שָׂרַט

to gash

Definition

The Hebrew verb שָׂרַט (sâraṭ) means to gash, cut, or incise the skin, typically in the context of self-inflicted wounds as part of a mourning ritual. In Leviticus 21:5, it specifically refers to the prohibited pagan practice of making cuttings in one's flesh for the dead. In Zechariah 12:3, the meaning shifts to a metaphorical sense, describing God making Jerusalem like a 'cutting stone' or a heavy burden that will severely injure or 'gash' all who try to move it, emphasizing destructive judgment.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Leviticus 21:5, it is used in a legal prohibition for priests, forbidding them from engaging in the ritualistic gashing common in ancient Near Eastern mourning practices. In Zechariah 12:3, it is used in a prophetic oracle of judgment, where God declares He will make Jerusalem a heavy, injurious stone that will 'gash' all who attempt to lift it. The usage moves from a literal, cultic action to a powerful metaphorical image of divine retribution.

Etymology

שָׂרַט is a primitive root verb. Its core meaning relates to cutting or incising. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Akkadian 'sarāṭu,' meaning to scratch or incise, and Arabic 'saraṭa,' meaning to strip off. This supports the understanding of the Hebrew word as involving a cutting action that removes or damages the surface, whether skin or stone.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the biblical distinction between holy worship and pagan ritual. The prohibition in Leviticus 21:5 underscores God's desire for His priests—and by extension, His people—to be set apart in their conduct, even in mourning, rejecting practices associated with idolatry. In Zechariah 12:3, the metaphorical use connects to themes of God's sovereignty in judgment, where Jerusalem itself becomes an instrument of divine punishment against its enemies. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by clarifying the severity of the prohibited act and the potency of the prophetic imagery.

In its original cultural setting, the act of gashing or cutting one's flesh (שָׂרַט) was a common mourning ritual in many ancient Near Eastern religions, intended to show grief, appease deities, or honor the dead. The biblical prohibition directly countered this widespread practice, calling Israel to a different, holy standard of behavior that rejected identification with pagan customs. The metaphorical use in Zechariah would have been understood as a severe and painful injury, akin to being gashed by a heavy, sharp stone.

גָּדַע (gādaʿ, H1438) — to hew down or cut off, often of trees or limbs, less specific to skin. כָּרַת (kārat, H3772) — to cut off or make a covenant (by cutting), broader in application. פָּצַע (pāṣaʿ, H6485) — to wound or bruise, often by violence, not necessarily a deliberate incision.

Word Details

Scripture References