שָׂרַג
to intwine
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׂרַג (sârag) means to intertwine, weave, or wrap together. It describes the action of binding or twisting materials into a complex, unified structure. In its two biblical occurrences, it depicts the intertwining of body parts (Job 40:17) and the metaphorical intertwining of a yoke upon a neck (Lamentations 1:14). The imagery consistently conveys a sense of being tightly bound or ensnared by something.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament. In Job 40:17, it describes how the behemoth 'makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are intertwined (sârag).' This is a physical description of muscular strength. In Lamentations 1:14, it is used metaphorically: 'My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were intertwined (sârag) together upon my neck.' Here, it portrays the cumulative, binding weight of sin.
Etymology
שָׂרַג (sârag) is a primitive root. It is related to the concept of weaving or braiding. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the meaning of twisting or binding together. The root likely underlies the imagery of something being plaited or made into a wreath, as reflected in the KJV translation 'wreath.'
Semantic Range
While not a major theological term, its usage in Lamentations 1:14 provides a powerful metaphor for the consequences of sin. It illustrates how individual transgressions are not isolated but are 'intertwined' by God into a heavy, inescapable burden—a yoke of judgment. This enriches the reading of Lamentations by showing sin as a complex, binding force from which one cannot self-liberate, highlighting the need for divine deliverance.
In an ancient agrarian society, the imagery of a yoke was immediately understood as a symbol of subjugation, labor, and control. The process of intertwining fibers to create ropes, cords, or yokes was a common craft. The metaphor in Lamentations would resonate deeply with an audience familiar with the physical sensation and social implication of wearing a yoke.
עָקַד (ʿāqad, H6123) — to bind, often specifically by tying around (e.g., binding Isaac). שָׂרַג implies a weaving together, while עָקַד focuses on the act of tying securely. אָסַר (ʾāsar, H631) — to bind, tie, or imprison; a more general term for binding, which can be literal or legal (e.g., making an oath).
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 →