סור Qal ad fin.).