שָׂכָר
payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit
Definition
The Hebrew noun שָׂכָר (sâkâr) fundamentally refers to payment or compensation given in exchange for services rendered or goods provided. It often denotes wages for labor, as seen when Jacob works for Laban (Genesis 30:28, 31:8). It can also mean a reward or benefit, sometimes divinely given, as when God tells Abram, 'I am your shield, your very great reward' (Genesis 15:1). In legal contexts, it refers to compensation for damages, such as the payment for the use or loss of a borrowed animal (Exodus 22:15). Thus, the term spans concrete payments, contractual earnings, and metaphorical divine blessings.
Biblical Usage
שָׂכָר is used 25 times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and legal texts. It appears frequently in Genesis (10 times) in the stories of Jacob and Laban, detailing payments for shepherding and breeding livestock (Genesis 30:32-33). In Exodus, it denotes wages paid to Moses' mother for nursing him (Exodus 2:9) and legal compensation (Exodus 22:15). The term is also used in poetic and prophetic books (e.g., Isaiah, Ezekiel) for hired service or metaphorical reward. Its usage consistently revolves around the concept of earned or contracted compensation.
Etymology
שָׂכָר is a noun derived from the root verb שָׂכַר (śākar, H7936), meaning 'to hire' or 'to earn wages.' This root conveys the idea of engaging in a transaction for services. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'sikru' (hire) and Ugaritic 'śkr' (wages), indicating a shared cultural concept of contractual labor. The noun form emphasizes the result of the hiring action—the payment or reward itself.
Semantic Range
Theologically, שָׂכָר is significant because it connects human concepts of work and reward with divine action. In Genesis 15:1, God identifies Himself as Abram's 'great reward,' elevating the term from mere economic transaction to a metaphor for God's covenantal blessing. This frames divine reward not as something earned by human merit but as a gracious gift within a relationship. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how biblical authors use everyday economic language to describe spiritual realities, such as God's faithfulness in providing for His people.
In ancient Israelite culture, שָׂכָר reflected a primarily agrarian and pastoral economy where payment was often in goods (like livestock) rather than money. Hiring agreements were common for shepherding, harvesting, or wet-nursing, as seen with Jacob and Moses' mother. Unlike modern salaries, these were often short-term, task-based contracts without long-term security, making the promised 'reward' a matter of vital trust. The cultural understanding emphasized reciprocal obligation and the integrity of both parties in fulfilling contracts.
פְּעֻלָּה (pĕʿullâ, H6468) — wages or reward, often emphasizing the work done or its fruit. נָתַן (nāthan, H5414) — to give, a broader term for giving without the specific contractual sense of שָׂכָר. גְּמוּל (gĕmûl, H1576) — recompense or dealing, often with a focus on just repayment or retribution.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →