שַׁאֲרָה
female kindred by blood
Definition
The Hebrew noun שַׁאֲרָה (shaʼărâh) specifically denotes a female blood relative, particularly one's close female kin. It is the feminine form of the word for 'flesh' or 'kin' (שְׁאֵר, H7607), emphasizing a biological, familial bond. In its sole biblical occurrence in Leviticus 18:17, it is used in a legal context to identify a category of women with whom marriage or sexual relations are strictly forbidden. The term underscores the inherent, God-given closeness of the relationship, making any such union a violation of that sacred familial order.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 18:17, within the Holiness Code's list of prohibited sexual relationships. It is used in a precise, legalistic context to define an incest taboo. The verse states, 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are שַׁאֲרָה (near kinswomen); it is depravity.' Its usage is exclusively for establishing a boundary of forbidden marriage within the extended family.
Etymology
שַׁאֲרָה is the feminine form of the masculine noun שְׁאֵר (H7607), which means 'flesh,' 'body,' or 'blood relative.' The root שׁ-א-ר is associated with kinship, flesh, and the physical body. The feminine form שַׁאֲרָה thus specifically denotes the female counterpart of this flesh-and-blood relationship. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic, also use related terms for 'flesh' and 'kin,' highlighting the ancient concept of family as a shared physical substance.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it helps define the biblical concept of holiness within family structures. By precisely identifying 'female blood relatives,' it establishes a divine boundary that protects the integrity of the family, which is a foundational institution in God's design. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Leviticus 18 by showing that these laws are not arbitrary social rules but are rooted in the sanctity of biological kinship, reflecting God's order for human relationships and sexual purity.
In ancient Israelite culture, family identity and lineage were paramount. The term שַׁאֲרָה reflects a worldview where kinship was understood in concrete, biological terms ('flesh'), carrying strong obligations and taboos. This differs from some modern, more fluid concepts of family. The prohibition in Leviticus 18:17 protected the clan's structure and honor, preventing confusion of lines of inheritance and authority, and was part of a broader set of laws distinguishing Israel's social order from that of surrounding Canaanite nations.
שְׁאֵר (she'er, H7607) — The masculine counterpart meaning 'flesh' or 'blood relative.' | בָּשָׂר (basar, H1320) — A more general term for 'flesh' or 'body,' sometimes used metaphorically for all humanity, but less specific to legal kinship.
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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