שָׂרַע
to prolong, i.e. (reflex) be deformed by excess of members
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׂרַע (sâraʻ) fundamentally means 'to prolong' or 'to stretch out.' In its specific biblical usage, it describes a physical condition of being 'stretched out' or 'deformed by an excess of members,' referring to a body part that is abnormally long or extended. This meaning is most clearly seen in its ritual contexts in Leviticus 21:18 and 22:23, where it denotes a disqualifying physical defect for priests and sacrificial animals. In Isaiah 28:20, the word is used metaphorically, where the 'bed' is too short to 'stretch oneself' on, illustrating inadequacy and discomfort.
Biblical Usage
This rare verb is used only three times in the Old Testament. Its primary usage is in the legal/ritual texts of Leviticus (Leviticus 21:18, 22:23), specifying physical deformities—specifically an elongated limb—that render a priest unfit for service or an animal unacceptable for sacrifice. The single prophetic usage in Isaiah 28:20 employs the word figuratively. Here, the inability to 'stretch out' on a short bed symbolizes the insufficiency and insecurity of Judah's political alliances, which cannot provide true rest or protection.
Etymology
As a primitive root, שָׂרַע is not demonstrably derived from another Hebrew word. It is related to the concept of lengthening or extension. Cognates may exist in other Semitic languages with similar meanings of 'lengthening' or 'dragging.' Its specific, narrow meaning of a deformed, prolonged limb developed within the context of Hebrew ritual purity law.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the biblical concept of wholeness and physical perfection as symbols of holiness, particularly in the context of worship. The requirements for priests and sacrifices (Leviticus 21:18, 22:23) teach that what is offered to God must be without blemish, pointing forward to the perfect, unblemished sacrifice of Christ. The metaphorical use in Isaiah 28:20 connects physical inadequacy to spiritual and political folly, emphasizing that human solutions are ultimately too 'short' to provide the security and rest that only God can give.
In ancient Israelite culture, physical wholeness was closely associated with ritual purity and fitness for sacred service. A deformity like an elongated limb (שָׂרַע) was not merely a medical condition but a ceremonial disqualification. This reflects a worldview where the physical state could symbolize spiritual acceptability before God. The metaphorical use in Isaiah would have been readily understood by an audience familiar with the discomfort and vulnerability of a bed too short to lie on fully.
אָרַךְ (ʼârak, H748) — A more general verb for 'to be long' or 'to prolong,' often used for time or physical length without the connotation of deformity. מָתַח (mâthach, H5186) — Means 'to spread out' or 'to stretch,' typically used for spreading a tent or curtain, not for a bodily condition.
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.
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