שֶׁאֱרָה
Sheerah, an Israelitess
Definition
Sheerah is a proper name given to an Israelite woman mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:24. She is identified as the daughter of Beriah and granddaughter of Ephraim, making her a significant female figure within the lineage of the tribe of Ephraim. The biblical text credits her with founding or building three settlements: Upper and Lower Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah (1 Chronicles 7:24), an unusual attribution of city-building activity to a woman in the genealogical records. Her story highlights an individual woman's agency and legacy within the broader narrative of Israel's tribal development and settlement in the land.
Biblical Usage
The name Sheerah is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 7:24, within a genealogical list of the tribe of Ephraim. Its usage is strictly as a personal name for this specific historical figure. The context is a brief narrative insertion within the genealogy, noting her constructive achievements.
Etymology
The name Sheerah (שֶׁאֱרָה) is linguistically the same as the Hebrew noun שְׁאֵר (she'er, H7608), which means 'flesh,' 'kin,' or 'blood relation.' It is derived from the root שָׁאַר (sha'ar), meaning 'to remain' or 'be left over.' As a personal name, it likely carries the sense of 'kinswoman' or 'one who remains/endures,' emphasizing familial connection and legacy.
Semantic Range
While not a central theological term, Sheerah's brief mention is theologically significant for understanding the biblical portrayal of women and legacy. Her record challenges simplistic readings of genealogies as purely male-dominated, showing God's acknowledgment of women's roles in establishing the community. Her story in 1 Chronicles subtly affirms that God works through and remembers both men and women in the fulfillment of His promises regarding the land and the building of His people.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, genealogies established identity, inheritance, and social standing. For a woman to be named in a lineage and credited with building cities is culturally notable. It suggests Sheerah held exceptional status, likely involving leadership, resource management, or foundational patronage. This differs from modern expectations, as women were rarely recorded in such active, public roles of construction and settlement founding in biblical narratives.
None directly applicable as a proper name. The related noun is שְׁאֵר (she'er, H7608) — the common noun meaning 'flesh' or 'kin' from which the name is derived.
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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